we have officially obtained the ISO 20121:2012 certification and we are incredibly proud to share this news with our clients, partners, and the wider community. This achievement highlights our commitment to providing clients and partners with sustainable event management and responsible accommodation solutions. Obtaining this standard is a testament to the collective efforts of our teams in Cannes, Barcelona, London, Paris, Vienna, and beyond, who work tirelessly to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our operations.

what is ISO 20121?

ISO 20121 is an international standard designed to help organizations involved in events improve sustainability throughout their operations. It provides a framework for managing environmental, social, and economic impacts while maximizing the positive contributions of events.

at bnetwork, this certification also reflects our commitment to sustainable development, aligning with globally recognized principles such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

our journey to certification

the journey to ISO 20121:2012 certification has been a collaborative effort across bnetwork. From implementing sustainable procurement policies to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting accessibility, we have systematically integrated sustainability into every aspect of our operations. The attached document outlines the scope of our sustainability initiatives, including:

• • environmental commitments: We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint both through our activities and within our offices.

in our activities, we empower clients and event attendees to make eco-friendly choices by offering sustainable accommodation options through our booking platforms. These platforms showcase over 50 recognized eco-labels, include sustainable accommodation filters, and provide access to carbon footprint calculators in partnership with the GoodPlanet Foundation.

in our offices, we focus on increasing waste recycling, incentivizing low-carbon mobility for employees, and encouraging the reduction of paper, water, and electricity use.

• • social commitments: we believe in making a positive contribution to the communities where we operate. This includes supporting local organizations through charitable work, donations, and participation in community projects, such as our contributions to the Barcelona Forum District and the refurbishment of IT equipment for the Emmaüs association.

we also actively advocate for sustainable tourism practices and collaborate with suppliers to establish eco-responsible procurement criteria. bnetwork’s HotelPartners application allows partner hotels to detail their ecological and accessibility approaches in multiple languages, which is then displayed on booking websites.

• • ethical commitments: accessibility for all is a core value at bnetwork. We adhere to the RGAA (General Accessibility Guidelines) to ensure our websites are inclusive and usable for people with disabilities.

features such as the PMR filter on our booking websites allow users to identify accommodations that meet accessibility standards, including wheelchair ramps, elevators, and fully equipped bathrooms.

what this means for our clients and partners

by achieving ISO 20121:2012 certification, we minimize our own environmental impact while also enabling our clients to host more sustainable events. We offer a range of tools and resources to help them achieve their sustainability goals, including:

• • eco-friendly accommodation filters event attendees can easily identify and book sustainable hotels through this prominently positioned filter. to ensure user comfort and confidence, ecolabels and partner hotel standards are updated annually

• • real-time tracking of eco-conscious bookings event organisers can monitor the collective impact of sustainable choices and track the number of environmentally friendly hotel bookings in real time, encouraging everyone to make greener choices.

• • detailed sustainability metrics our back-end tool provides event organisers access comprehensive sustainability data for informed decision-making.

why this matters for the events industry

in an industry often associated with high resource consumption, achieving sustainability is both a responsibility and an opportunity. with the ISO 20121 Certification, bnetwork is proud to contribute to advancing global standards for eco-responsible event management.

our goal is simple yet ambitious: to make sustainable practices the standard, not the exception. By adopting a sustainability-focused approach, we are reducing our impact on the environment and helping our clients and partners achieve their own CSR objectives.

looking ahead

while obtaining ISO 20121 certification is a major achievement, it is only the beginning. At bnetwork, we believe in continuous improvement. We are committed to ongoing efforts to refine our practices, explore innovative solutions, and collaborate with our partners to create a more sustainable future for the events industry.

“this certification is a reflection of our shared values and commitment,” said Marie Julian, Sustainability Manager at bnetwork. “We believe sustainability is a responsibility we share with our clients and partners.”

we invite you to join us on this journey and work together to create events that are both successful and sustainable.

we encourage you to learn more about our sustainability initiatives by reviewing the attached document and exploring the CSR section of our website. Together, we can make a difference.