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Photo: ISO Certification

45 out of 69 event organisers plan to introduce ISO20121 into their company within the next two years.

The participatory concept of the fwd: Bundesvereinigung Veranstaltungswirtschaft e.V. and the IFES, International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services, for the introduction of the ISO20121 sustainability standard, has once again proven to be a complete success and is entering a new convoy from February 2025.

In the currently ongoing convoys, participants are working together successfully and are particularly benefiting from the intensive exchange within the framework of their own implementation. For many members, ISO20121 is proving to be the relevant certification for systematic sustainability management. In total, 35 member companies are already on the way to certification with the associations.

Stephanie Forstner, sustainability officer at Lemonpie EventCatering, describes her experiences: “I think it’s great that the two industry associations fwd: and IFES offer this convoy and accompany the complex process so closely and personally. […] For example, at Lemonpie we have integrated the learned PDCA cycle, the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, directly into our continuous improvement process. This makes the further development of our services and the root cause analysis of errors much clearer and easier to handle.”

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Photo: IFES

Sustainability certifications are gaining importance

A recent survey among the members of fwd: shows how important the topic of certifications is for the industry. Around 60 per cent of those surveyed rate the overall users of certifications as “rather high” to “very high”. The ISO14001 certification for environmental management and ISO20121 for sustainable event management in particular are seen as the most important standards in the future. 45 out of 69 respondents plan to introduce ISO20121 into their company within the next two years.

Next opportunity: Convoy 5 starts in February 2025

Due to the high demand and positive experiences, the fifth convoy for ISO20121 certification started in February 2025. Twelve companies have the opportunity to register for a spot. Members of fwd: and IFES can find further information in the fwd: memberspace and for IFES members under ISO 20121 TRAINING – IFES. External interested parties can also join the program.

Insights at BOE INTERNATIONAL

If you would like to find out more about the successful convoy concept, come to BOE INTERNATIONAL on January 15th and 16th 2025 at stand 5.A10. The associations will be on site as contact persons and on the fwd: stage convoy participants will exchange ideas in a panel on certification and share their experiences.


With the ISO20121 certification, the event industry is sending a clear signal for sustainable and systematic management and is thus positioning itself for the future. Find out more here

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