University of Calgary
IN-5: Green Event Certification

The University of Calgary is proud to offer a Sustainable Events certification program. To certify a Sustainable Event, campus event planners complete and submit a checklist documenting the sustainable decisions they have made in planning their event. The program also offers a suite of supporting tools and resources to help students, faculty and staff plan and execute more environmentally conscious, inclusive and socially responsible events at the University of Calgary. The certification checklist includes nine categories of action: venue and event space; accommodation; invitations, communications and event promotion; event materials, gifts and giveaways; set-up and décor; staff participation; and innovation and exemplary practice. Each category in the checklist identifies clear action items for participants to complete, encouraging them to promote sustainable transportation options, to make sustainable catering choices, to minimize the paper and data are consumed by event communications, to reduce the event’s energy consumption, to minimize and divert waste, to promote accessibility and inclusivity throughout their operations and to communicate about their sustainable decisions with event attendees. An appendix briefly explains why each action recommended in the checklist is sustainable and how to achieve it at the University of Calgary, with additional detail offered through supporting resources and workshops. To certify an event as sustainable, participants must complete at least 65% of all of the listed action items that apply to their event (Bronze certification), with additional levels of certification (Silver and Gold) awarded to those who complete a higher percentage of action items. Since the program’s launch in July 2018, 3 events have been certified as sustainable (including the annual President’s Stampede BBQ, an event with over 1500 guests).