ISO 26000 is the international standard developed to help organizations effectively assess and address those social responsibilities that are relevant and significant to their mission and vision; operations and processes; customers, employees, communities, and other stakeholders; and environmental impact.

ISO 26000 offers guidance on socially responsible behavior and possible actions. ISO recommends that users say, for example, that they have "used ISO 26000 as a guide used to integrate social responsibility into our values and practices."

ISO 26000 is designed for use by all organizations, not only businesses and corporations. Organizations, such as hospitals and schools, charities (not-for-profits), etc. are also included.  So far, many of the earliest users of ISO 26000 have been multi-national corporations, especially those based in Europe, and East Asia, particularly Japan.

The goal was to make ISO 26000 accessible and usable by all organizations, in different countries, precisely because it reflects the goals and concerns of each and all of the stakeholder groups in its final compromise form.

The Seven Key Principles, advocated as the roots of socially responsible behavior, are:

- Accountability
- Transparency
- Ethical behavior
- Respect for stakeholder interests (stakeholders are individuals or groups who are affected by, or have the ability to impact, the organization's actions)
- Respect for the rule of law
- Respect for international norms of behavior
- Respect for human rights

The Seven Core Subjects, which every user of ISO 26000 should consider, are:

- Organizational governance
- Human rights
- Labor practices
- Environment
- Fair operating practices
- Consumer issues
- Community involvement and development

If animal welfare was made part of ISO 26000, most companies will also become animal-friendly and stop animal experimentations. ISO 26000 helps companies attain competitive strategies against other companies. Companies are rated on the key principles and core subjects that make up ISO 26000. Many consumers will only buy from companies that follow ISO 26000 standards.  When a company claims to engage in ISO 26000,  it shows its stakeholders that it values the environment and takes part in corporate social responsibility (e.g. being "green").

This petition beckons Swedish Standards Institute (SIS), International Standards Organization (ISO) and Brazilian National Standards Organization, also known as Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT), to add "Respect for humane treatment of animals" as the Eighth Key Principle and add  "Animal Welfare" as the eighth Core Subject as part of ISO 26000.