Stanford University
IN-5: Green Event Certification

From small departmental meetings to large-scale campus community gatherings, Stanford hosts thousands of events throughout the year. Implementing green practices at these events, no matter the size, has helped Stanford reduce its waste, conserve resources, and set an example across campus by engaging the community in Stanford's commitment to sustainability. The Office of Sustainability’s Cardinal Green Event program prioritizes cost-neutral sustainability improvements and offers consultation to student and staff event planners on ways to reduce the impact of the food, waste, communications, energy consumption, and transportation at their events. Program participants complete a green event planning baseline survey at the beginning of the program to identify potential areas for improvement, and then submit a green event report after each event to verify the actions taken to reduce the impact of their event. The Office of Sustainability also works with Students for Sustainable Stanford and the Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU) to create a process through which all ASSU-funded student events can meet the same sustainability standards that are enforced through the Green Events program, including composting, recycling, and donating leftover food. Starting in 2019, the Office of Sustainability also participates in office hours hosted by the Student Activities and Leadership office to provide sustainability recommendations to student event planners.