WWM sets new standards:
Certified sustainable event management according to DIN ISO 20121:2024

 

WWM GmbH & Co. KG, a leader in innovative exhibition construction, has become the first company in the industry to successfully achieve certification under the newly revised DIN ISO 20121:2024 for sustainable event management, according to its own knowledge. This accomplishment highlights WWM's pioneering role in the industry and reaffirms its commitment to the highest standards in sustainable event planning and execution.

CEO Dr. Christian Coppeneur-Gülz proudly announced the certification: "Our entire service process – from consulting, design, production, and storage to installation – has been successfully certified according to the latest standards," explained Dr. Coppeneur-Gülz. "As the first service provider in the event and exhibition sector to be certified under the updated DIN ISO 20121:2024, we are particularly proud. This certification clearly demonstrates that we not only pursue the highest quality and sustainability standards in all areas of our business but are also ready to set new benchmarks in our industry. Our goal is to further expand our leadership role internationally and continue offering our clients solutions that are both innovative and sustainable."

Since 2023, WWM has been intensively engaged with the requirements of the ISO 20121 standard, mobilizing its entire team for the demanding certification process. The goal was to integrate the standard into the company's WWM360 management system rather than treating it separately. "When the updated version of ISO 20121:2024 was released in April 2024, we quickly realized that our management system was already capable of meeting these new requirements," Dr. Coppeneur-Gülz explained. "Our thanks and respect go to our dedicated ISO team, as well as the external consultants and auditors, who were willing to take on such a ‘new’ standard. The successful audit under the new standard also justifies our years of significant investment in our management system and team, which have resulted in process stability and innovation."

“The certification was a challenging endeavor that required close collaboration and commitment from all departments. However, sustainable business practices are not merely an option for us but a strategic necessity. They are critical to our long-term success in an increasingly regulated and challenging market environment. By implementing ISO 20121:2024, we lay the foundation to drive innovation and effectively minimize risks,” said Bernhard Freiter, WWM’s Sustainability Officer.

In recent years, WWM has implemented extensive measures to meet sustainability demands. The compliance management system within the WWM360 framework has been significantly expanded to enable a holistic approach to supply chain management.

"Certification is just the first step in our long-term sustainability strategy. In the coming months, we will gradually integrate the requirements of the new ISO 20121:2024 standard into our event resource management platform, ExpoCloud. This will enable our clients – provided they manage their entire event process via the platform – to easily and systematically achieve certification under the new standard. This step represents a more significant development for the sustainable future of our industry than WWM's own certification," added Dr. Coppeneur-Gülz.

About ISO 20121:2024

DIN ISO 20121 is an internationally recognized standard that goes beyond the established quality management processes of ISO 9001. It requires a holistic consideration of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of all company activities and aims for continuous improvement.

The updated DIN EN ISO 20121:2024 represents an evolution of the previous standard, incorporating the latest global trends and best practices in sustainability. While the original ISO 20121 focused on environmental, social, and economic sustainability in the event industry, the 2024 version expands these approaches with more comprehensive and stringent requirements. These include updated governance standards, greater involvement of all stakeholders, and stricter guidelines for risk management. The new standard promotes an even deeper integration of sustainability into all business processes and provides a stronger foundation for sustainable growth and innovation in the event industry.