ISO 20121 Certification: Sustainable Event Management for Event Organisers
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ISO 20121 is the international management system standard for sustainable event management, published by ISO. It helps event organisers, venues and suppliers manage environmental, social and economic impacts across the event lifecycle. Organisations are certified by accredited certification bodies; PopularCert provides readiness consulting, not certification. The current edition is ISO 20121:2024.
ISO 20121 is the global benchmark for responsible event planning, delivery and legacy management. The current edition is ISO 20121:2024, which replaced ISO 20121:2012. If you hold an ISO 20121:2012 certificate, check your transition deadline with your certification body and plan your transition audit.
The standard grew out of BS 8901, which was used in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
PopularCert is an independent consulting firm. ISO 20121 certificates are issued by accredited certification bodies.
What is ISO 20121?
ISO 20121 is a management system standard. It does not tell you exactly how to run your events. It gives you a framework for identifying your sustainability impacts, setting objectives, managing your supply chain responsibly, and continuously improving your sustainability performance.
It covers three dimensions of sustainability:
Environmental Sustainability Managing energy consumption, water use, waste generation, carbon emissions, biodiversity impact, and material sourcing across all event activities and supply chain relationships.
Social Sustainability Managing community impact, inclusivity, accessibility, worker welfare, children’s rights, human rights in the supply chain, and the social legacy your events leave behind. The 2024 version significantly strengthened these social requirements.
Economic Sustainability Managing the economic impact of your events on local communities, supporting local suppliers, creating lasting economic legacies, and ensuring sustainable financial management of event activities.
ISO 20121 applies to the entire event management system not just what happens on event day. It covers planning, procurement, delivery, evaluation, and improvement across the full event lifecycle.
How to Get ISO 20121 Certification
Gap Analysis
The process begins with a gap analysis focused on sustainable event management practices. ISO 20121 is designed for organizations involved in events, such as event planners, venues and suppliers. In this step, you evaluate your current event management processes against the requirements and identify gaps in environmental impact, social responsibility and economic sustainability. The result is a clear roadmap for building a sustainable event management system.
Training & Documentation
Once the gaps are identified, the next step is to train your team and develop the necessary documentation. Employees are educated on sustainable practices, stakeholder engagement, and compliance with ISO 20121 requirements. Documentation includes sustainability policies, objectives, risk assessments, stakeholder communication plans, and operational procedures. This step ensures that sustainability is embedded into every stage of event planning and execution, from resource usage to waste management.
Internal Audit & MRM (Management Review Meeting)
After implementation, internal audits check whether sustainability practices are effectively built into event operations and identify areas for improvement. For how audits work, see our guide to auditing. A Management Review Meeting follows, where leadership evaluates performance, sustainability goals, stakeholder feedback and audit results. This confirms top management involvement and your readiness for the external audit.
4. External Audit by an Accredited Certification Body
An accredited certification body conducts the external audit, typically in two stages. Stage 1 reviews documentation and preparedness. Stage 2 evaluates how the system is implemented during event operations. Auditors assess how well you manage aspects such as energy use, waste reduction, ethical sourcing and community impact. Any nonconformities must be resolved before certification is granted. PopularCert prepares you for this audit but does not conduct it.
5. ISO 20121 Certification and Maintenance
If you pass the audit, the certification body issues your ISO 20121 certificate, which demonstrates your commitment to sustainable event management to clients, stakeholders and partners. Maintaining it takes continual improvement, monitoring of sustainability performance and regular surveillance audits.
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Types Of ISO Certification
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- ISO 13485 Certification
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- GMP Certification
- Halal Certification
- SOC-1 Certification
- SOC-2 Certification
ISO 20121:2024: Edition and Transition
ISO published ISO 20121:2024 in April 2024, replacing ISO 20121:2012. Certification bodies move organizations to the new edition during a transition period that, according to BSI, runs to 31 March 2027. Confirm your own deadline and audit options with your certification body.
The 2024 edition adds clearer requirements for managing changes (clause 8.2) and for supply chain management (clause 8.3), which matter most for event organisers who rely on many venues and contractors.
Who Does What
Role | Who | What they do |
Standard owner | ISO | Publishes ISO 20121. Does not certify organizations. |
Certification body | An accredited third-party body of your choice | Audits your event sustainability management system and issues the certificate. |
Consultant | PopularCert | Gap analysis, documentation, training, internal audit and audit readiness. Does not issue certificates or guarantee audit outcomes. |
Choose a certification body accredited for ISO 20121 by an accreditation body that is a signatory of the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement.
How ISO 20121 Applies Across the Event Lifecycle
ISO 20121 covers your event management system, not just event day. For event organisers, the requirements land at these stages.
Stage | What auditors expect to see | Evidence examples |
Planning | Sustainability objectives for each event, risk and opportunity assessment, legal requirements identified | Event sustainability plan, aspects and impacts register |
Procurement | Supplier and venue selection based on sustainability criteria, with clear requirements passed to contractors | Supplier questionnaires, venue criteria, signed supplier requirements |
Stakeholder engagement | Communication with sponsors, attendees, suppliers and local communities | Stakeholder map, consultation records, attendee communications |
Delivery | Operational controls for waste, energy, transport, accessibility and welfare on site | Waste logs, energy data, site checklists, incident records |
Change management | Controlled response to last-minute changes that affect sustainability | Change log with impact assessments |
Evaluation | Measured results against objectives and a post-event review | Post-event report, KPI results, lessons learned |
Improvement | Corrective actions and updated objectives for future events | Corrective action records, management review minutes |
Key Principles of ISO 20121
- Integration of sustainability: The standard guarantees integration of sustainability within all functions from logistics, to procurement and even waste management while planning for events and carrying them out.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Communication and cooperation with the suppliers, sponsors, attendees, and other stakeholders will be ensured in order to establish sustainable practice.
- Continual Improvement: Organizations must continuously analyze and improve their sustainability performance in order to achieve long-term success.
- Risk and Opportunity Management: Identification of sustainability risks and opportunities in an organization ensures proactive handling of environmental and social issues.
- Transparency and Accountability: Clear communication, reporting, and documentation of sustainability efforts ensure accountability and credibility.
ISO 20121 for Different Event Types
Event Type | ISO 20121 Coverage Areas |
Conferences & Corporate Events | Venue selection, catering sourcing, delegate travel management, digital accessibility, material waste reduction, social inclusion in speaker selection and audience engagement |
Music & Arts Festivals | Site management, waste and recycling infrastructure, energy sourcing, food vendor sustainability requirements, community impact management, post-event site restoration |
Sporting Events | Venue sustainability, athlete and spectator transport, equipment and kit sourcing, food and beverage management, community legacy programs, broadcast and media sustainability |
Exhibitions & Trade Shows | Stand build and materials, logistics and freight, catering, energy management across exhibition halls, supply chain sustainability assessment for exhibitors |
Government & Public Events | Procurement rules, public accessibility, community engagement, environmental impact assessment, social legacy documentation for regulatory reporting |
Example Sustainability Objectives for Event Organisers
ISO 20121 does not set fixed targets. You set objectives based on your own baseline and aspects. These examples show what measurable, audit-ready objectives can look like.
# | Objective (example) | How to measure it |
1 | Increase the share of event waste diverted from landfill | Waste diverted (kg) ÷ total waste (kg), per event |
2 | Reduce single-use plastic items per attendee | Items purchased or used ÷ attendees |
3 | Reduce event energy use per attendee | kWh per attendee, compared with a baseline event |
4 | Track and reduce estimated event carbon emissions | tCO₂e per event and per attendee, using a documented method |
5 | Increase the share of attendees using lower-carbon travel | Attendee travel survey results |
6 | Increase spend with local or sustainability-assessed suppliers | % of event procurement spend |
7 | Cover key suppliers with sustainability requirements | % of suppliers who have signed or been assessed |
8 | Improve accessibility of venues and materials | % of events with a completed accessibility check |
9 | Reduce food waste at catered events | kg of food waste per meal served |
10 | Close sustainability corrective actions on time | % closed by due date |
Set your own targets, record the method you used, and keep the data. Auditors look for evidence that you measured and acted on the results.
Benefits of ISO 20121 Certification
- Improved Sustainability Performance: Helps organizations minimize environmental impact; reduce waste, and lower energy consumption.
- Enhanced Stakeholder Confidence: Demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability, fostering trust among clients, sponsors, and attendees.
- Cost Savings: Sustainable practices help reduce operational costs through efficient resource utilization and waste reduction.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensures compliance with national and international sustainability regulations and policies.
- Market Expansion: Enhances brand reputation, making organizations more competitive and attractive to eco-conscious clients and investors.
- Risk Management: Helps organizations proactively address environmental and social risks, ensuring long-term sustainability.
For in-depth insights and practical guidance on ISO 20121 implementation, explore our ISO 20121 Certification resources.
Cost of ISO 20121 Certification
The cost of ISO 20121 certification depends on several factors:
- Scope and complexity: Larger organizations with multiple event operations face more scope and a more complex implementation.
- Consulting and training: Many organizations use professional consultancy and training to implement the standard, which adds to the overall cost.
- Certification body fees: Fees for the certification audit vary by provider, so request quotes from accredited bodies.
- Implementation costs: Policy development, staff training and starting new sustainability practices all need a budget.
Why Choose PopularCert for ISO 20121 Certification?
PopularCert offers comprehensive support for organizations preparing for ISO 20121 certification. Our experienced consultants bring expertise in sustainable event management and ISO 20121 implementation, with solutions tailored to your organization’s sustainability requirements. From the initial assessment to audit readiness, we offer end-to-end support for a smooth process.
We prepare you for the audit. An accredited certification body issues the certificate, and we cannot guarantee audit outcomes.
Get ISO 20121 Ready: Start Today
Clients, sponsors and public bodies increasingly ask event organisers for evidence of sustainable practice, and ISO 20121 is a recognized way to show it.
If you hold an ISO 20121:2012 certificate, check your transition deadline with your certification body and plan your transition audit. If you’re new to ISO 20121, a free conversation with our team can help you scope your event management system and plan your timeline.
Book your ISO 20121 consultation
If your organization also runs an ISO 9001 quality system, our ISO 9001 certification support can help you align the two.
Sources and Further Reading
FAQ
Who needs ISO 20121 certification?
ISO 20121 is designed for event organisers, venues, event agencies, suppliers and anyone involved in planning, delivering or supporting events who wants to demonstrate sustainable event management practices.
How long does it take to get ISO 20121 certified?
As a planning estimate, three to six months, depending on size, complexity and readiness, and on the number of events and locations in your scope.
I hold an ISO 20121:2012 certificate. What should I do?
Contact your certification body to confirm your transition deadline and audit plan. ISO 20121:2024 added clearer requirements on managing changes and supply chain management, so run a gap analysis against the new edition first.
Who issues an ISO 20121 certificate?
An accredited certification body issues it. ISO publishes the standard but does not certify organizations, and consultants such as PopularCert prepare you for the audit.
How does ISO 20121 differ from other sustainability standards?
ISO 20121 focuses specifically on event sustainability management, covering the full event lifecycle and its environmental, social and economic impacts. Unlike broader sustainability frameworks, it is tailored to event organisers, venues and suppliers, with requirements built around stakeholder engagement, legacy and continual improvement in event operations.
What are the challenges organizations might face when implementing ISO 20121?
Common challenges include allocating enough resources and budget, training staff and suppliers on new practices, integrating requirements into existing event processes, collecting reliable impact data and staying consistent across multiple events and locations. Strong leadership support and clear communication help.
What is ISO 20121 all about?
ISO 20121 is an international standard for sustainable event management. It helps organizations plan and run events in ways that minimize environmental impact, improve social responsibility and support long-term economic benefits. It applies to all types of events, from small meetings and conferences to large festivals and public gatherings.
What are the benefits of ISO 20121?
It helps organizations manage events more sustainably by reducing waste and resource use, improving efficiency and building stakeholder confidence. It can support cost savings and a stronger reputation, and it shows that events are planned and delivered responsibly.
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