Social Responsibility Gap Analysis

2. Human Rights

Companies that conduct SR activities see them as a driver of financial value from two sources. The first is direct cost saving through more efficient use of energy, water, and other resources. The second is the enhanced reputation of an organization that attracts more customers, investors, talented employees, and other stakeholders.

Source: KPMG International Corporate Responsibility Reporting Survey 2011

This core subject of social responsibility covers:

• Fundamental rights at work
• Non-discrimination and vulnerable groups
• Freedom of association and collective bargaining
• Child, forced, and compulsory labour
• Resolving grievances

3. Labour Practices

The concepts of sustainability and social responsibility also shaped the development of international standards. ISO's 2005–2010 strategic plan was titled “Horizon 2010: Standards for a Sustainable World”, and in its strategic plan 2011–2015, Solutions to Global Challenges, ISO declared that its portfolio of over 18,500 standards “provides business, government and society with practical tools for all three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, environmental and social.”

This core subject of social responsibility covers:

• Labour / management relations
• Occupational health and safety
• Human development and training in the workplace
• Promoting sustainable lifestyles

4. The Environment

A number of universal tools have been created to evaluate the social responsibility and business sustainability of an organization. Some of the most widely used are:

• Dow Jones Sustainability Index methodology
• Sustainalytics ESG risk ratings (formerly the Jantzi Social Index)
• Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations selection criteria
• EcoVadis sustainability ratings
• UN Global Compact self-assessment

This core subject of social responsibility covers:

• Prevention of pollution
• Sustainable resource use
• Greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency

5. Fair Operating Practices

Some countries and industries have created their own assessment tools and sets of guidelines, for example:

• Corporate Social Responsibility — Government of Canada
• U.S. Green Building Council
• Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria

This core subject of social responsibility covers:

• Anti-corruption
• Responsible political involvement
• Fair competition
• Promoting social responsibility in the value chain

6. Consumer Issues

Some assessment tools and recommendations focus on specific aspects of corporate responsibility, for example:

• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)
• Ecodesign of energy-related products (EU)
• Conflict minerals — the Enough Project

This core subject of social responsibility covers:

• Fair marketing, information and contractual practices
• Protecting consumers' health and safety
• Product and service labelling
• Consumer data protection and privacy

7. Community Involvement and Development

SR programs rest on the same key processes and principles as any other management system: policy development, process definition, internal and external audits, management reviews, and continual improvement. ISO management systems — especially an ISO 9001 quality management system — can serve as a solid platform for establishing and maintaining SR programs.

This core subject of social responsibility covers:

• Community involvement
• Education and skills development
• Preservation of local cultures
• Creation of employment, wealth, and income
• Health and social investment

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Worked examples of SR policies, procedures, criteria, and implementation plans are covered in our Social Responsibility and ISO 26000 training course.