University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
IN-5: Green Event Certification

As an expansion of the existing Certified Green Office, Certified Green Lab, and Certified Green Greeks Program, the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment now offers departments and on-campus groups the opportunity to receive Certified Green Event Status. We provide consulting to help groups identify how to make their event zero or near-zero waste, educate them on responsible facility practices, offer purchasing tips for local catering options that provide vegetarian and vegan opportunities, and sample signage areas can use to be more sustainable. Specific credit language is as follows: Certified Green Event Credits You have the power to reduce the environmental impact of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Certified Green Event Program offers a number of different ways to green your event. All you have to do is integrate at least four of the actions below into your event! Encourage carpooling for out-of-town attendees, and provide information about lower-carbon ways to travel (e.g. rail instead of flying) Offer teleconference opportunities for attendees to participate remotely Offer at least one vegetarian or vegan option at all event meals Go paperless and offer the conference program online - our staff can help you with the technical side of things Use paper with recycled content for any printed materials Ensure recycling bins are available at the event location Reduce waste through encouraging people to bring their own reusable mugs and/or offering them to attendees as a promotional item Communicate ways the event is sustainable via signage or other means

Program credits and event consultation is final, and our first few events have happened as a soft launch; however, due to a backlog in our marketing area the website is still under development.