1. Blueprint for a sustainable enterprise
The success of a company and the an organisation for the impacts of its
welibeing of the communities it serves decisions and activities on society and the
are connected. A business needs stable environment, through transparent and
and viable communities to be successful, ethical behaviour that:
and communities depend on successful
• contributes to sustainable development,
businesses to provide products, services,
including health and the welfare of
jobs and infrastructure.
society
Many corporations from around
• takes into account the expectations of
the globe have thought deeply about
stakeholders
their social and environmental impacts
• is in compliance with applicable law and
and performance. In some cases, these
consistent with international norms of
considerations have dramatically
behaviour, and
shifted the organisation's focus, from
• is integrated throughout the
regulatory compliance at the periphery
organisation and is practised
of operations to a more holistic driving
in relationships'.
force for corporate intent, strategy and
Tea plantation worker, Sri Lanka: ISO
value creation. ISO 26000 provides organisations with
26000 provides organisations with a
The United Nations' Global Compact comprehensive approach to embedding a comprehensive and integrated approach
program has informed such corporate social responsibility issues - such as human to embedding social responsibUity in
actions over the pa.st decade. The Global rights and labour practices in the supply strategy and operations. It can be used by
Compact's Ten Principles 1 define a range chain - in strategy and operations, ¡««kp^io all types of organisations, whether large or
of outcomes for private sector signatories small, public, private or NGO.
to embrace, support and enact in areas acknowledging that 'the best performing The standard provides a context for
such as human rights, labour standards, companies of the 21st century will be those social responsibility across eight key areas:
the environment and anti-corruption. The that recognise this evolving new order, and organisational governance, human rights,
idea is that by embracing these principles invest and act now.' labour practices, the environment, fair
at an enterprise scale, businesses can help The Roadmap suggests 20 'key operating practices, consumer issues, and
addre.ss major social and environmental expectations' held by a range of community involvement and development.
challenges in ways that will benefit stakeholders - government, investors, Unlike many other ISO Standards,
economies and societies everywhere. unions, civil society, suppliers, consumers ISO 26000 is voluntary: that is, not for
However, having a set of principles and employees - with respect to the certifiable accreditation. However, given
is just the starting point. Translating management and performance of a the pervasive nature of the ISO Standards
them into meaningful actions and sustainable enterprise. These expectations model, ISO 26000 is anticipated to become
outcomes presents a whole new set of form a basis upon which current universally recognised and applied.
challenges. Fortunately, two recent major performance can be assessed and areas for Both the Ceres Roadmap and ISO
developments are helping organisations improvement identified. The expectations 26000 enable organisations to create
effect social and environmental are grouped around four discrete value for shareholders and stakeholders
performance objectives: the Ceres organisational functions - governance, alike, by 'creating shared value' - as
Roadmap and ISO 26000. stakeholder engagement, disclosure and described by esteemed Harvard University
Ceres, a US-ba.sed sustainable performance (ie employees, operations, academic, Profe.ssor Michael E Porter.''
enterprise network, has released 'a vision supply chain, transportation and logistics, In other words, by creating social value,
and practical roadmap for integrating and products and services). private sector organisations can build
sustainability into the DNA of business': In the second major development, profitability, competitive advantage and
The 21" Century Corporation: The Ceres the International Organization for long-term success.
Roadmap for Sustainability^. Standardization (ISO) has produced • Sean Rooney
The Roadmap takes a whole-of- an international standard for social
enterprise approach to sustainability, responsibility. ISO 26000 Guidance on Sean Rooney is Sustainability
drawing upon practical experience and Social Responsibility' was developed Program Manager at Sinclair
Knight Merz and former Director of
evidence from across 20 sectors and through a six-year multi-stakeholder
CSIRO's Sustainable Communities
more than 200 companies. It reflects the approach, which consisted of more than Initiative. Through the Sustainable
changing dynamic in the relationship 500 participants from 90 countries. Enterprise column, Sean highlights
between business and society, with Social responsibility is defined in businesses and organisations that are putting
Ceres President, Ms Mindy S Lubber, the standard as the 'responsibUity of sustainability theory into practice.
1 www.unglobalcotnpact.org/AboutTheGC/TheTenPrinciptes
2 www.ceres.org/ceresroadmap
3 www.iso.org/iso/iso_cataIogue/management_standards/sociaLresponsibillty.htni
4 Porter. ME and Kramer. MR (2011). The big idea: creating shared value. Harvard Rusinesi R -Jan-Feb http://bbr.Org/2011/0l/tbe-big.idea-creating-shared.value/ar/l
159 I FEB-MAR I 20'

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