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
- Nelson Rendezvous, Nelson Institute – 2024
- Sustainability Symposium, Office of Sustainability – 2024
Gold
- Sustain-a-Bash Showcase , UW-Housing – 2024
- Harvest Fest, The People’s Farm – 2024
- End-of-Semester Gathering, Office of Sustainability – 2024
Silver
- College Library All-Staff Orientation, College Library – 2024
- FRN Dinner x Zero Waste Team – 2024
- Sustainability Round Table, Office of Sustainability Education and Outreach – 2024
Bronze
- Convocation Cookout, UW-Housing – 2024
- WEI Open House: Climate Solutions on Campus, Wisconsin Energy Institute – 2024
Past Green Events
STARS Announcement Ceremony, Office of Sustainability – 2019
Sustainability Symposium, Office of Sustainability – 2022
College Library All-Staff Orientation, College Library – 2023
Sustainability Symposium, Office of Sustainability – 2023
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
Sustain-a-Bash Showcase , UW-Housing – 2023
Convocation Cookout, 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
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
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
Board of Visitors Meeting, Global Health Institute – 2019
Nelson Winter Grad Celebration, Nelson Institute – 2022
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
About Our Work
The Green Events team was accepted to present a poster for the third 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