The Green Events program provides guidance and resources to improve the sustainability of events on the UW–Madison campus. The program aims to reduce the environmental impacts of events by focusing on six major categories: Venue, Décor, Communications, Transportation, Food, and Waste.
For more information, please contact greenevents@g-groups.wisc.edu
Certification Checklist
Begin by completing the Green Event certification survey checklist to evaluate your event’s current sustainability score.
There are four possible certification levels based on your score:
- Bronze (50-65%)
- Silver (65-80%)
- Gold (80%+)
- Platinum (Gold certification & two Platinum Checklist action items)
If you’re unsure about any of the questions, please leave them blank or utilize the notes spaces provided to communicate any uncertainties or additional questions you might have for our team. We’re here to help!
If you need assistance with specific checklist items or are aiming for platinum certification, please reach out to us at greenevents@g-groups.wisc.edu.
After completion of this survey, a member of the Green Events team will reach out to discuss next steps in the certification process.
Here is a PDF of the checklist if you are interested in reviewing possible action items
Resources
Learn more about LEED-certified buildings on campus
For more information on sustainable transportation options in Madison, check out bike paths and bus routes
For catering ideas, check out this list of sustainable vendors in the Madison area
For questions on what is recyclable, check out Pellitteri Recycle Right guide
For more information on hosting an accessible event, checkout this Office of Compliance guide
2023-2024 Academic Year Green Events
Platinum
- College Library All-Staff Orientation, College Library – 2023
- Sustainability Symposium, Office of Sustainability – 2023
Gold
- Convocation Cookout, UW-Housing – 2023
- Sustain-a-Bash, UW-Housing – 2023
- Great World Texts Student Conference, Center for the Humanities – 2024
- DoIT 30th Anniversary Celebration, Division of Information Technology – 2024
- Green Office Go Outside, Office of Sustainability Green Office team – 2024
- Earth Fest Kickoff, Nelson Institute – 2024
Silver
- Sustainability Round Table, ASM Sustainability Committee, Slow Food UW, and Office of Sustainability – 2023
- Conservation Biology and Botany Flash Talk, Conservation Biology Major – 2023
- Natural Resources Institute’s Day, UW Division of Extension Natural Resources Institute – 2023
- Nelson Lunch with Chancellor Mnookin, Nelson Institute – 2023
- Flocking Together: Evening Walk and Discussions with the BIPOC Birding Club, Office of Sustainability Social Sustainability Coalition – 2024
- Food Sustainability Roundtable, Office of Sustainability Food team – 2024
- Sustainability Research Hub Networking Event, Nelson Institute – 2024
- The Big Splash, Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences – 2024
Bronze
- Global Day 2024: Wisconsin & the World, CALS Global – 2024
- WI KidWind 2024, Wisconsin Energy Institute – 2024
- Roadmapping Sustainability in the WSB, Wisconsin School of Business – 2024
- How good food goes bad: Understanding and preventing food waste, Food Sciences – 2024
- Sunday Stroll: A Community Nature Walk with the MSC and GSCC, Multicultural Student Center – 2024
- Climate Justice Teach-In, Wisconsin Energy Institute – 2024
- Sustainability New Employee Walking Tour, Office of Sustainability – 2024
Past Green Events
STARS Announcement Ceremony, Office of Sustainability – 2019
Sustainability Symposium, Office of Sustainability – 2022
Earth Day Conference, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies – 2019
Discovery Expo, Wisconsin Science Festival – 2019
Wellness Symposium, Office of Human Resources – 2019
Networking Event, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies – 2019
LaFollette Climate Forum, Robert M. LaFollette School of Public Affairs – 2021
Global Days, College of Agricultural & Life Sciences – 2021
Convocation Cookout, UW-Housing – 2022
Sustain-a-Bash, UW-Housing – 2022
WEI Kid Wind 2023, WEI – 2023
OGRAIN Conference, OGRAIN – 2023
Nelson Institute Earth Day, Nelson Institute – 2023
WEI Climate Justice Teach In, WEI – 2023
Empowering Youth for a Brighter Future, Nelson Institute and Office of Sustainability – 2023
Wellness Symposium, Office of Human Resources – 2018
UW–Madison Advising Conference, Office of Undergraduate Advising – 2019, 2020
Great World Texts, Center for the Humanities – 2019, 2020
Office Professionals Conference, Office of Human Resources – 2019
WAEE Annual Conference, Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education – 2019
Environmental Justice in Multispecies Worlds: Land, Water, Food; The Center for Culture, History, and Environment – 2020
Breakfast with Bucky, All Campus Party Wisconsin Alumni Student Board – 2023
Lake St Bash, All Campus Party Wisconsin Alumni Student Board – 2023
Board of Visitors Meeting, Global Health Institute – 2019
Nelson Winter Grad Celebration, Nelson Institute – 2022
About Our Work
The Green Events team was accepted to present a poster for the second annual UW–Madison Sustainability Symposium hosted by the Office of Sustainability and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.
The Green Events team strives to advance the Three Pillars of Sustainability in every certified event
Environmental Sustainability: practices that keep our ecosystems healthy and protect natural resources for future generations
Economic Sustainability: practices that support long-term economic growth without negatively impacting social, environmental, and cultural aspects of the community
Social Sustainability: practices that support socially sustainable communities, which are equitable, diverse, connected, and democratic, and provide a good quality of life