BGSU C&ES Green Event Certification

Go digital. Instead of using paper, send out invitations through email, telephone, or social media
Create a website for the event and consider using online registration to limit paper use
Try using recycled paper and vegetable-based ink for any paper products needed
Choose reusable decorations. Avoid promotional products and decorations with dates on them; dateless decorations can be used again the following year
Instead of plastic table cloths, opt for washable fabric napkins and table cloths
Provide reusable name badges for attendees

Hosting your meetings, luncheons, and events on campus will reduce transportation impacts. Contact BGSU Catering Services to discuss meal options
When choosing a time and place for the event, consider spaces that allow for natural light and are energy efficient
If your event involves multiple locations, ensure that they are within walking distance of each other to limit car travel
Choose a centrally located venue depending on who your attendees are and how far they will be traveling for the event

Encourage biking / walking when weather and location permits
Publicize all options for public or alternative transit such as carpooling, BGSU Shuttle, biking, and walking on the event website and marketing materials
Hire shuttles to transport participants to the event site if it is off campus
Consider making your event available as a webinar or video conference for those attendees who are not local

Choose finger-food appetizers that do not need any utensils
If the appetizers are bite-size, offer napkins instead of plastic plates
Avoid individually packaged snacks and appetizers. Instead, serve food in bulk. Some examples include plates of cookies, fruit platters, and bowls of pretzels
Offer mainly vegetarian entrée options. Vegetarian meals reduce the amount of carbon and methane released and are often healthier meals
While it is not always possible to completely avoid meat products at events, serving chicken and turkey instead of beef and offering fewer meat dishes will go a long way to improving the sustainability of your event
If the event is catered, insist on seafood options that are Marine Stewardship Council certified to ensure that the fish species served are not endangered and suppliers do not have aquaculture practices that damage habitats
Purchase seasonal, local foods, to eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods thousands of miles
Order root vegetable trays in the winter and limit your fresh fruit selections to the summer, spring, and fall when possible

Order Fair Trade, Shade Grown coffee for daily office use and special events. Fair Trade coffee ensures farmers receive a fair price for the coffee and ensures fair labor conditions. Shade grown coffee helps protect rainforests, particularly bird habitats, and requires fewer chemicals
Buy drinks and snacks in bulk to reduce transportation impacts by avoiding multiple deliveries
Avoid using bottled water when possible. Instead, offer tap water in pitchers or water dispensers to decrease plastic waste and save money
Encourage office members to use their own mugs rather than providing disposable cups
Use compostable cups. Food Services now offer biodegradable paper and plastic cups for campus events

Use reusable dish ware whenever possible. For your next event, ask Dining Services to bring reusable glass or china plates instead of the disposable plastic or paper dish ware
Buffet lunches use less packaging and result in less waste than both bagged and boxed lunches
When constrained to bagged or boxed lunches, choose bagged lunches. Bagged lunches use less energy to produce and move through the recycle stream faster
Instead of individual condiment packages, offer condiments in bulk

If you use any disposables at your event, make sure that you encourage your attendees to utilize the silver recycling bins placed strategically throughout the student union
If you are using catering for your event, they will handle waste and dispose of the recycling in accordance with the University single stream recycling program
Don’t waste food. For small events, such as an office party or a dorm gathering, encourage students, colleagues, and workers to take leftover food home

Consider a location that utilizes natural light at the site. If the event is being offered during the daytime during warm weather, consider an outdoor event
Unplug projectors and other electronics when they are not in use
If extra lighting is necessary, use LED lights at event location
If using a vendor for lighting needs, ask if LED lights are available

Make participants aware of your sustainability objectives by announcing them at the beginning of the event
Provide frequent visual and verbal reminders to attendees to recycle and reduce waste during the event
Encourage the return of items such as name tag holders so they can be used for future events

If you know you’re going to have a lot of trash and / or recyclable materials, please notify Conference and Event Services Staff ahead of time

Updated: 12/01/2017 10:16PM