At IPMA, we believe that sustainability is a fundamental responsibility and an opportunity to lead with integrity, foresight, and global impact. As a global association advancing the project profession since 1965, we are committed to embedding sustainability into everything we do—from competence development and certification to event management, stakeholder engagement, and digital innovation.

The IPMA Sustainability Policy reflects our values of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, economic resilience, and ethical leadership. We aim to inspire project professionals to lead sustainable transformations and support our global community in delivering projects that make the world a better place.

To ensure we lead by example, we want to demonstrate our genuine commitment to sustainability—not just in words, but in actions.

Our sustainability approach is guided by the principles of inclusion, transparency, accountability, and systems thinking and is explained in detail in the IPMA Sustainability Framework. It aligns with the IPMA mission, our 2030 vision, the IPMA Bylaws, the IPMA Code of Ethics, the Sustainable Project Management – ICB Reference Guide, the IPMA Guide on Sustainable Project Management, and other internal regulations..

Together, through projects, people, and partnerships, we orchestrate change for a sustainable future.

1. Mission and vision alignment

The International Project Management Association (IPMA) is committed to orchestrating the project profession for a better world. This Sustainability Framework is an integral extension of that commitment and aligns with IPMA’s mission and 2030 vision, particularly:

• Promoting appropriate competences development to build sustainable careers to project professionals;
• Supporting organizations in aligning the management of their Projects with their sustainability strategy;
• Establishing a sustainable business and membership model;
• Empowering young professionals and fostering diverse global networks;
• Being the primary source of reliable knowledge in project management;
• Promoting public-private partnerships for sustainable development;
• Acting as the global chamber for the project profession;
• Leading by example in sustainability and volunteer engagement.
• Ensuring fair, inclusive, and safe opportunities for all volunteers.
• Using our resources responsibly and transparently.
• Building strong partnerships and empowering communities

Sustainability is not an add-on but an embedded value in how we manage projects, develop competences, engage with stakeholders, and operate as a global non-profit organization.

2. Stakeholder Engagement

IPMA fosters a culture of openness, inclusion, and co-creation with its diverse stakeholder groups: Member Associations, volunteers, partners, and the communities it serves. Strategies include:

• Regular stakeholder consultations through surveys, events, IPMA Special Interest Groups.
• Inclusive decision-making through multinational representation in governance and working groups;
• Collaboration with academic and industry partners to promote knowledge sharing and ESG-oriented innovation.

This approach reflects a stakeholder orientation as defined in IPMA ICB4 Reference Guide for Sustainable Project Management, promoting shared value and a “social license to operate.”

3. Environmental Impact

IPMA recognizes the urgency of minimizing its environmental footprint, especially in the context of travel, events, and operational activities. Key practices:

Travel:

• Preference for online meetings when feasible, reducing unnecessary travel;
• Encouragement of train travel as the first choice in regions with reliable rail infrastructure;
• Flights reimbursed only in economy class and when justified;
• Bundling meetings with existing events to reduce travel frequency;
• Public transport preferred for local transfers, with taxis allowed only under justified circumstances;
• Allowing checked luggage only for longer trips of 5+ days;

• Lodging must be within proximity of venues, secured at negotiated rates.

Event Management:

• Prioritizing venues that comply with eco-certifications and sustainability principles;
• Encouraging digital documentation and reducing printed materials (incl. the IPMA Event App, my.ipma, etc.);
• Promoting low-impact catering (e.g., local, seasonal options);
• Selecting event locations to boost local development;
• Selecting suppliers who follow eco-friendly practices whenever possible.
• Re-use of promotional materials to the extend possible (e.g. banners, roll-ups, brochures);
• Fostering representation of speakers and participants, taking into account geographical region, gender balance, religion, ethnicity, etc.

Operations:

• The IPMA Operations team has defined sustainability KPIs in their operational activities with regular reporting and evaluation, while guaranteeing that project results, environmental, social and economic aspects are equally considered in steering decisions.

These practices align with life cycle thinking and aim to integrate the “sustainability of the project” as defined in the IPMA ICB4 Reference Guide for Sustainable Project Management.

4. Social Responsibility and DEI

At IPMA, we believe diversity is essential for innovation and progress. Our core values emphasize fair representation, cultural awareness, and inclusive collaboration. Actions include:

• Ensuring diverse national representation in all working groups, in line with our Bylaws;
• Encouraging gender balance and intergenerational knowledge transfer;
• Creating inclusive event environments where all voices are respected;
• Supporting volunteerism from underrepresented regions through digital enablement and tailored support;
• Addressing specific issues through the IPMA SIG DEI and IPMA SIG ESG and specific events (such as the IPMA DiPM Diversity in Project Management conference)
• Upholding the principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in all operations, as outlined in the IPMA ICB4 Reference Guide for Sustainable Project Management.

These efforts support the “people and perspective competences” in sustainable project leadership, including ethics, values, and stakeholder engagement.

5. Economic Sustainability

To ensure long-term viability, IPMA is committed to sound financial management while delivering value for members and society. Key strategies include:

• Diversifying income streams through partnerships, training, publications, and certification services;
• Strengthening a resilient membership model, supported by digital tools and scalable services;
• Investing in capacity building of Member Associations and volunteers;
• Maintaining lean governance structures with a focus on value-for-money and sustainability.

By aligning our economic model with sustainability principles, we address not just cost efficiency, but also shared prosperity and responsible resource use.

6. Competence Development

IPMA champions the development of project professionals capable of leading sustainable transformation. IPMA addresses sustainability through the project management competences:

• We integrate systems thinking, futures literacy, critical thinking, and ethical leadership into our competence frameworks;
• IPMA’s ICB4 Reference Guide on Sustainable Project Management identifies 92 Key Competence Indicators (KCIs), which we use to shape learning, development, and certification offerings;
• Through the IPMA Global Standards, Events, and Certifications, we empower professionals to become agents of sustainable change.
• Competence development is the foundation of personal and professional sustainability; therefore, we encourage all project professionals to continuously invest in developing their competences.

7. Ethics

Ethics is a cornerstone of IPMA’s commitment to sustainability, integrity, and global leadership in the project profession. As IPMA continues to expand its reach and impact across diverse cultures and regions, it upholds a strong ethical foundation that ensures responsible, transparent, and inclusive operations, aligned with the values of its global community.

IPMA’s ethical ecosystem is supported by three key instruments:

• IPMA Code of Ethics – A publicly accessible document outlining the fundamental ethical values and professional responsibilities expected of all project professionals aligned with IPMA;
• IPMA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct – An internal comprehensive guide for IPMA Officers, volunteers, delegates, and members of IPMA working groups, defining standards of behavior, role responsibilities, and procedures for managing conflict of interest;

• IPMA Guidelines on Applying AI in Project Management – A proactive initiative to govern the ethical design and use of AI in project management, ensuring responsible, human-centric, and transparent deployment of intelligent systems.

IPMA’s ethical stance is rooted in shared global values, adapted to diverse cultures, and embedded across its structures. Key principles include:

• Integrity – Acting honestly and ethically in all professional and volunteer activities;
• Accountability – Taking responsibility for one’s actions and their impact on stakeholders and IPMA’s reputation;
• Transparency – Being open in decision-making, communication, and reporting;
• Respect – Fostering inclusive environments and upholding dignity, diversity, and cultural sensitivity;
• Fairness – Avoiding and declaring conflicts of interest, and ensuring decisions are merit-based and impartial;
• Sustainability – Acting with long-term responsibility toward society and the natural environment.

Ethical competence is not limited to governance—it is integral to sustainability. IPMA:

• Includes ethics and professional behavior in its certification standards (ICB4, OCB);
• Encourages reflective practice and ethical leadership as key to project success;
• Promotes education, discussion, and case-based learning around ethics;
• Will embed AI ethics in upcoming digital transformation standards and tools.

Ethics strengthens IPMA’s identity as a trusted, values-driven global organization. It ensures that all sustainability ambitions—environmental, social, and economic—are pursued with fairness, accountability, and humanity. Through its Codes, Committees, and Culture, IPMA not only leads projects but also leads with principles.

8. Digital Transformation for Sustainability

As a global organization committed to leading by example in sustainability, IPMA actively leverages digital tools and platforms to reduce environmental impact, increase social accessibility, and enhance economic efficiency. Digitization is a cornerstone of IPMA’s sustainability strategy, enabling smarter operations, reduced carbon footprint, and improved stakeholder engagement across all regions.

Key digitization efforts:

• IPMA Microsoft Teams: Serving as the central platform for document collaboration, including the digital IPMA Operations Handbook and other regulatory documents, eliminating the need for physical distribution and enhancing version control.
• my.ipma Platform: A unified intranet serving IPMA Member Associations (MAs), Certification Bodies (CBs), and their networks. The platform supports digital registration of members, visibility of upcoming events, and real-time engagement, significantly reducing administrative overhead and enabling inclusive access worldwide.

• Mobile Applications:
  • my.ipma App: Connects users to their certification journey, continuing professional development (CPD) records, and news in one place.
  • IPMA Events App: Offers participants paperless access to event agendas, speakers, networking, and session materials, dramatically reducing the environmental cost of event logistics.
• IPMA Library on my.ipma: Offers 360+ e-books to members of IPMA MAs, encouraging continuous learning without the resource consumption of traditional publishing.
• IPMA Publications Portal: Hosts research reports, white papers, and standards as open-access documents, democratizing access to knowledge while eliminating the environmental cost of printed materials.
• CIS Certification Information System: the CIS allows for the full digital lifecycle management of certification data. This minimizes paper usage, enhances data integrity, and supports real-time reporting across IPMA Certification Bodies.
• Digital Badges & CPD Records: Members can showcase their competence with verifiable digital credentials and track lifelong learning progress via an online CPD counter, fostering transparency and professional growth.
• Digitized Certification & Reimbursement Processes: Certificates are issued electronically, reducing printing and shipping impacts. Similarly, the IPMA Reimbursement Procedure is now fully digitized, eliminating the need for scanned paper receipts and manual processing.
• Providing training & support to volunteers who need support using digital tools

These digital innovations align with IPMA’s commitment to sustainable project management by:

• Reducing emissions related to travel, printing, and shipping;
• Promoting inclusivity by enabling access from all geographies;
• Ensuring transparency and efficiency through streamlined processes;
• Enabling scalable growth while preserving resources.

9. Conclusion

IPMA’s Sustainability Framework is a living policy that reflects our values, our vision, and our responsibility to lead with purpose. By integrating environmental stewardship, social equity and economic resilience into our operations and professional standards, we affirm our commitment to orchestrating the project profession for a better world—through projects and beyond.

IPMA Products & Services focusing on sustainability in project management:

• Sustainable Project Management – ICB4 Reference Guide
• IPMA Guide on Sustainable Project Management
• IPMA ICB (Individual Competence Baseline for Project Management)
• IPMA OCB (Organizational Competence Baseline for Developing Competences in Managing by Projects)
• IPMA ICB4 Reference Guide for Sustainable Project Management

All books can be downloaded for free in my.ipma – My books section.

• IPMA Global Sustainability Awards – https://awards.ipma.world/ipma-global-individual-award/
• IPMA SIG ESG – https://sig.ipma.world/sig-environmental-social-government-esg/
• IPMA SIG DEI – https://sig.ipma.world/sig-diversity-equity-inclusion-dei/
• IPMA Certification for individuals, organizations, and projects – https://ipma.world/ipma-certification/
• My.ipma platform – https://myipma.ipma.world/