The AA1000APS 2008:

  • provides an organisation with an internationally accepted freely available set of principles to frame and structure the way in which they understand, govern, adminster, implement, evaluate and communicate their accountability.
  • is primarily intended to be used by organisations developing an accountable and strategic approach to sustainability
  • provides the basis for establishing, evaluating and communicating accountability
  • allows the organisation to focus on what is material to its own vision and provides a framework for identifying and acting on opportunities as well as managing non-financial risk and compliance
  • demands that an organisation actively engages with its stakeholders, fully identifies and understands the sustainability issues that will have an impact on its performance, and then uses this understanding to develop responsible business strategies and performance objectives
  • provides the basis for understanding and achieving sustainability assurance according to the AA1000AS (2008) and accountable stakeholder engagement according to the AA1000SES (2005)