The need for companies to consider societal impacts and to innovate responsibly has led to the development of a number of standards. These  provide a framework and guidance  to develop long-term strategies (roadmaps) to innovate responsibly by integrating technical, ethical, social, environmental, and economic issues into research and innovation practices and to improve the ethical and social impacts of final marketable outcomes. Examples are:

• • ISO 26000 Guidance on social responsibility (see below for more details)
  • IWA 26 Using ISO 26000 in management systems
  • ISO 31000 Risk management – Guidelines
  • ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management systems-Requirements with guidance for use
  •  ISO 9001 Quality management systems – Requirements
  •  CEN/TS 16555 Innovation Management
  • CWA  17145 Ethics assessment for research and innovation
  • IWA 26 Using ISO 26000 in management systems
  • UNI/PdR 27 Guidelines for management and processes development for responsible innovation
  • ISO/DIS 56000 Innovation management

Note that most of these standards are not meant for certification. 

ISO 26000

In the next interview, Ornella Cilone (head of UNI- the national body for standards in Italy) underlines the importance of specifically ISO 26000  as being a key standard for RRI in Industry (although the framework is a bit broader, as you can see below).

ISO 26000 provides guidance on how businesses and organizations can operate in a socially responsible way. This means acting in an ethical and transparent way that contributes to the health and welfare of society. Key elements of ISO 26000 social responsibility are:

1. 1. Accountability
   2. Transparency
   3. Ethical behaviour
   4. Respect for stakeholder interests
   5. Respect for the rule of law
   6. Respect for international norms of behavior
   7. Respect for human rights

Note that ISO 26000 is about guidance and support and does not include indicators.