ISO 26000
International guidance for social responsibility integration
ISO 22301
International standard for business continuity management systems
Quick Verdict
ISO 26000 offers non-certifiable guidance on social responsibility principles for all organizations, while ISO 22301 provides certifiable BCMS requirements for resilience. Companies adopt 26000 for ethical integration and 22301 to ensure operational continuity during disruptions.
ISO 26000
ISO 26000:2010 Guidance on social responsibility
Key Features
- Non-certifiable guidance applicable to all organizations
- Seven principles underpinning socially responsible behavior
- Seven interconnected core subjects for holistic SR
- Stakeholder engagement to identify relevant issues
- Integration throughout governance, strategy, and operations
ISO 22301
ISO 22301:2019 Business continuity management systems Requirements
Key Features
- PDCA cycle through 10-clause Annex SL structure
- Business Impact Analysis (BIA) for critical functions
- Risk assessment and recovery strategy planning
- Leadership commitment with BCMS policy and roles
- Regular testing exercises and continual improvement
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 26000 Details
What It Is
ISO 26000:2010 is a non-certifiable international guidance standard on social responsibility (SR). It provides a comprehensive framework for organizations to understand and address SR impacts across operations and value chains. Applicable to all organization types, sizes, and locations, it uses a principles-based, stakeholder-driven approach emphasizing context-specific prioritization.
Key Components
- Seven **core principlesaccountability, transparency, ethical behavior, respect for stakeholder interests, rule of law, international norms, human rights.
- Seven **core subjectsorganizational governance, human rights, labor practices, environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, community involvement.
- No requirements or controls; focuses on holistic integration rather than certification.
Why Organizations Use It
Enhances sustainability commitment, risk management, and stakeholder trust. Aligns with SDGs, OECD, GRI; reduces reputational/legal risks; supports ESG reporting and competitive differentiation without certification burdens.
Implementation Overview
Involves materiality assessment, stakeholder engagement, policy integration into management systems (e.g., ISO 14001), training, and transparent reporting. Phased approach (6-24 months); suits all sectors/geographies; no audits required, but self-assessment and external verification recommended.
ISO 22301 Details
What It Is
ISO 22301:2019 is the international standard titled Security and resilience — Business continuity management systems — Requirements. It specifies requirements for a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) to protect against, reduce likelihood of, respond to, and recover from disruptions. Employing a PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle and Annex SL high-level structure, it offers a flexible, risk-based approach applicable to all organization sizes and sectors.
Key Components
- 10 clauses (Clauses 4-10 core): context of organization, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
- Key elements: Business Impact Analysis (BIA), risk assessment (RA), recovery strategies, testing exercises.
- Built on PDCA; certification valid for 3 years with annual surveillance audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Builds resilience, minimizes financial losses and downtime.
- Ensures regulatory compliance (e.g., EU NIS Directive, NIST).
- Enhances risk management, stakeholder trust, reputation, and competitive advantages like procurement edges.
- Reduces insurance premiums amid rising threats like cyberattacks and pandemics.
Implementation Overview
- Step-by-step: gap analysis, BIA/RA, policy development, training, testing, internal/external audits.
- Typical timeline: 60 days to 6 months; suits SMEs to multinationals across industries.
- Two-stage certification process by accredited bodies.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 26000 | ISO 22301 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Social responsibility core subjects, principles | Business continuity management system, resilience |
| Industry | All organizations, all sectors globally | All sectors, high-risk like finance, utilities |
| Nature | Non-certifiable guidance standard | Certifiable management system standard |
| Testing | Self-assessment, stakeholder engagement | Audits, exercises, certification testing |
| Penalties | No penalties, reputational risks only | Loss of certification, no legal penalties |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 26000 and ISO 22301
ISO 26000 FAQ
ISO 22301 FAQ
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