Green Event Certification Program

This is an optional Innovation & Leadership credit. These credits recognize exemplary practices and performance above and beyond what is recognized in standard credits and may not be relevant to every institution. Scoring in the Innovation and Leadership section is capped at 4 bonus points total.


Credit Language

IN 18: Green Event Certification Program – version 2.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a formal certification have to be in place, or can we count green event practices?

A formal certification program that certifies one or more events per year must be in place. Simply referencing efforts to make events greener in the absence of a formal certification program is not sufficient.

Can partial points be earned?

An institution earns 0.5 bonus points when it has a certification program that meets all six criteria listed. Partial points (.25) can be earned if three-to-five of the six criteria are met.

Example Responses

  • Emory University – Good documentation on a comprehensive green events program is provided under the credit and the university green events webpage. 
  • Portland Community College – Includes a Green Event checklist as additional documentation of having a certification program in place.
  • University of California, Santa Barbara – Clear indication that a formal events certification program is in place. Each Yes response is affirmed in the descriptive text. 
  • University of Illinois Chicago – Comprehensive responses on how a Zero Waste Event Planning Guide and checklist is applied for events across the institution.
  • University of Pittsburgh – Good documentation is provided in the descriptive field on the number of green events that were certified and COVID impacts.

Common Issues Identified During Review

  • A green event certification program that has certified one or more events in the previous year must be in place, and a valid website URL for the program is required. Simply referencing initiatives to make events greener is not sufficient in the absence of a certification program.

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