ISO 20121: Sustainable Event Management Standard

ISO 20121 is an international standard developed to ensure the sustainability of events by reducing their environmental, social, and economic impacts. This standard is applied in the planning, organization, and evaluation processes of large-scale events such as conferences, fairs, and sports events.

Why ISO 20121?

• Sustainability: Reduces the environmental footprint of events, uses resources more efficiently, and increases social responsibility awareness.
• Brand Image: Demonstrates a company's commitment to sustainability goals and strengthens brand image.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensures compliance with environmental regulations and social responsibility standards.
• Cost Reduction: Provides cost savings in areas such as waste management and energy efficiency.
• Risk Management: Reduces potential risks associated with events (e.g., environmental accidents, reputation loss).

Scope of ISO 20121

ISO 20121 covers the entire life cycle of events. This includes the planning phase, as well as organization, implementation, and evaluation stages. The standard addresses the following topics:

• Environmental impacts: Waste management, energy use, water use, emissions
• Social impacts: Community relations, human rights, employee rights
• Economic impacts: Contribution to the local economy, supply chain management
• Risk management: Identification and management of potential risks related to events

Benefits of ISO 20121

• Environmental sustainability: Reduces carbon footprint, conserves natural resources.
• Social responsibility: Positively contributes to communities, values ethical principles.
• Economic sustainability: Reduces costs, increases revenues.
• Competitive advantage: Differentiates from competitors in terms of sustainability.
• Brand reputation: Strengthens corporate reputation.

How to Obtain ISO 20121 Certification?

To obtain ISO 20121 certification, an organization must demonstrate that its events comply with this standard. This process is completed through an assessment conducted by a certification body.

Certification Process:

• Application: The organization applies to a certification body.
• Assessment: The certification body examines the organization's events and evaluates compliance with ISO 20121 requirements.
• Certification: If all requirements are met, the organization is awarded the ISO 20121 certificate.

In summary, ISO 20121 is an important standard that ensures events become more sustainable by reducing their environmental, social, and economic impacts. This standard helps companies fulfill their environmental responsibilities while also gaining a competitive advantage.