What ISO 20121 is
ISO 20121 helps events run more sustainably. It covers the whole event: suppliers, travel, energy, waste, food and community impact. Rather than a green checklist, it builds sustainability into how you plan and deliver.
US venues, sports properties and large conferences use it to meet sponsor and city expectations and to manage the environmental footprint of big gatherings. It became well known after the London Olympics used it.
It works for a single flagship event or for an organization that runs events all year.
How to get certified
- Define the scope: one event, or your whole event operation.
- Identify the sustainability issues that matter most for your events and audiences.
- Build sustainability into planning, procurement and supplier contracts.
- Deliver events, capture data, and review what worked.
- Complete the internal audit and management review, then engage a certification body.
- Pass the audits and maintain the system across your event cycle.
Always use an accredited certification body
In the US, look for a body accredited by ANAB. An accredited certificate is the one customers, regulators and buyers actually trust — and you can confirm any certificate through IAF CertSearch.
How much ISO 20121 costs
Cost depends on how many events and suppliers fall inside the scope.
Much of the work is coordination rather than capital spend, so internal time is the main cost.
A strong certificate can help win sponsors and host-city bids, which offsets the spend.
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