Planning sustainable events with measurable environmental impact

What makes an event sustainable

At their core, sustainable events integrate practices that reduce waste, conserve resources and, importantly, measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions. According to international sustainability standards, such as ISO 20121, event organisers should assess environmental, social and economic aspects right from design and planning to post-event evaluation.

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Key components of sustainable events include:

• Resource efficiency: reducing energy, water and material usage overall.
• Engagement: involving local communities and mindful stakeholder participation.
• Waste minimisation: favouring reuse and recycling over disposables.
• Carbon awareness: recognising that emissions from travel, energy and catering contribute to climate change and should be addressed systematically.

Calculating and offsetting carbon footprint

Understanding your event’s carbon footprint — the total greenhouse gas emissions produced — is essential to sustainability planning. This starts with detailed data collection on key emission sources such as travel, energy use, catering and waste. Tools and protocols designed for events help quantify emissions in terms of CO2 equivalents, creating a baseline for informed decisions.

Once emissions are measured, the next step is carbon offsetting: investing in certified projects that absorb or reduce an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases elsewhere. Such projects may include renewable energy initiatives, reforestation or biodiversity protection schemes that meet recognised environmental standards and provide transparent reporting.

Carbon offsetting does not replace emission reduction, but it balances out unavoidable climate impacts — a key part of delivering carbon neutral or low-impact events that resonate with conscious audiences.

The role of ISO 20121 and certified organisers

A credible way to ensure these sustainability practices are consistently applied is through adherence to international standards. ISO 20121 is the leading standard for sustainable event management, focusing on systems that help organisers monitor and improve environmental and social outcomes over time. It is not a certification of the event itself but of the management system that ensures sustainability is embedded across planning, execution and evaluation.

Partnering with an agency certified to this standard brings credibility and expertise to the process. ISO 20121-certified event agencies, for instance, guide clients through sustainable event planning, including choosing eco-friendly suppliers, venues, and services tailored to reduce overall impact.

Turning sustainability into value

It’s one thing to aspire to sustainability; it’s another to deliver it in ways that also benefit your stakeholders, community, and brand reputation. When sustainability becomes part of the event’s identity, it can unlock opportunities: from positive media attention to alignment with broader ESG goals, and even improvements in overall operational efficiency.

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