ISO 20121 Certification: Your Guide to Sustainable Events
In a world increasingly focused on sustainability, ISO 20121 certification is becoming more important for companies that plan and execute events. This international standard for event management helps organizations create sustainable events, encompassing environmental, social, and economic considerations. ISO 20121 provides a practical framework for identifying potential negative impacts of events and developing measures to reduce these impacts. It confirms that a company organizes events with consideration for ecological, economic, and social aspects, strengthening the trust of participants and clients. In times when sustainable action is demanded, ISO 20121 certification represents a crucial step for responsible event management.
ISO 20121 Certification – Key Information for Your ISO 20121 Certification
What You Can Expect from ISO 20121 Certification by PIAQ:
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The first step toward certification is the certification request. You can submit the certification request via our website. We will process your certification request immediately and contact you within 24 hours.
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Certification Quote & Certification Contract
After reviewing your certification application, we will prepare a non-binding quote, which you will typically receive within 24 hours.
Please return the signed quote if it meets your requirements. After we receive and review your confirmation, we will also sign the quote. Only with our signature does the quote become a binding contract.
Pre-Audit (Optional)
The pre-audit offers you the opportunity to check in advance whether your management system meets the requirements of ISO 20121 and whether your company is ready for certification.
This one-day, voluntary audit is crucial for identifying potential weaknesses early and effectively addressing them, minimizing the risk of non-compliance during the actual certification.
Certification Audit (Stage 1 and Stage 2)
The certification audit is divided into two phases: system analysis (Stage 1) and practical implementation (Stage 2).
Stage 1 - System Analysis: In this part of the audit, we review:
The documentation of the management system
Site-specific conditions
The customer's understanding of the standards
The scope of certification
Applicable legal and regulatory requirements
Conduct of internal audits and management reviews
Availability of resources for the Stage 2 audit
Readiness for the Stage 2 audit
Stage 2 - Practical Implementation: In this phase, it is checked whether:
The organization meets the standard requirements
The management system is effective
All relevant legal, regulatory, and customer-specific requirements are met
Certificate Issuance
As part of a technical review by the PIAQ Certification Committee, it is determined whether the audit was conducted properly, whether all required documents are complete, and whether it has been demonstrated that the standard requirements for the management system have been adequately met. Only then can the certificate be issued.
The issued certificate is valid for three years. However, an annual surveillance audit confirms the maintenance of the certificate.
Surveillance Audit 1
To ensure continuous compliance with certification standards and confirm the effectiveness of the management system, two surveillance audits are conducted in the two years following the certificate issuance.
The first surveillance audit takes place nine months after the certificate issuance date.
The first surveillance audit ensures that the organization continues to meet the established requirements and that the implemented systems and processes remain effective after the initial certification.
Surveillance Audit 2
The second surveillance audit takes place 12 months after the first surveillance audit.
The second surveillance audit ensures that the organization continues to meet the established requirements and that the implemented systems and processes remain effective after the initial certification.
Recertification
To renew your certificate after three years, a recertification audit is required. This usually takes place four months before the certificate's expiration date and is similar in scope to the Stage 2 audit.
Recertification begins a new certification process. Upon successful certification, a new certificate is issued.
The issued certificate is valid for three years. However, an annual surveillance audit confirms the maintenance of the certificate.
Do you want to learn more about ISO 20121 certification? Our experts have answered the most important questions for you.
ISO 20121, known as "Event Sustainability Management Systems – Requirements with Guidance for Use," was first introduced in 2012. The development of this standard was heavily influenced by the growing global awareness of sustainability, particularly in the event and conference industry. A significant historical milestone for ISO 20121 was the 2012 London Olympics, which served as a pioneer for sustainable large-scale events and comprehensively demonstrated the implementation and principles of ISO 20121. This standard is based on the British standard BS 8901, which was specifically developed for the event industry and later replaced by ISO 20121 to provide an international standard.
ISO 20121 certification provides companies in the event sector with a comprehensive guideline for integrating sustainability into all aspects of their activities. This not only promotes environmentally friendly and socially responsible event planning but also brings significant business benefits.
Promote sustainability awareness
Improve resource efficiency
Reduce waste
Minimize energy consumption
Reduce carbon footprint
Optimize risk management
Strengthen employee engagement
Build reputation and brand image
Ensure compliance with environmental legislation
Gain competitive advantage
Strengthen stakeholder trust
Support long-term profitability
Increase innovation potential
Highlight social responsibility
The exact cost of your ISO 20121 certification is individual and depends on various factors, primarily influenced by the size of your company and the scope of the certification process. The number of locations and the number of employees play a decisive role. The maturity of your existing system and any previous or current certifications can also affect the costs.
ISO 20121 Certification Cost: Based on our current daily rates, you can expect costs starting from €1,970 for ISO 20121 certification if your company has 1-25 employees. Please note that this estimate may vary, and a more accurate assessment will be provided after receiving your specific information.
To obtain ISO 20121 certification, companies and organizations must implement a sustainability management system that meets specific requirements. This includes developing a sustainability policy that outlines clear goals and measures to improve the environmental, economic, and social aspects of their events. Additionally, they must establish processes for continuous review and improvement of these systems and demonstrate that their event management practices actively contribute to sustainability and are continuously improved.
ISO 20121 is applicable to any company or organization, regardless of size or type, that plans, manages, or executes events. This includes a wide range of actors such as:
Event organizers and managers
Exhibition and conference centers
Hotels and event venues
Concert and festival organizers
Sports event organizers
Corporate event planners
Cities and municipalities hosting large events
Suppliers and service providers within the event industry
From the initial application to the issuance of the certificate, it takes between 4 and 12 weeks if the audit is conducted without major deviations. The duration may be longer depending on the size of the organization or the complexity of the events and can be adjusted according to customer requirements. It is important that the audit must be completed within 6 months after the order confirmation.
If you submit an application for ISO 20121 certification today, you will receive a non-binding quote tomorrow. After order confirmation, we can conduct the audit within two weeks. If the audit is completed without deviations, the certification committee needs about 2-3 working days for its decision. 1-2 days after a positive decision by the certification committee, the certificate is issued and provided to you as a PDF and in hard copy.
Yes, ISO 20121 can be well integrated with other management system standards, especially those based on the High-Level Structure (HLS). This facilitates integration with standards such as:
ISO 9001
ISO 14001
ISO 45001
ISO 50001
How Can We Assist You?
Request our ISO 20121 certification for free and without obligation!
Contact us if you would like to learn more about ISO 20121 certification.
