Corporate Social Responsibility

Responding to the trend of Greek business market with regard to the evaluation of the performance of companies in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), TÜV HELLAS (TÜV NORD) provides services in the field of independent verification as well as assurance of the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in the Corporate Social Responsibility reports.

The verification audit that TÜV HELLAS provides, is performed according to the sustainability reporting guidelines of GRI (Global reporting Initiative) and more specifically of the GRI-G4 guidelines. TÜV HELLAS (TÜV NORD) offers also verification services of corporate sustainable practices according to the principles and requirements of the international guidelines standard ISO 26000:2010.

The establishment of the new series of sustainability reporting guidelines GRI-G4, has brought a new way of approach of the sustainability issues discussed about and agreed with the stakeholders. The main topic is the identification and clarification of the material issues for each company. Companies are now available in the reporting of data and indicators that refer only to the identified material issues. The verification concerns either the level of application of the GRI-G4 guidelines, or the data verification of specific sustainability issues.

Ι. Verification of sustainability accounting data (GRI CONTENT INDEX)

The verification of data included in the Corporate Social Accounting is performed according to the requirements of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) – Sustainability Reporting Guidelines (GRI-G4) and based on the verification procedures of TÜV HELLAS (TÜV NORD). The verification is made according to the Accounting Index (GRI CONTENT INDEX), in combination to the corporate statement for the development level of its accounting.

The external verification by TÜV HELLAS (TÜV NORD) will define the accounting development levels as following:

• Core: Clarification of important issues (materiality analysis) and report of at least one indicator of each important issue.
• Comprehensive: Clarification of important issues and report of all indicators that concern each important issue.

ΙΙ. Verification of important issues data for social accounting

As an extension to the verification of the corporate statement for Sustainability Accounting, data and indicators of Important Issues agreed with the stakeholders of the company can also be verified. Verification by TÜV HELLAS (TÜV NORD) is carried out in this case in order to find objective documentation findings regarding the company’s publications about specific indicators per Important Issue.

In both cases a detailed report is provided regarding the level of fulfillment of the GRI-G4 guidelines for every accounting paragraph.

The procedure followed by TÜV HELLAS (TÜV NORD) regarding the verification of Corporate Social Accounting aims primarily at achieving improved results of the final issue of accountings, and at recognition of companies through an international and credible marking.

AA1000 (Accountability Standards series)

TÜV HELLAS (TÜV NORD) has been declared as an official licensed member of the Accountability International Organization. The licensing concerns the approval given to TÜV HELLAS (TÜV NORD) for the use of the principles and methodology of the AA1000AS standard during the data verification of Corporate Social Responsibility (Sustainability) Reports (License No: 000-209).

TÜV HELLAS (TÜV NORD) is the first Certification Organization in Greece which aquired the relevant authorization. This particular achievement once again demonstrates the leadership role that TÜV HELLAS (TÜV NORD) holds in the field of verification of corporate performance data in accountability and sustainability.

The international standard ISO 26000:2010 offers the opportunity to organizations to understand the basic principles of Corporate Social Responsibility and be active in corporate issues agreed with the stakeholders.

ISO 26000:2010 doesn’t describe the principles of a management system and cannot be certified by a third party certification body. It sets the basic issues of a sustainable function for all types and sizes of companies, as following:

• Organizational governance
• Human Rights
• Labor Practices
• Environment
• Fair operating practices
• Consumer issues
• Community involvement and development 

The companies can choose some or all the sustainable principles and set according to the guidelines of the standard and in agreement with the stakeholders, the actions that will have important results and benefit the company as well as society.

TÜV HELLAS (TÜV NORD) offers verification services of Corporate Social Responsibility practices that are based on the guidelines of ISO 26000:2010.