Impact

ISO 20121 Certification

3R helped the Alliance implement a sustainable event management system for their events to certify that they meet ISO 20121 requirements. This enables the Alliance to consistently plan and host events with reduced environmental and enhanced social impact, while meeting stakeholder expectations and regulatory requirements. 3R’s support facilitated the integration of sustainability into day-to-day event operations and decision-making processes.

The Alliance proudly presented their certification on stage during the 2025 Green Sports Alliance Summit.

Client Needs

3R partnered with the Alliance to support their pursuit of ISO 20121:2024 certification for event sustainability management systems. As an organization that champions sustainability in sports, the Alliance brings together the global sports community to harness its influence and drive environmental change.

The Alliance pursued ISO 20121:2024 certification to confirm that their event management systems are conducted sustainably, to exemplify their commitment to the principles they promote, and to set a standard within the sports industry.

Approach and Solution

• Student Engagement: 3R and the Alliance collaborated with students from the University of Michigan through a Sports Sustainability Consulting course. This partnership provided students with hands-on experience in sustainability consulting and an introduction to the ISO 20121 standard. They contributed to the early stages of the project by conducting a gap assessment and drafting a sustainability policy for the Alliance.
• Gap Assessment: 3R guided students through the gap assessment process, during which they reviewed the Alliance’s documentation and gained a deeper understanding of its event management systems. Using the ISO 20121 standard as a reference, the team identified areas for improvement, and the students presented their findings to the Alliance along with a recommended implementation plan to address the gaps.
• Implementation Plan: 3R finalized the implementation plan to address the gaps identified during the assessment. In collaboration with the Alliance, we executed the plan to align their event management system with the ISO 20121 standard. By tailoring our approach to the Alliance’s culture and existing events such as the symposiums and summits, we integrated the standard into their operations, strengthening their sustainable event management principles.
• Internal Audit: 3R conducted an internal audit ahead of the Alliance’s external certification audit to ensure that all ISO 20121 requirements were fully met and that the Alliance was well-prepared for assessment. This internal review allowed us to verify the effectiveness of the implemented systems, identify any remaining areas for improvement, and build confidence in the Alliance’s readiness to achieve certification successfully.
• External Audit: 3R provided support to the Alliance throughout the external audit process. Acting as a resource for the Alliance during the external audit, we helped demonstrate that the Alliance has implemented the event sustainability management system effectively.