5. An organization's first responsibility: to be sustainable

As an employer and economic contributor, and in interaction with its stakeholders, an organization can be a driving force for "better living". The governance of a responsible organization must contribute to its longevity and thus ensure its sustainable development.

Business sustainability is not explicit in ISO 26000's notion of social responsibility, but is rather implicit, requiring the organization to work on its "vision of success", and in particular on the appropriateness of a social responsibility approach.

The company must seize the economic opportunity of its responsible commitment by carrying out prospective work on its products or services: is it responsible to market a product that emits high levels of greenhouse gases during its production cycle? or that uses non-renewable natural mineral resources? Is it responsible to buy raw...