What is ISO 26000?
ISO 26000 is an international non-certification standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that addresses the social responsibility of organizations. This standard was adopted in 2010 and is called the “Guidance on Social Responsibility.”
ISO 26000 defines the principles and practices of social responsibility for organizations, regardless of their size or industry. The standard includes a number of thematic areas, such as corporate governance, human rights, labor relations, the environment, good neighborliness, and development.
The purpose of ISO 26000 is to provide organizations with practical advice and guidance for implementing social responsibility into their strategy and activities. This standard helps organizations understand their social and environmental impacts and work to reduce them, promoting sustainable development and mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholders.
Who is ISO 26000 certification suitable for?
ISO 26000 provides a framework and guidelines for social responsibility for organizations. Thus, any organization, regardless of its size, industry, or type of activity, can take into account and use the principles and guidelines to improve its social responsibility.
The application of ISO 26000 can be useful for:
- Companies and corporations: Implementing socially responsible business policies and practices.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises: Assisting in the development and implementation of socially responsible approaches.
- Public organizations: Using it as an important resource for the requirements and assessment of corporate social responsibility.
- Government agencies: Ensuring that social requirements are taken into account in policies and activities.
- Other stakeholders: Assisting all parties involved in shaping and supporting socially responsible practices.
Due to the flexibility and universality of its recommendations, ISO 26000 can be a useful tool for various types of organizations that seek to improve their social responsibility and interact with various stakeholders.
How is the ISO 26000 standard useful for my organization?
The ISO 26000 standard can have several useful aspects for your organization, depending on its characteristics and purpose. Here are some potential benefits:
- Enhancing Social Responsibility (SR): The standard defines the principles and practices of social responsibility, which can contribute to the development and implementation of socially responsible strategies and practices in your organization.
- Managing Risks and Opportunities: Using ISO 26000 can help identify social and ethical risks for your organization, as well as identify opportunities for improvement in the area of social responsibility.
- Improving Relationships with Stakeholders: The standard emphasizes the importance of interacting with various stakeholders, such as customers, employees, consumers, community groups, and others. This can contribute to improving interaction and ensuring greater satisfaction for all parties.
- Strengthening Reputation: Implementing socially responsible practices can improve your organization’s reputation in the eyes of consumers, partners, and other stakeholders.
- Compliance with Legislation and Norms: Using ISO 26000 helps take into account social requirements and norms, which can contribute to compliance with legislation and international standards.
- Attracting and Retaining Talented Employees: A focus on social responsibility can influence the increase in employee engagement and satisfaction.
Keep in mind that the effectiveness of implementing ISO 26000 will depend on the specific conditions and internal context of your organization.
Who has the right to conduct certification according to ISO 26000?
Currently, certification in Ukraine is voluntary, but this process allows you to reduce the risks of legal issues. Conducting voluntary certification allows you to actively comply with all legal requirements and avoid possible sanctions. It will increase consumer confidence, increase competitiveness, improve internal management, and open up new opportunities in the market.
Certification by an accredited body is a key step in confirming the compliance of your management system with international standards.
This process provides important benefits for your business, namely:
- Recognition by the global market: Certification by an accredited body indicates a high degree of confidence in your management system. This makes your business more attractive to international partners and clients.
- Reducing the risks of legal issues: Conducting voluntary certification allows you to actively comply with all legal requirements and avoid possible sanctions.
- Improving efficiency: The certification process forces you to evaluate and optimize processes in the company, which can lead to increased efficiency and reduced risks.
- Attracting new clients: Many companies require certification as a condition of cooperation. This opens up new opportunities for attracting clients and markets.
- Strengthening reputation: Certification is evidence of your commitment to high standards and helps confirm your reputation as a reliable partner or supplier.
By choosing an accredited body for certification, you ensure the highest level of recognition and trust in your industry.

What can you expect from us?
Our specialists have innovative thinking, which allows us to solve non-standard tasks with maximum speed and convenience.
Factum operates in accordance with the requirements of the following standards: DSTU EN ISO/IEC 17021-1:2017 "Conformity assessment. Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems. Part 1. Requirements" (EN ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, IDT; ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, IDT) Accreditation certificate No. 8О095. And DSTU EN ISO/IEC 17065:2019 "Conformity assessment. Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services" (EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012, IDT; ISO/IEC 17065:2012, IDT). Accreditation certificate No. 1О237
Discussion of the specifics of your organization and your ISO certification goals.
Application submission
Based on the outcome of the discussion, you will receive a detailed and transparent proposal that takes into account your individual needs.
Application analysis
Agreeing with you on the timeframes for conducting audits for the full certification cycle of your Enterprise.
Creating an audit program
Agreeing with you on the timeframes for conducting the initial certification audit.
Audit planning
Stage 1 - assessment of your management system, objectives, results of your management review and internal audit. Stage 2 - assessment of all management processes at your Enterprise.
Conducting the audit
Within a month, you will receive an audit report documenting all audit evidence.
Preparation of the audit report
If all the requirements of the standard are met, a decision is made regarding the possibility of certifying your management system.
Certification decision
The certificate is issued for 3 years. The terms of use and details of the annual confirmation of the management system's compliance with the requirements of the standard will be specified in the License Agreement.
Issuance of certificate and license agreement