Independent UK Certification Body

Event Sustainability Management Certification

ISO 20121:2012 is the voluntary international standard for sustainable event management. It helps organisations balance environmental protection, social growth and economic progress throughout the entire event management cycle - from local celebrations to mega-events such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games. International Assessment Bureau carries out independent, impartial audits against the standard and issues certification.

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UK-based certification body

Relevant to the whole event supply chain

Clear, fixed-fee quotes

The Standard

What ISO 20121:2012 Covers

Three Perspectives

A balanced-risk approach integrating environmental protection, social growth and economic progress into the planning, execution and review of events.

Whole Supply Chain

Relevant to every member of the event industry supply chain, including organisers, event managers, stand builders, caterers and logistics suppliers.

Practical Guidance

Offers guidance and best practice for everyday choices, such as tap water instead of plastic bottles and encouraging public transport.

Any Scale of Event

Flexible enough to apply to any event, from music festivals and school outings to mega-events such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Why It Matters

What ISO 20121:2012 Does For Your Organisation

Establishes a management system: helps you establish, implement, maintain and improve an event sustainability management system.

Demonstrates conformity: lets you demonstrate conformance with your stated sustainable development policy, verified independently by a certification body.

Reduces costs and waste: reduces costs, carbon emissions and waste across the event lifecycle.

Protects venues: supports better management of the biodiversity of the venues you use.

Builds legacy: creates skills, employment and business legacies, and achieves a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

How It Works

Our Certification Process at a Glance

Application & Quote

Tell us about your organisation and scope. We provide a clear, fixed quote.

Payment & Invoice

Once you accept the quote, we issue an invoice and confirm your certification agreement before scheduling the audit.

Stage 1, Stage 2 & Surveillance Audits

On-site/remote assessment of your event sustainability management system in operation against the standard, followed by ongoing surveillance audits.

Certification Decision

An independent technical review confirms the certification decision.

Certificate & Surveillance

Certificate issued, with annual surveillance audits to keep it valid.

See our full certification process for more detail on each stage.

Background

About ISO 20121:2012

International Assessment Bureau is an independent certification body based in the UK. ISO 20121:2012 was developed with input from a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the event industry, to make it practical and useful in real event planning and delivery. It addresses every stage of an event's supply chain and includes monitoring and measuring guidelines.

Applying the standard typically leads to improvements in key sustainability issues such as venue selection, transport, recycling or reusing demolition waste, developing a sustainable food strategy, and promoting healthy living. ISO itself issues no certification or conformity test directly - it develops the standards through a consensus-based process involving technical committees, industry experts, consumer organisations and national standards bodies. Certification against ISO 20121:2012 is carried out by certification bodies such as International Assessment Bureau. If you are involved in the event industry in any way and would like to know more, get in touch with our team.

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