The document discusses sustainable events and reducing their environmental footprint. It provides an overview of Sustainability Knowledge Group, which offers sustainability consulting services. It then discusses what makes an event sustainable, the ISO 20121 standard for sustainable event management, key impacts to address like energy use and waste, and future trends of tighter integration of sustainability in event planning.

1. January 20th , 2021
Sustainable Events: Reducing Footprint and
Increasing Positive Impacts

2. About Sustainability Knowledge Group
OurVision is
to make Sustainable Business a Choice for companies and
organizations around the world.
Sustainability Knowledge Group is a global advisory firm dedicated in creating value, through strategic CSR
and Sustainability solutions. We provide tailor made training, coaching and advisory services grounded in
international theory and successful application.
Sustainability Knowledge Group emphasizes in implementing methodologies that bring tangible results,
measurable impact and create better businesses.
The fundamentals of how we conduct business
Reliability Professionalism
Empathy
Accountability Integrity
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© 2021 Sustainability Knowledge Group

3. Services
CSR Coaching
• Coaching for Sustainability
Professionals
• Sustainability Residential & Retreat
Consulting Service Lines
• Sustainability Reporting
• Sustainability Strategy
• Stakeholders & Social Impact
• Environmental Impact
• Communication & Recognition
International Society of
Sustainability Professionals
(ISSP) UAE Chapter
• Open meetings
• Networking
• Resources & Research
• Partnerships & Advocacy
SustainabilityTraining
• InternationallyCertified
ILM &CPD training
courses
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© 2021 Sustainability Knowledge Group

4. Our clients include*
• Banking
• Oil & Gas
• Construction
• Consulting
• Concessionaire
• Education
• FMCG
• Facility Management
• Local Authorities
• NGOs
• Telecommunications
• Technology
* sample clientele
Our reach
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© 2021 Sustainability Knowledge Group

5. Sustainable Events: Reducing Footprint and
Increasing Positive Impacts
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When was the last time you attended a live event? Most probably, the recent business
conference, job fair, festival or summit you attended was digital.Although virtual events
are becoming more attractive, a lot of participants miss the personal interaction and the
traditional exchange of business cards.
During the last decade, the event industry has undergone some profound changes, and
one of them is that sustainability principles have been integrated into almost every event
planning. Many companies have turned to sustainable events (or green events) that
address environmental, social and economic aspects.An international standard (ISO
20121:2012, Event sustainability management systems) has been developed to promote
more responsible consumption through which events can be made more sustainable,
regardless of type or size.
What is a sustainable event?
Hosting an event requires large amounts of water, energy and materials that lead to
waste and greenhouse gas emissions. By considering sustainability planning, an event
planner can minimize possible negative impacts and influence change by leaving a
positive legacy and inspiring those involved to live more sustainably. A sustainable
event is an event that is designed, organized and executed to minimize potential
negative impacts and leaves a beneficial legacy for the host community and everyone
involved.
© 2021 Sustainability Knowledge Group
Sustainable Events: Reducing Footprint and Increasing Positive
Impacts

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Event sustainability management systems
Many event organizers and venue managers want to reduce their impact, but they may
not be sure how to evaluate their events. ISO 20121 provides guidelines and best
practices to help event organizers measure an event’s performance and manage its
impact in all three dimensions: social, economic and environmental.
ISO 20121 provides the framework for identifying the potentially negative social,
economic and environmental impacts of events, and capitalizing on more positive
impacts through improved planning and processes.The standard offers solutions to
reduce resource use and reduce cost.The use of standards confers a reputation
advantage by using an internationally recognized framework to enable sustainable event
management leaders to demonstrate their actions in a credible and transparent way.
The ISO 20121 standard is based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle.The drawing below
shows the stages that the organization wants to comply with the standard must go
through.
© 2021 Sustainability Knowledge Group
Sustainable Events: Reducing Footprint and Increasing Positive
Impacts

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ISO 20121’s event sustainability management system model
© 2021 Sustainability Knowledge Group
Sustainable Events: Reducing Footprint and Increasing Positive
Impacts

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How to address the key impacts of events?
Addressing an event’s critical environmental and social impacts will ensure that it will
have a “sustainable” prefix.This can be achieved by identifying the main sustainability
aspects across the 3ple bottom line of People-Planet-Profit, setting targets for negative
impact minimization and finding proper means to address them.
A sustainable event should include positive social impacts. In general, the residents of the
community hosting the event or the attendees benefit as sustainable events have the
potential to contribute positively to developing social communication and networks,
improving social cohesion, improving skills, raising awareness sustainability. Sustainable
events also improve efficiency and stronger teamwork, increase employee productivity,
attract the best talent, and improve retention.
Sustainable events should be designed to minimise energy use and the resulting
greenhouse gas emissions.To achieve this, event planners can choose venues and
accommodation that implement energy and water efficiency measures, use renewable
energy sources, comply with green building standards.The choice of location also
contributes significantly to reducing participants and products’ transportation needs, thus
reducing greenhouse gas emissions.Waste generation is one of the leading
environmental issues of every event, and therefore, the reduction of materials
consumption and waste generation is one of the critical sustainability targets.
© 2021 Sustainability Knowledge Group
Sustainable Events: Reducing Footprint and Increasing Positive
Impacts

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Addressing those aspects contributes to achieving cost savings in terms of material and
energy consumption. Sustainable events can strengthen an organization’s position in the
community, enhance its reputation and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders.
Event planning and sustainability – future trends
The introduction of Sustainability requirements has been a major -and much needed-
change for the event industry. Predictions – before the Covid-19 crisis – indicated that the
event industry would continue to grow, but sustainability principles will need to be more
tightly integrated into the process of event planning.
Event trends seem promising for 2021. Although events can negatively impact
environment, resources, people, communities, current guidelines and standards on
planning and hosting sustainable events can help event organizers avoid these risks and
minimize negative impacts. Pressure from conscious attendees, participants or clients, as
well as legislation push towards the right direction. Sustainable events can reduce costs,
attract new diverse attendee groups and competent staff, improve long-term success and
profitability, and increase revenue opportunities. Let’s keep these in mind, as we watch
the revival of the event industry.
© 2021 Sustainability Knowledge Group
Sustainable Events: Reducing Footprint and Increasing Positive
Impacts

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© 2021 Sustainability Knowledge Group
HaveTrusted us forTraining and Consultancy Assignments
Banking/Financial
Investment funds
Groups &
International
Conglomerates
Concessionaire
PPP
Retail/FMCG Energy Hospitality

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© 2021 Sustainability Knowledge Group
HaveTrusted us forTraining and Consultancy Assignments
Telecoms Consultancies
International
Agencies & Non
Profits
Utilities
Learning
Institutions
Real Estate
Logistics

13. United Kingdom
85 Great Portland Street,
First Floor,W1W 7LT,
London, UK
Cyprus
Vasili Michailidi 9,
CY-3026, Limassol, Cyprus
United Arab Emirates
Jumeirah Business Centre
(JBC), Jumeirah Lake
Towers (JLT), Dubai, UAE
Contact:
Email:
contact@sustainabilityknowledgegroup.com
Tel.: +44 (0)20 32392990