The document compares several sustainability certification standards: Green Globe, Green Key, BS8901/ISO 20121, ISO 14001, and the Nordic Swan. It outlines key aspects of each such as independent verification requirements, social responsibility criteria, relevance to sustainable events, market recognition, and credibility/difficulty to achieve. The certifications vary in terms of who they apply to (planners and/or suppliers), when they were developed, whether they are a performance or process standard, and audit requirements.

1. BS8901 / ISO The Nordic
Comparison aspect Green Globe Green Key 20121 ISO14001 Swan
Requires 3rd Requires 3rd Requires 3rd
Independent party party party
verification verification verification Optional optional verification
Social
Responsibility
criteria Strong Moderate Strong Low Low
Relevance to
Sustainable Events High Moderate High Low Moderate
Market recognition High Moderate High High Low
Credibility/Difficulty
to achieve Moderate Low Moderate Moderate High
Applies to planner
or supplier planner and planner and
organizations suppliers suppliers supplier supplier supplier
Year developed 1993 1994 2008 1996 1997
Type1*
Performance Performance Process Process Performance
Type standard standard standard standard Standard
Self certified
Annual Annual Self certified or or third party Annual third
Audit frequency verification verification third party audit audit party audit
meetings leisure meetings consumers and
Target audience industry traveler industry industry B2B

2. EU Flower
self declaration
option
low
Moderate
Low
Moderate
supplier
1992
Type1*
Performance
Standard
not specified
consumers and
B2B