Green Events Certification Program

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

The Green Events Intern team for 2026-2027: Gao Kou Yang, Victoria Petrina, Veda Poranki, RoseMary Greany, Caroline Arciszewski, Amanda Sadowski

Certification Checklist

Begin by completing the Green Event certification survey checklist to evaluate your event’s current sustainability score.

Take the Survey

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.

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 the UW–Madison Zero Waste Compass 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

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