University of Florida
IN-5: Green Event Certification

The Sustainable Event Certification program is designed to support faculty, staff and student groups across campus with the planning, promotion and execution of events that integrate sustainability efforts. The Office of Sustainability maintains an online planning guide, which provides information and resources that relate to every phase of the event planning process and covers topics including: • Food and product sourcing: Sourcing local food, in-season items, fair-trade items, utilizing local/small businesses, incorporating vegan/vegetarian items, using compostable or reusable serveware, etc. • Waste reduction: Composting, recycling, incorporating reusable items, limiting or avoiding single-use decorations/signs, reducing food waste, limiting or avoiding individually packaged items, etc. • Communications and paper use: Avoiding or limited printed materials, when printing is required using paper with sustainability attributes (FSC-certified, recycled-content, etc.), incorporating sustainability messaging into the event, creating reusable marketing materials/signage, etc. • Accommodations and transportation: Organizing shuttles or carpooling, providing out-of-town guests with information to make their visit more sustainable, providing information about alternative transportation modes (bike paths, bus routes, bike share, etc.), providing live-stream or teleconferencing options, etc. • Energy efficiency: Utilizing locations with existing sustainability commitments (i.e. LEED), limiting the use of electronic or A/V equipment, turning off lights and electronics when not in use, planning the event to maximize natural daylight, etc. • Accessibility and economic sustainability: Offering free/reduced rates or scholarships, sourcing products and services through local vendors, donating proceeds to local non-profit, etc. Once a department or group has reviewed and implemented aspects of the event guide, they can submit the Sustainable Event Certification Application which is used to evaluate and score various aspects of sustainability that are being incorporated into an event. Applicants receive a certification rating based on the amount of effort taken toward creating a sustainable event: Orange-Level Certification (Some effort); Blue-Level Certification (An above-average level of effort); Green-Level Certification (The highest level of effort).