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Labels and certification

2012, the year of the London Olympics was a breakthrough in establishing a professional sustainable event management system. Based on the British Standard BS8900 ISO prepared a specific standard on Event Sustainability Management Systems ISO 20121:2012. In the same year GRI published the specific Sector Supplement for Event Organizers. 

We were always thinking that there is a clear need of having sustainability standards for event organizers, similar to other businesses. Therefore, it was a very lucky coincidence that GRI invited us in 2010 to be part of a Working Group to develop specific standards for Event organizers. The year of publication of the GRI Event Organizers Sector Supplement earmarked a significant breakthrough. After 2012 the management of events has reached a new level of professionalism.

Rolf Schwery, Director Schwery Consulting

ISO 20121: Event Sustainability Management Systems – Certification

With this label Schwery Consulting confirms that the organisation fulfills the requirements of the international standard ISO 20121:2012: Event Sustainability Management System. 

It contains the key elements in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the event. The event management respects the principles of stewardship, inclusivity, integrity and transparency. 

This label is based on a detailed audit certifying the sustainable event management system. The auditing company is independent of the organisation certified and sufficiently qualified to conduct this type of verification.  

ISO 20121: Event Sustainability Management Systems – Conformity

With this label a Second Party confirms that the organisation fulfills the requirements of the international standard ISO 20121:2012: Event Sustainability Management System. 

It contains the key elements in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the event. The event management respects the principles of stewardship, inclusivity, integrity and transparency. 

This label is based a second Party Audit, making a statement of conformity.

ISO 20121: Event Sustainability Management Systems – Self declaration

With this label the organisers self-declare that they fulfill all requirements of the international standard ISO 20121:2012: Event Sustainability Management System. 

It contains the key elements in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the event. The event management respects the principles of stewardship, inclusivity, integrity and transparency. 

This label is based on a self-declaration. No second party audit or external certification was conducted.

Sustainable Event Management Label

This label confirms that the organisers of the event have developed a sustainability strategy using the major international standards of the Global Reporting Initiative / Event Organizers Sector Disclosures (GRI EOSD) and the ISO 20121:2012 Standard. 

It contains the key elements of 

–       Stakeholder engagement

–       Focus on material issues (Materiality Analysis)

–       Relevance, management approach, initiatives and indicators on material issues

In addition the event management has made an explicit commitment to implement the sustainability strategy. The published document might not contain all elements of the sustainability strategy submitted for verification.

The SEM Label contains always the name of the event and the year of verification. The label is valid for 2 years. After this period a re-assessment of the strategy is necessary.