A UK-based standard for purpose-driven organisations is being adapted for international use by early 2027, according to business improvement and standards firm BSI. The new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard will be designed to support businesses in aligning their purpose to the long-term wellbeing of people and the planet. PAS 808, the BSI standard on purpose-driven organisations released in January 2022, defined corporate purpose, setting out the principles and behaviours of successful purpose-driven organisations and explaining how they can align their decision-making with their stated mission. The announcement was accompanied by BSI research stating that nearly two-thirds of people globally (63%) and 55% in the UK consider a company’s social and environmental purpose when making purchasing decisions. To create the international standard, PAS 808 will be converted through the ISO process, involving an international committee of experts, supported by national delegations representing stakeholders across more than 170 countries. The BSI said the intention was to create a shared framework to ensure consistency and authenticity in purpose-driven practices to contribute to a sustainable future and address societal challenges. “When organisations invest in their purpose, they can make the shift from the traditional profit-first mindset to one where financial success is an outcome of focusing on innovating for societal and environmental impact,” said BSI Chairman John Hirst. “An international standard on corporate purpose offers the opportunity to help organisations and their global supply chains to embed public trust that they are genuinely committed to doing the right thing.”
