BSI Achieves ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Standard for the IEC GM with support from Crowberry Consulting

BSI Achieves ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Standard for the IEC GM October 2024

The British Standard  Institution (BSI) has achieved the international standard for event sustainability – ISO 20121 – for the IEC GM held at the International Conference Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland. This certification by the Amtivo Group recognizes BSI’s commitment to managing the environmental, social, and economic impact of its operations during the General Meeting of the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC).

The theme for the 2024 GM is “Towards an ell-electric and connected society”. The venue in Scotland will host 1,500 industry experts from around the world who will be attending a series of technical committee and governance meetings where best practice and future planning will be discussed. As the event host BSI also has a role to play in taking steps to advance its own operational sustainability efforts.

“I am delighted BSI has been independently certified to ISO 20121, the international standard for sustainable management of events, for our hosting of the week-long 2024 International Electrotechnical General Meeting and the associated BSI public conferences in Edinburgh. We see this as an important step in BSI’s own sustainability journey, showing leadership both in our role as the national standards body and as a global business supporting other companies to use international standards for sustainability and the net zero transition. 

"I am thrilled that BSI has achieved independent certification to ISO 20121, the international standard for sustainable event management, for our hosting of the 2024 International Electrotechnical General Meeting and the associated BSI public conferences in Edinburgh. This certification is a significant milestone in BSI’s sustainability journey, demonstrating our commitment to leading by example—not only through the quality of the debate and discussions but also through the way we manage and deliver the event itself. It’s crucial that as the national standards body, we set the benchmark for excellence, showing that impactful, high-level discussions on global issues like the Net Zero transition can and should be conducted sustainably, with the highest standards of efficiency and responsibility." said Scott Steedman, Director-General Standards, BSI upon receiving the certificate from Amtivo Group. 

To achieve this certification, BSI has been working with the team from Crowberry Consulting® since 2022 to conduct the internal sustainability training, and sustainable event system implementation. The collaboration ensures that all functional areas are in scope and meaningful sustainable event objectives and targets are embedded and risks and opportunities are managed. With their support the IEC GM will be able to deliver a truly sustainable event across economic, environmental and social considerations in Edinburgh.

“It has been a real joy to support the Conference and Events team at BSI to work towards and achieve the ISO 20121. We have supported the internal departments to implement sustainability training, creating the sustainability champions and guided them through the required documentation of the standard to ensure successful certification in 2024. We are delighted that the team has achieved the prestigious ISO 20121 standard, and this will inspire other large international conferences and events to do the same.” said Becky Toal, CEO of Crowberry Consulting – Enabling Sustainable Futures.

“As a globally important certification organization, BSI has a powerful opportunity to set an example for how events can be planned and delivered sustainably,” said Jessica Penney IEC GM/BSI Event Project Manager. “The rigorous audit process we have undertaken has demonstrated that BSI has taken vital action to meet the requirements of the Sustainable Events Management System Standard and consider key environmental, social, and economic impacts for the IEC GM event. We have taken an important step forward that can ultimately help society accelerate progress towards a fair society and sustainable world.”

The ISO 20121 provided the BSI IEC GM Event Project Team with a framework and guidance that was flexible and rigorous in measurement and monitoring, enabling the team to track positive and negative impacts over time and take necessary steps to address them.

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About BSI

BSI is the business improvement and standards company that enables organizations to turn standards of best practice into habits of excellence, ‘inspiring trust for a more resilient world’. For over a century BSI has driven best practice in organizations around the world. Working with over 77,500 clients, it is a truly global business with skills and experience across all sectors including automotive, aerospace, built environment, food and retail and healthcare. Through its expertise in Standards and Knowledge, Assurance Services, Regulatory Services and Consulting Services, BSI helps clients to improve their performance, grow sustainably, manage risk, and ultimately become more resilient.

About Crowberry Consulting®

Crowberry Consulting® - Enabling Sustainable Futures, is a sustainability consultancy based in Chorley, UK and Dublin, Ireland. Established in 2006 they provide audits, training and consultancy support to clients who wish to embed frameworks and standards for a more sustainable world. They specialize in ISO standards for environment, events, energy and carbon management. For more information please visit www.crowberryconsulting.com or follow us on Instagram @Crowberryconsulting or Linktr.ee/crowberryconsulting 

About IEC

The IEC is a global, not-for-profit membership organization, whose work underpins quality infrastructure and international trade in electrical and electronic goods and brings together ~170 countries and provides a global, neutral and independent standardization and conformity assessment platform for 30 000 experts globally. 

Between 21st and 25th October 2024, Edinburgh will host 80 national IEC members, along with representatives from up to 75 affiliate member countries. Around 1,500 experts from businesses, academia, governments, regulators, consumer bodies, and other organizations will gather to discuss the event’s theme, Towards an All-Electric and Connected Society. 

The focus will be on the industry’s commitment to facilitating the transition to a digital and electrified future. Key topics include Smart Cities, AI, quantum technology, and achieving net-zero emissions, as well as the electrification and digitization of sectors such as energy, industrial production, healthcare, and mobility—all aimed at creating economically vibrant living conditions for all.