Massachusetts Institute of Technology
IN-5: Green Event Certification

The MIT Sustainable Event Certification helps guide event planners toward making smart choices about food, energy, transportation, and materials when planning an event. It aims to: empower staff, faculty, and student event planners to take a leadership role in catalyzing a sustainable transformation across the event culture at MIT, reduce the environmental impact of event planning choices, and boost the health and enjoyment of event attendees. The Excel tool is attached. The tool includes the following components: Transportation-related details include: pedestrian-friendly, public-transit oriented event location; carpool options; and virtual attendance suggestions. Catering guidance includes guidelines for: locally produced, organic, fair trade, vegetarian, bulk items, sustainable dishware, and food labelling. Guidelines on limited paper consumption include: electronic advertising; use of mobile apps; paper-free or recycled paper suggestions; name badge criteria, etc. Energy efficiency criteria include holding event in a venue chosen for its energy efficiency and sustainable amenities, i.e. a LEED-certified building, a space with natural lighting, or outdoors. Materials and waste guidelines include: guidelines for trash, recycling, and compost; advice on using reusable items, and reducing over-purchasing. A section on communications includes guidance for advertising the event sustainably.