Why Sustainable Events Are the Future — and How ISO 20121 Leads the Way.
As the climate crisis deepens, the events industry is being urged to take responsibility for its environmental and social impact. From global summits to music festivals and sporting spectacles, the way we plan and deliver events is undergoing a fundamental shift. Sustainability is no longer a desirable extra, it’s a core expectation.
One of the most powerful tools driving this transformation is ISO 20121, the international standard for sustainable event management. Originally developed for the London 2012 Olympic Games, ISO 20121 provides a structured framework for embedding sustainability into every stage of an event’s lifecycle. It goes beyond simply reducing waste or emissions, it helps organisations align their events with broader environmental, social, and economic goals.
A Legacy of Leadership: Paris 2024 and ISO 20121
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games built on this legacy by fully adopting ISO 20121. The organising committee used the standard to guide decisions on everything from venue selection and energy use to transport, procurement, and community engagement. The result was a Games that not only celebrated sporting excellence but also set a new benchmark for sustainability.
Paris 2024’s commitment to ISO 20121 ensured that sustainability was not an afterthought, but a foundational principle. Over 95% of venues were existing or temporary, the Games were powered by renewable energy, and low-carbon transport options were prioritised. These achievements were made possible by the structured, systemic approach that ISO 20121 enables.
How ISO 20121 Enhances the Benefits of Sustainable Events
Strategic Integration
ISO 20121 helps organisations embed sustainability into their core planning processes. This ensures that environmental and social considerations are not treated as separate or secondary but are fully integrated into the event’s objectives and operations.
Continuous Improvement
The standard promotes a cycle of planning, implementation, review, and improvement. This allows event organisers to learn from each experience and continually raise their sustainability standards.
Stakeholder Engagement
ISO 20121 places strong emphasis on engaging all stakeholders, from suppliers and sponsors to attendees and local communities. This fosters transparency, accountability, and shared ownership of sustainability goals.
Risk Management
By identifying and addressing environmental, social, and economic risks early on, ISO 20121 helps prevent issues and ensures smoother, more resilient event delivery.
Measurable Impact
The framework includes tools for monitoring and evaluating sustainability performance. This enables organisers to track progress, report outcomes, and demonstrate real-world impact.
Global Recognition
Achieving ISO 20121 certification signals a serious and credible commitment to sustainability. It enhances an organisation’s reputation with partners, regulators, and the public, and can serve as a powerful differentiator in a competitive market.
The Future Is Certified Green
As the events industry evolves, ISO 20121 is emerging as the gold standard for responsible event management. It transforms sustainability from a checklist into a culture – one that delivers lasting environmental, social, and economic benefits.
The success of Paris 2024 shows what’s possible when sustainability is not just a promise, but a practice. For event organisers everywhere, the message is clear: the future of events is not only green – it’s certified.
