BSI takes UK lead on social accountability

BSI Management Systems achieves global accreditation to deliver social accountability services

BSI has become the first company in the UK to successfully complete the global accreditation process for the provision of social accountability services. The awarding of accreditation to Social Accountability International’s (SAI) standard ‘SA8000:2001’ consolidates BSI’s position as a leading global service provider for organisations seeking to demonstrate continual improvement to their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) management.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability have become key areas of concern to multi-national organisations, driving them to give greater focus to issues such as human rights and labour conditions in the workplace. With supply chains now more diverse and internationally spread, bringing increased risk to those managing them, the support of an accredited organisation in this sector is increasingly important.

BSI Management Systems Managing Director, Flemming Norklit, said, “BSI is committed to providing premium assurance to organisations seeking to demonstrate leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility. The introduction of a Social Accountability management system, based on the SA8000 standard, is a clear indication to stakeholders that an organisation is managing supply chain risks expertly.”

Global accreditation to SA8000 is an integral component of BSI’s Social Accountability service portfolio as Nick Marshall, Global Development Manager, explains, “The achievement of accreditation to SA8000 will complement BSI Management Systems’ services in this field. Alongside a significant bespoke audit service to individual organisations’ Codes of Conduct and a strong Social Accountability training package, BSI is now capable of providing services to meet the needs of a wide range of companies.”

Social Accountability International developed the SA8000 standard, based on the UN’s declaration of human rights and the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Conventions, as a response to poor labour conditions within supply chains. Large groups have supported the initiative on the advisory and governing boards, including Gap, Toys R Us and Chiquita which has had 100 per cent of its farms certified.

The global accreditation process was completed in partnership with the Alarko Carrier A.S. company, based in Istanbul, Turkey.