Step 1: Understanding your purpose

The first step is to understand the purpose you would like to achieve ISO 20121:2012 by asking yourself why is achieving ISO 20121:2012 significant to your organisation or event. This step lays the foundation for the following steps.

Step 2: Defining your principles of sustainable development

You must have governing principles of sustainable development in the form of a statement of purpose and values. This statement of purpose and values should mention the following four principles of sustainable development: Stewardship, inclusivity, integrity, and transparency.

Step 3: Conduct a gap analysis

Next, a gap analysis will be conducted to assess your existing sustainability practices and identify areas of improvement. Then, evaluate your policies, procedures, and processes related to event management and identify areas where it can incorporate sustainability into its operations. 

Step 4: Plan and develop a sustainability management plan

Now, you can plan and develop a sustainability management plan that outlines your goals, policies, and procedures for incorporating sustainability into your event management processes.

Step 5: Communicate with and engage employees and stakeholders

After the planning stage, you have to communicate the plan by spreading awareness and training your employees on the importance of sustainability and how they can contribute to the company’s goals. Meanwhile, you will work closely with your suppliers to ensure they know your sustainability expectations and encourage them to adopt sustainable practices.

Step 6: Prepare documents

In this step, you establish and prepare sustainability policy, procedures, instructions and other relevant documents to monitor and guide you in the following stages. 

Step 7: Implement your sustainability management system

Now, you will be ready to implement your sustainability management system designed in the previous steps and integrate sustainability into your event management processes. 

Step 8: Conduct internal audits

You need to conduct internal audits to comply with the ISO 20121:2012 standard. Another purpose of conducting internal audits is to identify areas for improvement.

Step 9: Get certification

Get your ISO 20121:2012 certification from an independent verification certification body by undergoing a certification audit to prove your credibility.

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Step 10: Improve continuously

You need to continue to monitor and improve your sustainability practices in line with the ISO 20121:2012 standard even after getting certification. This involves conducting regular internal audits and making necessary improvements to enhance your sustainability performance.