ISO 20121-2024 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 20121:2024 — Event sustainability management systems — Requirements with guidance for use. Specifies requirements and guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving an event sustainability management system to help organisations reduce the environmental, social and economic impacts of events and to maximise positive legacies.

Abstract

This second edition (2024) updates and replaces ISO 20121:2012. The revision strengthens social and legacy considerations (including references to human and children’s rights), clarifies routes for demonstrating conformity, and aligns the standard with contemporary sustainability expectations for events of any size or type. It remains a management‑system‑style standard combining requirements with guidance for application to event planning, delivery and legacy management.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: April 2024 (Edition 2, 2024-04).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 03.100.70; 13.020.20.
• Edition / version: Edition 2 / 2024 (ISO 20121:2024).
• Number of pages: 53 pages.

Scope

Applies to any organisation involved in events (event owners, organisers, venues, suppliers and service providers) and to events of all types and sizes. The standard sets out requirements and accompanying guidance for an event sustainability management system intended to manage social, economic and environmental impacts across the event lifecycle and to plan for positive legacies.

Key topics and requirements

• Establishing an event sustainability management system (policy, objectives, planning, roles and responsibilities).
• Context of the organisation and stakeholder identification/engagement.
• Risk and opportunity assessment for social, environmental and economic impacts.
• Operational planning and control for event activities (supply chain, procurement, waste, energy, transport, catering and accessibility).
• Consideration of human rights and child protection in event operations and supply chains.
• Management of event legacies and community/social outcomes.
• Performance monitoring, internal audit, corrective action and continual improvement.
• Options for demonstrating conformity (self-declaration, supplier validation, third‑party certification) and transition arrangements from the 2012 edition.

Typical use and users

Used by event owners and organisers, venues, suppliers and contractors, local authorities, destination management organisations, sustainability consultants and certification bodies. Typical applications include conferences, festivals, sporting events, exhibitions, corporate meetings and public ceremonies where organisers want to manage and reduce negative impacts and increase positive legacy outcomes.

Related standards

Commonly used alongside ISO 14001 (environmental management), ISO 9001 (quality management) and guidance such as ISO 26000 (social responsibility). It also aligns with reporting frameworks and local regulatory requirements relevant to events, waste, food safety and occupational health and safety.

Keywords

Event sustainability, sustainable events, event management system, legacy, stakeholder engagement, supply chain, human rights, waste management, carbon reduction, ISO 20121:2024.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 20121:2024 is an international standard specifying requirements and guidance for an event sustainability management system to help organisations manage the environmental, social and economic impacts of events.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the full event lifecycle (planning, delivery and legacy), including governance, stakeholder engagement, risk/opportunity management, supply-chain controls, accessibility and social protections—combining normative requirements with explanatory guidance for implementation.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Event owners and organisers, venues, suppliers and contractors, destination managers, municipalities, sustainability advisors and certification bodies seeking to improve event sustainability and demonstrate conformity.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Current — ISO 20121:2024 is the active edition published in April 2024. The previous edition (ISO 20121:2012) was withdrawn when the 2024 edition was published; a transition period for moving from the 2012 edition to the 2024 edition was indicated around publication.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: ISO 20121 is a standalone management‑system standard for events but is commonly implemented in combination with other ISO management standards (for example ISO 14001, ISO 9001) and with industry guidance and local regulations to provide broader sustainability and operational assurance.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Event sustainability, sustainable events, event management system, legacy planning, stakeholder engagement, supply chain, social responsibility, human rights, accessibility, environmental impact.