ISO 20121 is an international standard that specifies the requirements for aSustainability Management System (Sustainability Management System – SMS) for events. The standard is designed to help organizations plan, implement, review and report on their events in a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable manner.
The standard applies to all types of events, from small conferences and meetings to major sports games and festivals. The main goal is to minimize the event’s negative impacts on the environment (such as waste and emissions), ensure social justice, and achieve economic success for the event. The standard is based on the principles of inclusion, integrity,stewardship, and transparency.
Key focus areas for event sustainability:
ISO 20121 helps integrate sustainability into every stage of the event lifecycle. Key requirements include the following:
- Environmental sustainability: Managing natural resources efficiently, including reducing carbon emissions, minimizing water and energy consumption, and managing waste through recycling or minimizing waste.
- Social sustainability: Promoting diversity and inclusion, ensuring fair working conditions for employees and volunteers, adhering to human rights, and making a positive impact on local communities.
- Economic sustainability: Achieving meaningful economic returns while respecting ethical practices and working with local and sustainable suppliers.
- Supply chain management: Engaging and incentivizing suppliers and partners to adopt sustainable practices.
Development Experts’ methodology for implementing ISO 20121 in event management
We provide a practical framework for designing and implementing an event sustainability management system, ensuring that your event is environmentally and socially responsible.
1. Analyze the context and identify critical aspects of sustainability
We start by determining the context of the event and the expectations of the stakeholders (sponsors, participants, local community, suppliers). We conduct aMateriality Assessment, which includes identifying theenvironmental, social and economic risks associated with the event. This identifies the areas where the management system should focus to achieve the greatest impact.
2. Establishing Sustainability Policy and Goals
We help senior leadership formulate a clear and documented sustainability policy that commits to continuous improvement. Objectives and measurable metrics are defined for each aspect of sustainability (e.g: A goal to reduce the percentage of waste sent to landfill by 20%, or a goal to increase the percentage of purchases from local suppliers).
3. Operational planning and sustainable procurement
We integrate sustainability requirements into the operational planning of the event, starting from the selection and design phase. We develop sustainable procurement criteria to ensure that site selection, catering, and promotional materials minimize environmental impact and support ethical suppliers.
4. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Verification
Mechanisms are put in place to monitorand measure actual performance against set sustainability goals (e.g. measuring the amount of waste generated, or transportation emissions). After the event, we conduct a thorough review and evaluation of the results, document lessons learned, and produce a sustainability report for the event. The organization can undergo a third-party audit to obtain ISO 20121 certification.
Final result
Achieve ISO 20121 certification.
It demonstrates the organization’s commitment toresponsiblehosting and enhances reputation and credibility with stakeholders. It reduces operational costs through efficient use of resources, and ensures social license for the continuation of the event by positively engaging the local community. Need help setting quantitative carbon footprint reduction targets for your next event?
