Positive Impact launches initiatives to mark ISO 20121 milestone

Sustainable Events’ non-for-profit educational arm, Positive Impact, will mark the first anniversary of the international sustainable standard ISO 20121 with a number of initiatives designed to further its vision to create a sustainable events industry.

Initiatives include a series of monthly 20-minute webinars, starting in August, with key partners. These free-to-view webinars will focus on subjects including Carbon Footprinting for your Event, Sustainability across the Supply Chain, Responsible Food Sourcing for Events and Creating Better Waste Management Strategies.

Positive Impact also aims to add to its range of free educational materials and products to assist companies on their sustainability journey and support the vision of a sustainable events industry by 2020.

ISO 20121 was introduced in June 2012, prior to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The catalyst for the creation of ISO 20121 was the Head of Sustainability at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, David Stubbs, who was looking for a way to make good on the sustainability promises made in the London Games bid.

Experts from 25 countries helped to develop this international standard, with another 10 countries observing. Members of the sustainability team of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were among eight stakeholders who provided input to a committee chaired by Positive Impact’s MD Fiona Pelham (pictured).

Jose Alcorta-Menendez, Technical Group Manager at ISO International Organisation for Standardisation, said: “One year after the publication of ISO 20121 and we’ve seen strong adoption of the international standard from all countries involved in its development. The importance of a robust and consistent approach to show conformity with the requirement of the standard worldwide means that events of all types can adhere to the same sustainability framework wherever they take place.”

Positive Impact’s monthly webinars, along with free resources to assist companies on their sustainability journey will be available online at http://positiveimpactevents.co.uk/. Much of the content will also be shared at the 2014 Sustainable Events Summit.

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