ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management Systems up for review

August 14, 2023

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is asking the event industry to provide feedback on proposed changes to the ISO 20121 International Standard for Sustainable Events Management.

Covering a vast array of events from music festivals to school outings, ISO 20121 offers guidance and best practice to event operators with regard to their social, economic and environmental impact.

It covers every aspect of running a sustainable event, including leadership, planning, communications, supply chain management and measuring performance.

With the Standard coming up for a 10-year review, event management training platform rEVENTS Academy is part of a committee made up of event industry representatives in Australia that is seeking feedback on the proposed changes.

The Australian committee will compile all of the Australian feedback and send it through to the international committee for consideration.

ISO 20121: Event Sustainability Management Systems
The standard is a framework for systematically approaching management of sustainability issues for events. It’s suitable to be implemented by event organisers, venues, and event industry suppliers. It prevents an ad-hoc approach to sustainability management and steers an organisation or event to sustainability excellence.

A communication from rEVENTS Academy advises "events enable the human engagement, collaboration and inspiration we need to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

"Sport, business and cultural events bring your companies (or your clients) brand to life and implementing ISO 20121 will enable you to consider sustainability at every decision point whether you are the event owner or an SME in the event supply chain."

ISO 20121 offers guidance and best practice to help the management of event and control its social, economic and environmental impact. ISO 20121’s flexible approach means that it can be used for all types of events, from music festivals to school outings, from business meetings to exhibitions from major sport events to community parties.

The standard has been developed with input from many different stakeholders, including representatives from the event industry, to make it practical and useful. It addresses all stages of an events’ supply chain, and includes monitoring and measuring guidelines.

Why ISO 20121 is important
Events take a heavy toll on resources, society and the environment, often generating significant waste. In addition to promoting more responsible consumption, ISO 20121 has been developed to relieve the strain on local infrastructure and utilities, reducing the potential for conflict in communities where events are hosted.

The review period closes Monday 28th August.

To review the draft International Standard and provide input, email kushla@tilmagroup.com.au for a copy.

To learn more about the Standard go www.committee.iso.org/home/tc250

Image courtesy of City of Adelaide.

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