In 2021, we put ISO standards on the frontline of the climate battle.

Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic continued to disrupt lives and businesses around the world, we built on the lessons we learned in 2020 and turned our attention to pressing global problems of climate and sustainability. We’re delivering on our strategy and helping others to step up and take climate action through the London Declaration.

2021 reminded us that we can’t afford to lose time when it comes to people and planet: that’s why we need ISO standards.

Strategy for good

With the launch of the ISO Strategy 2030, we are on course to fulfilling our vision for a more sustainable future. Together, we are bringing the power of standards to address global challenges for the years to come. Our new strategic insights enable us to make sense of the complex forces at play in this transformational landscape.

Developing countries can be empowered to fully realize the benefits of using ISO standards through our most recent Action Plan for developing countries 2021-2025. Much-needed resources to help them participate more fully in international standardization are made possible by the generous contribution of Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

The past two years was a seismic period for all organizations across the world, representing one of our greatest challenges in our lifetime. In addressing the challenges posed by the new order and the impact of COVID-19, it is my sincere hope that the new ISO strategy will make our organization more resilient and scale new heights. We do not have the luxury of missing opportunities of making lives easier, safer and better.

The climate agenda

ISO has pledged to combat climate change by 2050 using the power of International Standards. We vowed to consider climate science in the development of all standards going forward; to involve civil society – including the most climate-vulnerable – in their development; and to set out a plan with concrete actions and mechanisms to help track our progress. The London Declaration, signed in September 2021, defines ISO’s commitment in supporting the climate agenda. 

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Join the 50+ members and organizations that have already committed to climate action through standards.

Discover how different countries harness standards for good.

Drone video of wind farm on the mountain top, video taken in the Yishala county area in Panzhihua city, Sichuan Province, China. 

Around this city mountain, there are about 500mw wind farm, which is also a very famous mountain wind farm in China, producing clean energy every day. 

Video taken by drone device, camera moving leftwards.

From COP26 to COP27 

Ahead of COP27, standards continue to connect and align economies and help turn net-zero commitments into action. Building on the successes of COP26, ISO is supporting the global efforts to fight climate change.

Check out further coverage.

From COP26 to COP27

Ahead of COP27, standards continue to connect and align economies and help turn net-zero commitments into action. Building on the successes of COP26, ISO is supporting the global efforts to fight climate change.

Check out further coverage.

We’ve come through testing times and have stayed on track to deliver a transformative strategy at the same time as taking urgent climate action through the London Declaration.

Towards 2030

Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the blueprint to achieve a more sustainable future for all. Standards have already proven to be successful tools to realize all 17 SDGs. 

People often think that ISO standards are only related to very technical topics, such as electricity and the like, but they are so much broader than that. In fact, there are International Standards for every SDG. So, in this respect, standards can play a very important role.

 

Transforming global health 

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, ISO supported the global effort by creating a portal of the most useful standards for governments, regulators and other professional bodies. ISO took broad, fast action to help countries strengthen their resilience through safe workplace guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Fish shop in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Bhaktapur is an ancient town in the Kathmandu Valley and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its rich culture, temples, and wood, metal and stone artwork.http://bem.2be.pl/IS/nepal_380.jpg

Embedding gender diversity

We value and encourage gender diversity across the ISO system. It’s an important and integral part of our strategy, not least because it helps support SDG 5. ISO data gathering provides a snapshot of women’s participation in standardization in order to advance gender parity across the organization. 

Sustainable consumer

The sharing economy is one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors with the potential to be a key contributor to economic growth. In the race to grow, we cannot forget that building a thriving, sustainable sharing economy platform depends on standards. 

Shaping sustainable initiatives

The sharing economy is one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors with the potential to be a key contributor to economic growth.
In the race to grow, we cannot forget that building a thriving, sustainable sharing economy platform depends on standards. 

In facing the future with confidence, sufficiently prepared and adequately self-reliant, we must urgently develop new and emerging technologies that will diversify and optimize our energy supply chains. What we need to do now is to re-establish our momentum. That’s going to mean redoubling our efforts and acting with proportionate urgency.

Meeting market needs

In a changing world, standards need to keep up if they are to continue to meet the needs of society and support a more sustainable future. We created a number of important new expert groups in the fields of gender (ISO/PC 337), consumers (ISO/PC 335) and laboratories (ISO/TC 336). 

 

Our key achievements in figures at a single glance.

Collaborating for good

We believe in the power of collaboration to drive positive change. ISO maintains partnerships with hundreds of international organizations to share knowledge and build effective synergies to create a fairer, more sustainable world.

A key priority of collaboration is achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We are working hand in hand with the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG) to make this a reality. While our instruments to tackle these challenges may be different, our work is very complementary. According to Ms Valovaya, these can only be addressed with the support of International Standards. Our collaboration on multisectoral issues provides more ways to grow, transform and innovate together.

Our standards are referred to by the World Economic Forum in such initiatives as the toolkit for regulators and the Space Sustainable Rating. World leaders at the G7 and G20 recognize our standards as useful tools to tackle world challenges.

Driving digital solutions

One of the priorities of our 2030 Strategy is to innovate to meet users’ needs. New technologies will drive this evolution towards innovative standardization products and solutions, but we must be aligned with user expectations. This is why at ISO, we are transforming how we create, format and deliver content, and we’re doing this through IEC/ISO SMART. We’re adapting our organization and our processes to a fast-paced world in order to remain the world’s most recognized standards organization. 

Financial performance

Revenue (kCHF) 2021 2020
Membership fees 21 472 20 942
Royalties received from members selling ISO standards 13 041 12 417
Revenue from members

34 513

33 359
Revenue – net sales

7 066

6 444
Funding of capacity building projects 678 418
Funding of ISO strategic projects

177

112
Funding of ISO projects

855

530
Financial revenue 641 159
Total 43 075 40 492
Expenditure (kCHF) 2021 2020
Operations 35 941 35 001
Capacity building projects 678 418
ISO strategic projects 177 112
ISO projects 855 530
Amortization of fixed assets 152 251
Total 36 948 35 782

→ 2021 operating result before allocation to funds: 6 127 kCHF

Balance sheets as of 31 December

Assets

Current (kCHF) 2021 2020
Cash and cash equivalents 22 534 18 480
Receivables, prepaid expenses and accrued income

3 844

3 746
Total 26 378 22 226
Non-Current (kCHF) 2021 2020
Securities and investments 18 454 17 571
Rent guarantee for ISO Central Secretariat premises 2 168 2 168
Fixed assets 90 214
Total 20 712 19 953

→ 2021 total assets: 47 090 kCHF

Liabilities

Current (kCHF) 2021 2020
Suppliers and accrued liabilities 3 479 2 967
Members’ retrocessions 4 818 4 146
Revenue received in advance 1 497 2 014
Total 9 794 9 127
Funds (kCHF) 2021 2020
Restricted funds 9 074 4 302
Unrestricted funds 22 095 24 040
Operating results before allocation to funds 6 127 4 710
Total 37 296 33 052

→ 2021 total liabilities: 47 090 kCHF

Summary of cash flow statements

Net cash (kCHF) 2021 2020
Net cash from (used in) operating activities 4 254 2 620
Net cash from (used in) capacity building projects 322 275
Net cash used in investing activities (-522) (-61)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 4 054 2 834
Control (kCHF) 2021 2020
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 18 480 15 646
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 22 534 18 480
Increase (decrease) 4 054 2 834

Our leadership in 2021

Eddy Njoroge /2021

ISO President
Kenya

Ulrika Francke /2021

ISO President-elect
Sweden

Scott Steedman /2021

ISO Vice-President (policy)
United Kingdom

Sauw Kook Choy /2022

ISO Vice-President (technical management)
Singapore

Mitsuo Matsumoto /2022

ISO Vice-President (finance)
Japan

Dominique Christin /2021

ISO Treasurer
Switzerland

Sergio Mujica

ISO Secretary-General (Chief Executive Officer)
ISO Central Secretariat

End of term of office is displayed after the name. Past principal officers of ISO is available as a PDF.