Thompson Rivers University
IN-5: Green Event Certification

TRU Green Event Certification Program The TRU Green Event Certification Program is administered by the TRU Sustainability Office and certifies TRU events in a 4, 5, or 6 Star grading system. Any TRU event can qualify in the program regardless of their size or number of participants. Event organizers need to email the program coordinator their event warp-up report within two weeks of the end of their event outlining how their event did in the following six categories. Only events that can prove that their events qualified under at least four of the six categories are eligible to receive a certification. If an event qualifies under four of the six categories, it would be certified as a 4 Star TRU Green Event. If an event qualifies under five of the categories, it would be certified as a 5 Star TRU Green Event. Finally, if an event qualifies under all six of the categories, it would be certified as a 6 Star TRU Green Event. Categories: 1. Sustainable transportation options, teleconferencing options, and/or carbon offsets. Are participants getting to and from your event using sustainable transportation options? Is there a tele-commuting option? Are carbon offsets being promoted as a way for participants to offset the carbon they use to get to the event? 2. Sustainable catering For example, sourcing local and third party certified food and beverages, providing vegetarian/vegan options, and using reusable/compostable materials. 3. Paper consumption For example, minimization and recycled/ FSC certified content. 4. Energy efficiency For example, equipment; lighting (is it provided by LED bulbs, or was lighting reduced by using natural light?); heating (is renewable natural gas used in the building, or is there a solar thermal system on the building to pre-heat the hot water?); is the event outside (needing no cooling or heating); are solar PV panels off-setting some of the hydro-electricity? 5. Waste minimization and diversion For example, are single-use food items used or are reusable wares used?; are Zero Waste Stations set-up at the event?; are food scraps being composted?, etc. 6. Communications and/or signage about the sustainable practices at the event For example, what communication tools (posters, announcements, social media posts, etc.) are you using to let event participants know about all of the sustainable elements of this event? Event wrap-up reports (with ‘Green Event Certification’ in the subject line) should be emailed to James Gordon, coordinator of the TRU Green Event Certification Program. James will issue a pdf copy of the TRU Green Event certificate via email within two weeks of receiving the wrap-up report. The TRU Green Event Certification Program started in 2017 and has certified many events. Here are two examples” 1. The TRU Bike to Work Week French Breakfast (May 30, 2017), which received a 6 Star TRU Green Event certificate. At this event the following ‘green’ components were in place: • Sustainable transportation options – you could only participate if you rode your bike to the event. Sustainable catering: vegetarian and vegan options we offered (croissants and strawberries), and only reusable place settings were used (china plates, cups, saucers and metal cutlery(=)Paper consumption: only minimal paper products were used for the whole event (small paper napkins)Energy efficiency: no energy was used during the event since it was outside at the TRU Bike Shelter. Waste minimization and diversion: the only waste produced at the event (some food waste and paper napkins) was composted. • Communications and/or signage about the sustainable practices: one 8.5’x11’ paper poster at the event promoted the TRU Green Event Certification Program, and the program was also mentioned and promoted during the welcome announcement to the 28 participants at the breakfast. 2. The International Language of Food: A Dialogue on Culture, Community and Sustainability. This event, which was part of TRU IDays (TRU International Days, March 5-9, 2018), received a 5 Star TRU Green Event certificate for having the following five components in place: • Sustainable transportation options, teleconferencing options, and/or carbon offsets. Sustainable catering (e.g. sourcing local and third party certified food and beverages, providing vegetarian/vegan options, using reusable/compostable materials). Most ingredients for this event were from the BC coast or local First Nation territory, Secwepemc‘uluwc. Preparation of the food was a collaboration between Chef Ned Bell and the students and faculty of TRU‘s Culinary Arts Program Paper consumption (e.g. minimization and recycled/ FSC certified content):no paper of any kind besides small cocktail napkins were used in this event. Energy efficiency (e.g. equipment and lighting):took place in the Campus Activity Centre, which uses renewable natural gas to heat the building and has all new LED bulbs for the main building lighting. Waste minimization and diversion: full mobile zero waste station was used, which included composting of all napkins and food waste. Communications and/or signage about the sustainable practices: one 8.5’x11’ paper poster at the event promoted the TRU Green Event Certification Program, and the program was also mentioned and promoted during the welcome announcement to the 100 participants at the event.

In the link above, go to ‘Green Event Certification Program’ for details.