The principle that individuals, organisations and the community are required to account to others for their actions. Organisations and their employees must be able to account to appropriate regulatory authorities, to shareholders or members and to the public to meet statutory obligations, audit requirements, relevant standards and codes of practice, and community expectations.

Standard that provides a systematic, inclusive and credible approach to improving social and ethical accountability and overall performance. The AA1000 Framework was developed by UK-based Accountability to address the need for organisations to integrate their stakeholder engagement processes into daily activities. The framework provides guidance to users on how to establish a systematic stakeholder engagement process that generates the indicators, targets, and reporting systems needed to ensure its effectiveness in impacting on decisions, activities, and overall organisational performance.

The outcome of cost-benefit analysis weighting up commercial gains against the losses incurred by a course of action undertaken by a company.

The variability among living organisms from all sources, i.e. terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part. This includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

Formal statement of the values and business practices of a company and sometimes its suppliers.

Such standards as are reasonably necessary to promote (1) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; (2) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in the periodic reports required to be filed by the issuer; and (3) compliance with applicable governmental rules and regulations.

Situation in which a person is in a position of trust that requires her to exercise judgment on behalf of others (people, institutions, etc.) and also has interests or obligations of the sort that might interfere with the exercise of her judgment, and which the person is morally required to either avoid or openly acknowledge.

The system by which business corporations are directed and controlled. A set of relationships between a company’s management, its board, its shareholders and other stakeholders.

Misuse of entrusted power for private gain.

A “third sector” of society besides the State and the market, embracing institutions, groups and associations (either structured or informal), which may act as mediator between citizens and public authorities.

The management of the totality of relationships between a company and its host communities, locally, nationally and globally

A concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis.

Alignment of organisation's products and services with stakeholder expectations, thereby adding economic, environmental and social value.

(1) The development of an organisation's core skills and capabilities, such as leadership, management, finance and fundraising, programs and evaluation, in order to build the organisation's effectiveness and sustainability. (2) The process of assisting an individual or group to identify and address issues and gain the insights, knowledge and experience needed to solve problems and implement change.

A commercial activity by which businesses and charities or causes form a partnership to market an image, product or service for mutual benefit.

Private foundation that receives it’s funding from the for-profit company whose name it bears but is legally an independent entity.

Businesses supporting and encouraging staff involvement in the community.

An unconditional transfer of cash or other assets to an entity or a cancellation of the entity's liabilities in a voluntary, nonreciprocal transfer by another entity.

Any position in ethics which claims that the rightness or wrongness of actions depends on whether they correspond to our duty or not.

A branch of philosophy that studies and recommends the fundamental principles and basic concepts of what is considered morally good and bad, right and wrong in human conduct.

The concept that improving the way in which resources are used can reduce environmental damage and reduce costs.

Indicator that relates environmental pressures to human activities. These indicators provide insight in the efficiency of products and processes: efficiency in terms of the resources used and the emissions and waste generated per unit of output.

Tax with a potentially positive environmental impact, hence comprising energy taxes, transport taxes and taxes on pollution and resources.

A systematic approach to managing and reducing an organisation’s environmental impacts through a process of continuous improvement. It requires inventories of releases to the environment; inventories of legislative and regulatory requirements; assessment of environmental effects; target and objective setting for improvements; management plans; audits; verification and training.

Analysis of the impact of a business project or operation on the environment. EIA is a technique used for identifying the environmental effects of development projects.

Survey conducted to ascertain the conditions of a site prior to the realisation of a project, to analyse its possible impacts and compensative measures.

Systematic evaluation of an organisation’s ethics program to determine its effectiveness.

The application of non-financial, ethical criteria to investment decisions.

Aims to ensure that conditions within mainstream production chains meet basic minimum standards and aims to eradicate the most exploitative forms of labour such as child and forced labour and ‘sweatshops’.

Inclusion or exclusion of stocks and shares in investment portfolios on ethical, social and environmental grounds.

A contribution to a charitable organisation by a corporate employee that is matched by a similar contribution from the corporation.

Canadian and British term for socially responsible investing.

The Global reporting initiative’s vision is that reporting on economic, environmental, and social performance by all organisations becomes as routine and comparable as financial reporting.

Trading by officers, directors, major stockholders, or others who hold private inside information allowing them to benefit from buying or selling stock.

An international environmental management standard developed by the International Organisation of Standardisation.

A community that promotes a culture of learning by developing effective local partnerships between all sectors and supports and motivates individuals and organisations to learn.

A statement of the role, or purpose, by which an organisation intends to serve its stakeholders. It describes what the organisation does (current capabilities), who it serves (stakeholders), and what makes the organisation unique (justification for existence).

A catch-all phrase to describe pressure groups and non-profit organisations.

A concept put forward by the United Nations which recognises the business role for the accomplishment of sustainable development and that companies can manage theirs operations in such a way as to enhance economic growth and increase competitiveness whilst ensuring environmental protection and promoting social responsibility.

A measure of the probability that damage to life, health, property, and/or the environment will occur as a result of a given hazard.

A formal estimation of the likelihood of suffering damage as a result of identified hazards.

The introduction of change or control measures with the intention of eliminating or bringing the level of risk associated with a hazard within acceptable limits.

Small and medium-sized enterprises having fewer than 250 employees and either an annual turnover less than €50 million or an annual balance-sheet total not exceeding €43 million.

A feeling or condition of unity based on common goals, interests, and sympathies among a group's members.

A transaction between two parties in which financial consideration is exchanged for purchase of a tangible such as advertising, signage or event participation.

The stock of shared meaning and trust in a given community.

A process of exchange between social partners to promote consultation, dialogue and collective bargaining.

The integration of individuals – or groups – into society as citizens or as members of various public social networks.

Stakeholders’ organisations involved in a process of social dialogue (employers’ associations, trade unions, public authorities and/or representatives of civil society, NGOs, etc).

An individual, community or organisation that affects or is affected by some aspect of an organisation’s products, operations, markets, industries, and outcomes.

The international standard for social accountability is an initiative by Social Accountability International (SAI), a body created out of the Council on Economic Priorities Accreditation Agency (CEPAA) in the US. The objective of SA8000 is to ensure ethical sourcing of goods and services. SA8000 is a voluntary standard and can be applied to any size of organisation or business across all industries. The standard can replace or augment company or industry specific social accountability codes. SA8000 sets basic standards for: child labour, forced labour, health and safety, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours, remuneration and management systems.

Systematic evaluation of an organisation’s social impact in relation to standards and expectations.

Systematic analysis of the impact of a business project or operation on the social and cultural situation of affected communities.

Non financial data from an organisation, covering some or all of the following nine issues: mission, vision and values; workplace climate; social dialogue; human rights; community involvement; local economic development; environment and marketplace.

Integrating personal values and societal concerns with investment decisions is called Socially Responsible Investing (SRI). SRI considers both the investor's financial needs and an investment’s impact on society. With SRI, ‘investors can put their money to work to build a better tomorrow while earning competitive returns today.’ Three key SRI strategies have evolved over the years: screening, shareholder advocacy, community investment and social venture capital.

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

A principle that allows those affected by administrative decisions, business transactions or charitable work to know not only the basic facts and figures but also the mechanisms and processes.

An organisation of workers that promotes and protects the interests of its members in issues such as wages and working conditions, especially through negotiations with employers.

The idea that the overall performance of a company should be measured based on its combined contribution to economic prosperity, environmental quality and social capital.

Short expression of “triple bottom line” referring to the three P’s of people, planet and profit.

The core beliefs we hold regarding what is right and fair in terms of our actions and our interactions with others.

A document that describes where the organisation intends to be in the future or where it should be to best meet the needs of stakeholders. It incorporates a shared understanding of the nature and purpose of the organisation and uses this understanding to move the organisation toward a greater purpose.