Serving Sustainability: How Event Certification Is Transforming Professional Tennis
Environmental certifications provide organisations and events with a recognised, credible framework for implementing, improving, and validating their sustainability practices. By benchmarking progress and embedding measurable improvement strategies, certifications help organisations take tangible stops towards improving their environmental sustainability.
One of the most relevant certifications for sports organisations and events is ISO 20121. This internationally recognised standard offers structured systems for improving environmental performance and embedding sustainability throughout event planning and delivery.
Tennis, with its global reach and extensive event calendar, is uniquely positioned to demonstrate ambitious and credible climate action, and certifications play a central role in ensuring that this action is consistent and measurable. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) continues to embed sustainability across its flagship tournaments, supported by clear frameworks and an expanding scope of environmental and social initiatives, engaging both players and fans.
The ATP is also a signatory to the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework, committing to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2040. This pledge has catalysed a series of targeted initiatives across ATP events, from carbon reduction and waste minimisation to social impact and community engagement.
Explaining ISO 20121: the Event Sustainability Management System
The London 2012 Olympic Games proved the catalyst for the creation of ISO 20121 – an Event Sustainability Management System - and became the test event for the new standard. The standard applies to all events and is used to demonstrate that sustainability has been considered throughout the planning and delivery process.
The international standard provides a framework for event organisers to understand and improve sustainability performance and maximise positive environmental, social, and economic impacts. The certification also ensures that the processes for governance and decision-making for sustainability are both adequate and appropriate.
As of 2024, the ISO 20121 was updated to increase focus on aspects such as climate change, supply chain measures, and human rights. The recent amendments include an extended list of issues that should be identified and measured, along with new commitments such as reporting on accomplishments, lessons learnt and, where applicable, legacy opportunities.
By applying the ISO 20121, events ensure their teams have the skills, knowledge, and competence to measure the impact of their sustainability efforts. Obtaining these internationally recognised certifications demonstrates a clear commitment to sustainability and desire to be part of the solution.
Certifying the Nitto ATP Finals to ISO 20121
The 2025 Nitto ATP Finals set a strong benchmark for sustainable event delivery and was certified to the ISO20121 standard. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP), as tournament organiser, aligned the event's planning and delivery with the requirements of ISO 20121 and established a tailored ESG framework setting sustainability targets through to 2030 across a range of environmental, social and governance priorities.
The event has pursued an ambitious sustainability strategy for several years. Following the 2024 edition, FITP published a detailed sustainability report outlining progress in environmental, social, and governance areas, and highlighting key sustainability initiatives implemented. A similar report documenting the 2025 tournament’s sustainability performance is set for publication soon.
Environmentally, the 2024 event took a multifaceted approach to reduce environmental impact. 75% of ingredients were sourced from regional suppliers and menus featured healthy, organic, vegan, vegetarian, and culturally inclusive options. The Nitto ATP Finals operated on renewable electricity, ticketholders and staff received free public transport to and from the venue, and player transportation was fully electrified. Efforts around materials and waste emphasised circularity, using digital ticketing, reducing single‑use plastics, providing recyclable bottles, and installing solar‑powered recycling bins, while Dunlop’s “second life” programme repurposed used tennis balls for local initiatives. Biodiversity was also in focus, with the tournament’s green wall donated to the city of Turin, and 11,000 trees planted.
Social commitments were equally robust. Revenue from the Fan Village supported grassroots sport, discounted access was provided for spectators with disabilities, free health checks were available on‑site, and surplus food was redistributed to a local charity.
Image credit: FITP
Conclusion
The ATP’s sustainability journey is not only about reducing environmental impact but also about shaping a model for how global sport can meaningfully contribute to climate action. Certifying tournaments to ISO 20121 helps tournaments become a model for sustainable events moving forward. Through collaboration, transparency, and innovation, tennis is demonstrating that major events can deliver exceptional experiences while accelerating the shift toward a low carbon future.