APCER awards LIESA the sustainable event management certification, recognising practices with environmental, social, and economic impact.
APCER has officially awarded the ISO 20121 certificate to the Liga Independente das Escolas de Samba do Rio de Janeiro (LIESA), the organisation responsible for managing Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival, recognising the event’s alignment with sustainability principles.
The certification ceremony took place in Rio de Janeiro and was attended by Gabriel David, President of LIESA, Daiane Lima, Head of Sustainability at Rio Carnival, and Paulo Bertolini, Director of APCER Brazil.
ISO 20121 is an international standard that assesses sustainable management practices across all phases of an event, encouraging continuous improvement and the creation of a positive legacy for the surrounding communities.
Among the initiatives implemented by LIESA, the following stand out:
- Environmental management and circular economy: collection of over 11 tonnes of costumes for reuse and transformation into cultural products through the Sustenta Carnaval project, in partnership with the Women of the Global South Association;
- Climate commitment and clean energy: installation of solar panels at the Sapucaí Sambadrome and a plan to use 100% clean energy at the Cidade do Samba by 2030;
- Social impact and inclusion: collaboration with 11 cooperatives of waste pickers, promoting dignified work and professional training;
- Governance and participatory culture: active involvement of stakeholders and suppliers in socio-environmental commitments.
“LIESA’s certification is not only a technical recognition, but a symbolic one: it shows that popular culture can lead the way in sustainability. APCER is proud to be part of this transformation process,” stated Paulo Bertolini, from APCER Brazil.
The certificate reinforces Rio Carnival’s role as a driver of social and environmental transformation, showing that large-scale events can - and should - be managed responsibly.
