Arizona State University
IN-18: Green Event Certification

ASU's sustainability certification program addresses events in three ways:
1. Students may submit their events using the Student Event Sustainability Certification Assessment
2. Staff may certify a single event using the Staff Event Planner Sustainability Certification Assessment for each event
3. Staff may attend a training event and submit annual assessments so that all events they manage are certified.

Sample certification questions:

Transportation
- Attendees are encouraged to take public transportation, bike, walk, or carpool to and from the event.
- Attendees are incentivized to take public transportation, bike, walk, or carpool to and from the event.
- Event staff take public transportation, bike, walk, or carpool to and from the event.

Catering
- Event serves vegetarian or vegan options.
- Event does not serve red meat.
- Offer a side of fruit or other healthy alternative in place of a classic dessert.
- Attendees are educated about sustainable foods when served.
- Used 'green caterer' denoted in the Approved Food Provider List.
- Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, or organic coffees and teas are served.
- Event serves locally grown or produced, in-season, or organic food.

Procurement
- Printed materials use 100% post consumer recycled content paper that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.

Waste Reduction
- No styrofoam products are used by event staff or vendors.
- Attendees are encouraged to use refillable water bottles by making an announcement to highlight the venue’s water fountains or providing water pitchers.
- Printed materials are printed double-sided and in black & white ink.
- Printed materials are provided seldomly, only by request.
- Request little or zero excess packaging in shipping instructions.
- Supplies are purchased in bulk.
- Name tags or badges are collected at the event to be reused or recycled.
- Banners, posters, and signs are printed without dates etc. so they may be reused.
- ASU Surplus picks up unwanted materials if they will not be reused.
- Event agendas, guides, and programs are distributed to attendees electronically.
- Registration, invitations, ticketing, RSVPs, and all event management and communications are digital.
- Reusable tablecloths are used.
- Event decorations, supplies, artwork, name tags, and centerpieces are reused from previous events, borrowed, purchased secondhand, or rented.
- Single use items are avoided.
- All landfill bins are accompanied by a recycling bin and they are placed directly next to each other.
- Bin guards are present to inform attendees about proper waste disposal.

Culture of Sustainability
- Event sustainability features are shared with attendees in pre-event literature.
- Department announcement, public blog, or press release is written on event's sustainability efforts.
- Sustainability concepts or terms are displayed or presented at the event or through electronic media.
- Attendees are asked to help meet event sustainability goals.

Over 80 student events were certified in 2019.