Implementation Process Of Event Sustainability Management System Based On Iso 20121

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ISO 20121 is known as the leading standard certification for sustainable events and their management systems. With the ISO 20121 certification, any organization can make their event more sustainable, no matter the event size or type. Holding events can often take a toll on resources and the environment, ensuing in the generation of a significant amount of waste. This International standard has been established to relieve any strain on local infrastructure and utilities, therefore reducing any conflict in local communities where events are hosted.
Who is applicable for ISO 20121?
ISO 20121 delivers a framework for all members of the event supply chain to consider their social, economic and environmental impacts. As organizations can classify issues that are relevant for their events rather than work through a rigid checklist, ISO 20121 is appropriate to events of all sizes, it is also relevant for all different types of events including business, sport and culture events.
How to Implement ISO 20121?
This guide will take organization through the key steps involved to meet the International Standard for ...
... Event Sustainability Management Systems, ISO 20121. It will simplify the language and give examples of how can achieve each step.
ISO 20121 Implementation Process:
There is heavy focus on planning when implementing ISO 20121 which means the first steps take the longest. Once organization have made plan then it’s about going away and taking action. Then it’s about checking and reviewing to improve for next time.
Defining scope and context:
Scope might be that only include some of events or part of venue. As this is an international standard, organization needs to understand its external issues, stakeholders, its place in the world etc., in order to set the right objectives. If decide to exclude something from management system then need to make this clear when claiming compliance with the standard.
Define principles of sustainable development:
Organization is asked to have governing principles of sustainable development in the form of a statement of purpose and values and this should include a reference to four governing principles of sustainable development: stewardship, inclusivity, integrity and transparency.
Defining purpose:
This might simply mean that document, how existing values fit with these sustainable development principles.
Showing progress against principles of sustainable development:
Organization wants to be able to prove a progressing against principles of sustainable development. The easiest way to do this is to think about core values, which will be based upon principles of sustainable development. Decide where presently are in relation to this value as an event. Then decide what it would take to improve and when these milestones might be.
Identifying issues:
Organization needs to identify significant sustainability issues in relation to event scope. To make this easier think about these in relation to the three pillars of sustainable development: social, economic, environment. New to ISO 20121 is the requirement to identify new emerging issues – as sustainability is an emerging topic there should be some evidence that the organization is considering emerging issues rather than waiting for them to be established. An emerging issue could be drought in area, food shortages etc. For legal and other requirements, with it being an international standard there is some information about countries where the law does not provide for minimum environmental, social or economic safeguards so the organization should aspire to international best practice.
What are challenges and opportunities?
Consider significant issues that have prioritized and identify what are challenges and opportunities for each. The company, through SWOT and PESTLE analyses for example, should understand the risks and opportunities and know what actions essential to be taken so that ISO 20121 is implemented correctly and all undesirable results or effects are minimized – as well as confirming constant improvement. The actions should be combined into the normal business ways of working, and these actions are reviewed in relation to the objectives and the principles of sustainable development.
Developing objectives:
Now decide what key objectives are going to be for event scope. Factors which influence scope include Company size, The needs of stakeholders, The objectives of organization, The location where organization is based and operates.
Creating targets:
For each objective develop some targets to aim to achieve for organization’s scope. These should be smart targets as need to know how identify whether or not organization have achieved that target.
Making plans:
Top management should be aware of the policies that are in place, support their creation and assure that the way of working of the company is considering sustainability, as well as making sure that resources are being set aside.
Responsibilities:
Sustainability champions often have full time roles and responsibilities. Make sure that time has been created precisely for implementation of ISO 20121 to avoid this being continually deprioritized.
Sustainability policy:
Set out sustainability commitments in a sustainability policy for organization’s scope. Sustainability policy wording should be changed to reflect the transition to ISO 20121 from BS 8901. There are also a few slight changes, including a commitment to legacy issues and assure that within policy, have considered supply chain organizations.
Interested Parties:
Identify interested parties and how communicate with them. Interested parties are organizations who can be affected by how business is run.
Staff training:
Create a staff training plan to make aware of sustainability and anything else that now need to know. May wish to set aside budget specifically for sustainability education. ISO 20121 is about assure the person doing the work has the right competence, and where appropriate steps are being taken to get this competence. There should be documented evidence of the competency and regular reviews.
Suppliers:
Create a plan for how going to review suppliers and encourage them to come on a sustainability journey. Also confirm there is enough documentation in tenders, judging tenders on suppliers’ ability to meet objectives.
Final planning:
Map out how organization are going to confirm that comply with legal and other requirements, regularly review management system targets, obtain an internal audit, Review and constantly develop system, feedback to senior management.
Implementing:
Now it’s a case of implementing all the action plans have set out to do. Assure everyone included in action plans is aware of what they need to do.
Monitoring and measuring:
It is crucial monitor and measure progress against targets for everything set out to do. Constant monitoring will permit to identify areas for improvement or areas of non-conformity.
Non-conformities:
Record these for management system. As ISO 20121 focuses on constant improvement, it’s ok if didn’t meet targets or if something didn’t work as it should have – as long as have a plan for how will address the problem.
Internal audit:
Have system reviewed to check implemented system and the ISO 20121 documents are complies with all of the ISO 20121 requirements. This could be done by someone internal in organization; however, they can’t be someone who has been straight involved with the creation or implementation of the management system.