ISO 20121 - Sustainable Events

The ISO 20121 certification allows those responsible for the overall management of an event to bring attention to sustainability issues, engage communities, and enhance territories.
The standard specifies the requirements for sustainable event management systems and is aimed at companies that organise events, congressional platforms, and event support providers.

Service Details

ISO 20121 enables organisations to share unified benchmarks to prevent, mitigate and compensate for possible adverse impacts of events on the local environment and local communities, while enhancing positive impacts.
The benefits that can be obtained through a sustainable event management system in accordance with ISO 20121 are:

• demonstrating a responsible approach to the environment and the community
• managing environmental, social and economic risks and opportunities
• strengthening the organisation’s position within the community.

Why RINA?

Thanks to ACCREDIA accreditation, RINA is an authorised Certification Partner for organisations of all types and for any kind of events and related activities.

Q&A

Who can apply ISO 20121?

• Event Owners: the parties who commission and are responsible for the overall management of an event
• Event Organiser: whoever is responsible for putting on the event
• Event Suppliers: any organisation providing products, services or facilities such as installers, light technicians, sound engineers, catering companies, landowners and property owners, conference platforms, couriers.

Transition to ISO 20121:2024 standard

In April 2024, the ISO 20121:2024 standard was published.
This new standard replaces ISO 20121:2012, which was withdrawn at the same time. However, ISO 20121:2012 will remain valid during the expected transition period of two years from the date of publication (until April 2026).
During the transition period, both the certification processes according to ISO 20121:2012 and ISO 20121:2024 can coexist, in compliance with the scheme shown below.

ISO 20121:2012
- Initial audit: until the date of transition of accreditation to the ISO 20121:2024 version; in any case, not after 03 January 2025.
- Surveillance audit: until 02 April 2025.
- Recertification: until 02 April 2025.

ISO 20121:2024
- Initial audit: after the date of transition of accreditation to the ISO 20121:2024 version; in any case after 04 January 2025.
- Surveillance audit: voluntary after the date of transition of accreditation to the ISO 20121:2024 version, if earlier then 02 April 2025; mandatory from 03 April 2025.
- Recertification: voluntary after the date of transition of accreditation to the ISO 20121:2024 version, if earlier then 02 April 2025; mandatory from 03 April 2025.