About Us
As of February 2024, Positive Impact has a community of almost 2,000 global event professionals, over 40 corporate Head of Events, over 40 Corporate Head of Sustainability, over 160 SMEs with a Race to Zero commitment, over 5 memorandums of understanding with United Nations bodies.
We are the only event sector body to be a Race to Zero Accelerator, UN SDG Action mobiliser and to have education certified by the world’s largest and leading CPD accreditation working across all sectors, so our education is accessed by heads of marketing, HR and sustainability.
For over 15 years not for profit Positive Impact have been providing engagement, collaboration and education to create a sustainable event industry. You could describe Positive Impact as the ‘critical friend’ of the global event sector.
Our funding comes from everywhere and nowhere, and every penny, cent or yen is used to advance the event sector so every time an event happens the UN Sustainable Development Goals are advanced and events are recognised as ensuring 'participation and inclusion in decision making’ (UN SDG16).
This is a timeline of Positive Impact's journey and the creation of a sustainable event industry. It reflects initiatives from:
The United Nations
Positive Impact
CEO Fiona Pelham
Key developments in the creation of a sustainable event industry.
BSI publishes updated ISO 20121 sustainability standard for events
ISO 20121: 2024 has an increased focus on climate change, supply chain measures and human rights. It includes an extended list of issues that should be identified and evaluated, along with new commitments such as reporting on achievements, lessons learnt and, where appropriate, legacy.
ISO 20121: 2024 has an increased focus on climate change, supply chain measures and human rights. It includes an extended list of issues that should be identified and evaluated, along with new commitments such as reporting on achievements, lessons learnt and, where appropriate, legacy.
Exploring what ISO 20121 means for the future of events and how human engagement happens
On 9th February 2023, Positive Impact hosted a 90 minute webinar with ISO, IOC, IPC, UNICEF UK and more about what ISO 20121 means for the future of events and how human engagement happens.
On 9th February 2023, Positive Impact hosted a 90 minute webinar with ISO, IOC, IPC, UNICEF UK and more about what ISO 20121 means for the future of events and how human engagement happens. It was a must-watch for:
Anyone responsible for delivering events (sport, business or cultural)
Anyone part of the supply chain who make events happen
Associations whose members represent the event sector
National standards bodies ready to contribute to a global sustainability standard
The webinar was recorded and available to access after the event.
What the European Green Deal could mean for the event sector
In 2020 Positive Impact friend Lena Grobusch drafted an overview of what the European Green Deal could mean for events.
In 2020 Positive Impact friend Lena Grobusch drafted an overview of what the European Green Deal could mean for events.
Event industry urged to accelerate its response to climate change
Miguel Naranjo, programme officer at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, warned that there “would be no events industry” if society fails in facing this challenge.
Miguel Naranjo, programme officer at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, warned that there “would be no events industry” if society fails in facing this challenge.
The Mountain Green Book put forward 21 simple proposals for COP21
This book was the contribution from the mountains of France to the 2015 COP 21 in Paris and also contained 32 pages of observations about climate imbalance in the mountains.
This book was the contribution from the mountains of France to the 2015 COP 21 in Paris and also contained 32 pages of observations about climate imbalance in the mountains.
Celebrating 20 years of the Hannover principles
Architect William McDonough originally designed these principles for sustainable design in 1992 and reprinted them to celebrate 20 years since their creation.
Architect William McDonough originally designed these principles for sustainable design in 1992 and reprinted them to celebrate 20 years since their creation.
Event sustainability management system ISO 20121 launches
ISO 20121 event sustainability management system launches. This is one of the first sector specific sustainability standards.
ISO 20121 event sustainability management system launches. This is one of the first sector specific sustainability standards.
Sustainability reporting framework GRI EOSS launches
The Global Reporting Initiative Event Organizers Sector Supplement launches as the first sustainability reporting guidelines for the event industry.
The Global Reporting Initiative Event Organizers Sector Supplement launches as the first sustainability reporting guidelines for the event industry.
ISO 20121 committee meeting in Japan
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, chaired an ISO 20121 committee meeting in Japan which involved engagement with the Japanese event sector.
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, chaired an ISO 20121 committee meeting in Japan which involved engagement with the Japanese event sector.
A meeting about ISO 20121 takes place in Japan
Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact, attended the meeting as Chair of ISO 20121.
Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact, attended the meeting as Chair of ISO 20121.
MPI hosts the first European Forum on Sustainability in the Meetings Industry (EFSMI)
The event took place in Bruges, Belgium from 27th - 28th June 2010, hosted by the Belgium chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, spoke at the event about measurement standards.
The event took place in Bruges, Belgium from 27th - 28th June 2010, hosted by the Belgium chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, spoke at the event about measurement standards.
Work starts on ISO 20121 and GRI EOSS
Event professionals being work on the creation of the Global Reporting Initiative Event Organizers Sector Supplement and ISO 20121.
Event professionals being work on the creation of the Global Reporting Initiative Event Organizers Sector Supplement and ISO 20121.
Copenhagen leads the way on CSR after COP15
This article looks at the ways that Copenhagen demonstrated leadership around sustainability in preparation for the COP15 event.
This article looks at the ways that Copenhagen demonstrated leadership around sustainability in preparation for the COP15 event.
C&IT features BS8901 in their sustainability report
The report from Conference & Incentive Travel included several references to the British Standard for sustainable events, BS8901, which ultimately was developed into International Standard ISO 20121.
The report from Conference & Incentive Travel included several references to the British Standard for sustainable events, BS8901, which ultimately was developed into International Standard ISO 20121.
The magazine included sustainability tips along with interviews with Lloyds TSB (who worked with Positive Impact’s sister company Organise This to implement BS8901) and David Stubbs, Head of Sustainability for the London 2012 Olympics.
Manchester: A Certain Future event imagines sustainable event opportunities
As part of the 2009 event, a list of “headlines from the future” imagined a sustainable event in 2020 and set out actions to get there.
As part of the 2009 event, a list of “headlines from the future” imagined a sustainable event in 2020 and set out actions to get there.
Work starts on BS 8901
Inspired by London hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the British Standards Institute starts work on BS 8901, a British standard to demonstrate the sustainability in the planning and delivery of an event.
Inspired by London hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the British Standards Institute starts work on BS 8901, a British standard to demonstrate the sustainability in the planning and delivery of an event.
MPI magazine includes article about carbon management
In 2009, the MPI magazine included an article titled Moving towards a more comprehensive carbon management strategy which looked at the options available to event planners wanting to reduce their carbon footprint.
In 2009, the MPI magazine included an article titled Moving towards a more comprehensive carbon management strategy which looked at the options available to event planners wanting to reduce their carbon footprint.
Judging the BSI GetGreenGo Awards
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, was a judge for the BSI GetGreenGo Awards, an award event for young people implementing BS 8901 that was held at Old Trafford Manchester United Football Ground.
Positive Impact CEO, Fiona Pelham, was a judge for the BSI GetGreenGo Awards, an award event for young people implementing BS 8901 that was held at Old Trafford Manchester United Football Ground.
Wales provide a recycling guide for events
The guide was produced by the Wales Event Recycling Project to promote best practice.
The guide was produced by the Wales Event Recycling Project to promote best practice.
UK Green Building showcase sustainable stand design at the Think08 exhibition
They provided practical examples of how they have sourced more sustainable materials and reduced waste.
They provided practical examples of how they have sourced more sustainable materials and reduced waste.
