Sustainability – a decisive competitive factor in the events industry
Actors and consumers in the events industry are increasingly demanding greater transparency, environmental awareness and social responsibility.
ISO 20121 provides an internationally recognised framework for systematically implementing sustainable development and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the events industry.
What is special about ISO 20121 is that it covers all three pillars of sustainability: environmental protection, social impact and economic components. An ISO 20121 certificate therefore serves as internationally recognised and credible proof of your sustainable approach – both to clients and the public.
Your events will have a clear structure:
You will systematically improve your sustainability performance, set clear sustainability goals and communicate them.
You will systematise your processes, use resources more efficiently and thereby reduce costs.
You will continuously develop and make your sustainability efforts measurable, verifiable and comparable.
Make your organisation fit for the future and set an example for sustainability!
Benefits of Certification
Holistic approach
They combine all three pillars of sustainability – environmental, social and economic – in a structured management system.
Expertise management
You establish effective, secure knowledge management, promote innovation and avoid duplication of work – thereby strengthening your long-term efficiency.
Cost reduction
You can optimise your processes through structured procedures and targeted use of resources. This saves costs in the long term and strengthens your competitiveness.
Stakeholder Dialogue
They involve relevant stakeholders, thereby promoting acceptance and satisfaction among employees, partners and participants.
Market advantage
By communicating your sustainability achievements in a credible manner, you lay the foundation for participating in tenders from the public sector and other sustainability-oriented clients.
Facts and information
ISO 20121 offers you various certification options, depending on your needs and area of application:
Individual events
Event series
Organisations or stakeholders in the event industry
This allows you to choose the certification path that best suits your situation.
Stage 1: Planning – Audit at the management centre
The Stage 1 audit checks whether you have already taken the principles of sustainable event management into account in the planning phase. This includes:
the development of the relevant system documentation
the creation of a workable organisation
internal and external communication with the aim of making your event sustainable.
The aim is to determine whether you are ready for certification.
You have the opportunity to obtain a certificate for ‘sustainable planning’ provided that this is confirmed in the Stage 1 audit. This can be particularly useful for larger events with a longer lead time.
Please note, however, that it is not possible to obtain this part of the certification alone.
Stage 2: Management centre and inspections during the event
The Stage 2 audit consists of two parts:
On-site inspection The audit team accompanies the event from set-up to dismantling and checks how the principles of sustainable event management have been implemented in practice.
Final meeting No later than three months after the event, a debriefing meeting is held with a focus on evaluation and follow-up.
Certification approval
Once the audit has been completed, the audit team submits the documentation to the certification body, followed by
review of the audit documentation
an independent technical review
the technical committee's certification approval decision.
Certificate
The certificate is issued once for the audited event.
However, ‘sustainable implementation’ can only be confirmed after the event has been completed as a result of the Level 2 audit. In this case, you will receive a new certificate confirming both the sustainable planning and implementation of your event.
Stage 1: Document review at the management centre, only in the first year of certification
The Stage 1 audit checks whether you have already taken the principles of sustainable event management into account in the planning phase. This includes:
the development of relevant system documentation
the creation of a functional organisation
internal and external communication with the aim of making your event sustainable.
The aim is to determine whether you are ready for certification.
You have the option of obtaining a certificate for ‘sustainable planning’ provided that this is confirmed in the Stage 1 audit. This can be particularly useful for larger events with a longer lead time.
Please note, however, that it is not possible to obtain only this part of the certification.
Stage 2: Management centre and inspections during the event
The Stage 2 audit consists of two parts:
On-site inspection The audit team accompanies the event from set-up to dismantling and checks how the principles of sustainable event management have been implemented in practice.
Final meeting No later than three months after the event, a debriefing meeting will be held with a focus on evaluation and follow-up.
Certification approval
Once the audits have been completed, the audit team submits the documentation to the certification body, followed by
review of the audit documentation
an independent technical review
the certification decision by the technical committee.
Certificate
The ‘sustainable implementation’ of your event can only be confirmed after the event has been completed as part of the Level 2 audit. In this case, you will receive a new certificate that officially confirms both the sustainable planning and implementation of your event.
This certificate is valid for three years.
During this period, an annual review will be carried out to check whether the planning and implementation still meet the requirements of sustainable event management, albeit to a slightly lesser extent.
Please note: If a review finds that compliance is no longer met, the certificate may be withdrawn.
Stage 1: On site at the management centre
The Stage 1 audit checks and confirms whether you have already effectively implemented the requirements of ISO 20121. The focus is on the following points:
Structure of the project documentation with regard to sustainability-related fields of action
Formation of a functional team
Application of management tools
Internal and external communication
Procedural specifications and documentation for the planned production and implementation of projects
Collection of information on optimisation opportunities and deviations, followed by an evaluation of performance.
Interviews are conducted with your management and project managers. In addition, your documentation is carefully reviewed with the relevant evidence.
After the audit, you will receive a tabular report documenting the certification readiness of your planning.
Stage 2: Management centre or production facilities/event venues
The main focus of the Stage 2 audit is on demonstrating how you apply the requirements of ISO 20121 in practice. The focus is on concepts, planning and implementation of measurement stands, and evaluation of the results.
To this end:
Interviews are conducted with your project management, team members and employees on site
Premises are inspected
Relevant documents and evidence are checked
Individual orders are accompanied from set-up to disposal, if necessary.
Certification approval
Once the audits have been completed, the audit team submits the documentation to the certification body, followed by
review of the audit documentation
an independent technical review
the technical committee's certification approval decision.
Certificate
The certificate is issued for three years. During this period, an annual review is carried out to check whether you continue to meet the requirements of sustainable event management, albeit to a slightly lesser extent than in the initial audit.
If a review finds that compliance is no longer being met, the certificate may be withdrawn.
We in the sustainability team would like to thank you very much for your support and persistence. And if I may say so, without the extensive experience of our auditor, the report would not have turned out so well!
Arno Elz, Sonepar Deutschland GmbH
[Translated with DeepL]
For us, the ISO audit carried out by GUTcert is proof of the credible and high-quality sustainable development of our events. Thank you for the inspiring cooperation!
Fenja Gewitsch, Deutsche Filmakademie Produktion
[Translated with DeepL]
Many thanks to the GUTcert audit team - you have guided us so wonderfully through this process, which has always given us confidence and courage!
Claudia Loewe, Deutsche Filmakademie Produktion GmbH
[Translated with DeepL]
We would like to express our sincere thanks for the excellent cooperation in the context of our ISO 20121 certification. The GUTcert team was always available to us and impressed us with their high level of professionalism and humanity. We always felt we were in good hands and, looking back, we are convinced that we made absolutely the right choice. Thank you very much for your competent guidance and support on our way to sustainable event management.
David Baldig, George P. Johnson GmbH
[Translated with DeepL]
From the very beginning, the GUTcert employees impressed us with their expertise, and the seminars they offered on ISO 20121 were a very important and valuable source of support. The list of costs was transparent and comprehensible, with no hidden surprises.
Isabella Anders, meplan GmbH
[Translated with DeepL]
Working with GUTcert gives us the assurance that our commitment to sustainability is measurable and transparent.
Nelly Zeißig, Holtmann GmbH & Co.KG
[Translated with DeepL]
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