ISO 20121 certification is an international standard for organising and managing events sustainably, taking environmental, social and economic impacts into account. It was developed to provide a comprehensive framework that organisers can use to plan, deliver and evaluate their events in an environmentally responsible way.
Why ISO 20121 certification matters
- Environmental sustainability: the certificate helps reduce waste, improve energy and water management and select environmentally friendly materials.
- Social responsibility: the certificate encourages support for local communities, respect for different cultures and safe working conditions for staff.
- Economic efficiency: the certificate helps control costs and improve resource management, making events more economically efficient.
- Corporate reputation: ISO 20121 certification enhances an organisation’s reputation as one committed to sustainable practices.
- Competitive advantage: the certificate sets organisers apart from their competitors and attracts new business partners.
ISO 20121 certification requirements
The standard includes a set of requirements organisers must meet to achieve certification, including:
- Understanding the context: understanding the environment in which the event will take place and identifying the relevant stakeholders.
- Event planning: drawing up a comprehensive event plan that takes environmental, social and economic aspects into account.
- Support: providing the resources needed to deliver the event plan.
- Operation: delivering the event plan in line with the defined procedures.
- Evaluation: assessing the event’s performance against the objectives set.
- Continual improvement: identifying opportunities for continual improvement and making the necessary changes.
How to achieve ISO 20121 certification
Understand the standard: read and understand the requirements of ISO 20121.
Assess the current situation: identify gaps in compliance with the standard.
Develop the system: establish a sustainability management system.
Training: train staff on the new system.
Implementation and monitoring: apply the system and monitor performance.
Internal audit: carry out internal audits to improve the system.
Choose a certification body: select an accredited certification body to verify compliance.
Pass the audit: pass the audit and receive the certificate.
History of ISO 20121:
ISO 20121 was officially published in 2012, the same year as the London Olympics, reflecting the close link between the event and the standard.
What are the benefits of ISO 20121?
Requirements for ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management
ISO 20121 certification is an international standard for measuring and evaluating the environmental and social performance of events. It is becoming increasingly important in the world of celebrations and conferences, as it promotes sustainability and reduces negative impacts on the environment and society.
What are the requirements for this certification?
The requirements for ISO 20121 certification include a set of criteria that event organisers must meet, including:
- Strategic planning: a comprehensive event management plan must be drawn up, setting environmental and social objectives and defining roles and responsibilities.
- Event life-cycle assessment: every stage of the event, from planning to close, must be assessed and the environmental and social impacts of each stage identified.
- Risk identification: potential risks that could affect the event’s environmental and social performance must be identified, with plans in place to reduce them.
- Energy management: measures must be taken to reduce energy consumption, such as using renewable energy sources and limiting unnecessary lighting.
- Waste management: a waste management plan must be in place, including separating waste and recycling as much as possible.
- Water management: water consumption must be kept down and water pollution avoided.
- Sustainable procurement: products and services with a lower environmental and social impact must be purchased.
- Social responsibility: social aspects must be considered, such as human rights, worker safety and contributing to the local community.
- Communication and awareness: all event stakeholders, such as staff, participants and the public, must be engaged and made aware of the importance of sustainability.
- Continual review: the event’s environmental and social performance must be reviewed regularly and continually improved.
Which organisations can achieve ISO 20121 certification?
Which organisations can get ISO 20121 certification?
ISO 20121 certification is designed to be comprehensive and applies to any organisation or individual that organises events, whatever the size, type or location of the event.
Here are some examples of organisations that can achieve this certification:
- Event management companies: large or small, local or international.
- Hotels and tourism businesses: that host conferences or private events.
- Universities and educational institutions: that organise academic conferences or student events.
- Non-governmental organisations: that run campaigns or conferences.
- Government agencies: that organise conferences or exhibitions.
- Companies that run internal events: such as product launches or company parties.
- Individuals: who organise private events such as weddings or birthday parties.
Team Quality specialises in auditing and awarding international ISO certification to institutions, factories, companies and government bodies. It is accredited locally by the Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC) and internationally by the International Accreditation Service (IAS), both signatories of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) multilateral recognition arrangement. It is also registered with the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS).
Team Quality’s aim is to help companies of every size and sector achieve excellence in quality by offering a wide range of services, including:
- Certification: we audit and certify organisations against internationally recognised standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 29994.
- Training: the company offers open training courses, available to all, across all areas of quality, such as internal auditing, risk analysis and problem solving.
- Assessment: the company provides independent assessment services to measure how well companies comply with recognised quality standards.
Our accreditations
Team Quality holds the following accreditations and registrations:
Locally by
- The Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC)
International accreditation and registration
- Internationally: International Accreditation Service (IAS), an IAF MLA signatory
- Registered with: Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS)
- Our certificates can be verified on IAF CertSearch
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