Governance & Policy
Social Responsibility
Definition
Social responsibility is the responsibility of an organisation for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment, through transparent and ethical behaviour that contributes to sustainable development, takes into account stakeholder expectations, complies with law and international norms of behaviour, and is integrated throughout the organisation. This is the ISO 26000 definition, which made social responsibility a whole-organisation concept extending beyond philanthropy or corporate structures.
References
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This reference provides supporting context for how “Social Responsibility” is defined and used.
Overview
How it is used
The concept structures CSR strategies, non-financial reporting, stakeholder engagement frameworks and the normative base for business and human rights expectations.
Why it matters
Social responsibility is the umbrella idea from which the entire corporate sustainability agenda grew — the claim that power over people and planet entails accountability.