ABSTRACT
This chapter provides some thought to the future of ISO 26000—for instance, certification and its possible alternatives. It examines the reasoning behind the expected and contractual use of ISO 26000, despite the fact that the social responsibility’ (SR) guideline clearly states that it is neither meant nor suitable for contractual use. The chapter presents the potential for changes in the content of ISO 26000. It focuses on whether the development of ISO 26000 towards a management system is likely or, indeed, desirable. One of the most important ‘hot topics’ and confusions surrounding ISO 26000 is whether organisations will be able to certify against the guideline. An organisation with a SR policy or management system that is ‘ISO 26000 certified’ would probably need to deal with fewer practical problems regarding the credibility of its SR claims compared to an uncertified competitor.
