IQNET SR 10

Social responsibility is a term that changes gradually and according to the usage of interested parties. Some claim (including the European Commission) that social responsibility is the approach that gives the organisation competitive advantage. Nowadays, there are many different systems that manage social responsibility on the market: the ones that are narrowly focused on each stakeholder of social responsibility (i.e. SA 8000), and the ones that are more wholesome, and therefore extensive (i.e. ISO 26000). Some of them enable reporting (i.e. GRI), some even certification (i.e. SA 8000, IQNET SR 10), and some, contrary, strictly oppose certification (ISO 26000).

Some time ago, the International Certification Network (IQNET) has issued a specification on social responsibility. It is called “IQNET SR 10 Social Responsibility management systems – Requirements” and is based on ISO 9001. SIQ Ljubljana is part of the IQNET scheme for certification of social responsibility. Certification is a procedure carried out by our auditors, while the decision to award the certificate is taken by a committee of the IQNET certification body association in Switzerland.

About the Standard

The standard IQNET SR 10 is the tool that enables the organisation to perform its activities focused on sustainable development. The organisation often becomes more sustainably oriented after implementation of the standard. Organisations have to focus on every aspect of their work – therefore they are familiar with different risks, that they can possibly be exposed to, and also with expectations that stakeholders have towards them. With certification the organisations clearly state their standpoints and activity in the community. By becoming certified, organisations clearly present their policies and activities to the wider audience, thereby also holding up a mirror to their activities. The specificity of audits of social responsibility management systems is that they are not only carried out within the organisation, but with all its relevant stakeholders (suppliers, customers, etc.). This also makes audits a challenge for organisations and certification bodies.

What is the situation in Slovenia? A review of the websites of Slovenian organisations shows an ideal picture, as there is no organisation that does not at least indirectly refer to its socially responsible behaviour. Some of them report on their CSR activities or highlight them in other ways (e.g. Horus – Slovenian Award for Corporate Social Responsibility), thus breaking new ground in the field of CSR, but unfortunately they are in the minority. There are more of them who make commitments to CSR, but their actions show the opposite picture. Despite the above, there are a few organisations in Slovenia that would pass an assessment of their CSR management system without any major problems. The first organisation from Slovenia to be certified in accordance with the IQNET SR10 requirements is ELRAD International d.o.o. (now ELRAD ELECTRONICS d.o.o.) from Gornja Radgona, thus joining the group of socially responsible organisations from Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Russia, China and South Korea, to name but a few of the most developed countries where organisations are already included in the social responsibility certification scheme. A list of all the certificates awarded is available here.

Mass certification in Slovenia is unlikely. Only the best organisations will choose certification because certification is a unique way of looking at an organisation, which, despite the best wishes, is not always the most beautiful, or as Aldous Huxley said, “If most of us remain ignorant of ourselves, it is because self-knowledge is painful, and so we prefer to enjoy the illusion”.

The IQNET SR10 specification has been translated into Slovenian and can be obtained free of charge by sending a request to msa@siq.si.