Hello!
I’m Ana Inácio and I implement Events Sustainability Management Systems, using ISO 20121 as a reference. I also deliver training courses and do certification audits with this standard. I started working with sustainable events when ISO 20121 didn’t exist, just the British standard BS 8901. I work with organisations of all shapes and sizes, from big players like the 2024 Paris Olympics and Formula E to caterers in dreamy places in France. Management systems provide a structure and a framework to integrate sustainability into the organisation’s strategy and operations. It doesn’t set performance levels, allowing for each organisation to define its journey.
I love developing teams, supporting people’s personal growth and see the transition of businesses to more sustainable models. With ISO 20121 you can do all of these, as well as inspire others to follow suit. Sustainability is my passion and I’m very lucky to do what I love as a job!
I’ll be here to answer your questions live on 2020-09-29T15:00:00Z → 2020-09-29T16:00:00Z.
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Bonjour, Caroline
Oui, je parle Français.
Vous travaillez sur des événements écoresponsables?
C’est génial de pouvoir rencontrer de gens qui partagent les mêmes interêts et valeurs.
À bientôt,
Ana
Hi,
This is very variable, and it depends on organisation’s activities, number of sites, number of events, number of staff, etc. Let’s say a small caterer will need far less number of consultancy and audit days than a big sports event.
Hi Shelby,
I think the terminology of the standard is not very helpful in some chapters, e.g. issues. I would simplify the terminology. I would also reinforce the Supply Chain Management requirements, as I find them critical and not very robust in the standard text.
In ISO 14001, the term “Issue” is only used to analyse Context, and then you have “environmental aspect” for the more technical stuff. I think this is far simpler for everyone.
Hi Ana,
In our experience, smaller companies perceive the ISO20121 as being a lot of work. What should we say to them to reassure them that it is worthwhile?
Also, can you set out what types of organisations can be certified and what that means? i.e. can an AV supplier be certified? Does that mean that they can say every event they run is ISO 20121 certified?
Those are very good points!
Any supplier of the events industry can implement ISO 20121 and achieve certification. In this case, all the services provided by that supplier, in the events context, are certified. You don’t need to get a certification per event.
The standard can be implemented in organisations of all sizes. If you already have some sort of management system, it will be easier, if not, there is a bit more to be done.
The complexity of the system should match the organisation size, i.e. a small company will have a simple system and a big one, a more comprehensive system.
Hi Ana, I’ve just signed up to an intro to ISO2012-1. I set up a Sustainable Events Company this year and I’m looking at various training options to further my knowledge. I am keen to know how you actually apply ISO2012-1 in terms of event management and also if in the long run I would need to do the full course?
Hi Lisa,
I think it would be beneficial to do a course that covers all the elements of ISO 20121 as they are all related to each other.
I’m starting a collaboration with Sustainable Events Alliance, to prepare some new materials.
If you have any burning questions about implementation, let me know and I’m happy to thelp.
Thank you. Would you say in simple terms then that ISO2012-1 acts as a checklist that you can follow when planning an event - highlighting things to look out for?
Not really, because ISO 20121 is a management system, it doesn’t tell you what sustainability actions you should put in place.
The standard gives you a framework to understand what is important to address in your event. And then you define the actions you should implement.
It also says you need to define Objectives so that you know how you can improve. So, let’s say reducing single-use plastic items is one of the things you find important to do, you would probably have an Objective “Zero Single Use Plastic Items in all events”.
Then, you need to find suppliers to provide plastic free solutions, and then measure if you were able to find alternatives to all uses or not.
If not, then, you can state that the objective will be 90% instead.
You can also communicate about this in your event or to the wider public.
