Greening Your Event
In order to receive the Green Event Certification your event must achieve at least the minimum number
of requirements as listed below in each category. If a certain requirement is not applicable, please
provide a comment. Please submit your completed checklist to sustainability@duke.edu.
These actions can significantly decrease the environmental impact of your event and can greatly reduce
the event’s carbon footprint. However, these actions alone cannot achieve a carbon neutral event. After
earning the Green Event Certificate your event is eligible to purchase carbon offsets in order to more
closely approach carbon neutrality. Instructions and contact information for purchasing carbon offsets is
provided at the end of the checklist.
Before the Event – Planning & Logistics (At least 3)
☐We use naturally lit and energy efficient meeting rooms when available or when possible, we
schedule our event during the daytime and outside.
☐ We recommend a lodging site near the event if one is needed.
☐ We arrange to have recycling bins at our event.
☐ We work with Duke Recycles to provide composting of food products at our event.
☐ We use on campus equipment or local rental services.
Before the Event – Communications and Supplies (At least 4)
☐ If using decorations, we use ones that can be reused or donated, such as potted plants.
☐ We use dry erase boards rather than flip chart paper and powerpoints rather than handouts.
☐ We use reusable name badge holders and collect them at the end of the event.
☐ We use reusable mugs or cups as promotional products or giveaways.
☐ If our event requires pre-registration, we use Duke’s online registration resource and we confirm
event registrations and provide event updates via email.
☐ We use web-based promotion and do not include dates on printed materials so they can be
reused.
☐ We use recycled paper products for printed materials and print on both sides if printed materials
are necessary.
☐ We minimize the number of printed materials by avoiding copies for every participant and
instead provide some printed information in public areas and provide handouts or transcripts via
email.
Before the Event – Food (At least 4)
☐ We seek local, sustainable caterers with vegetarian, organic, local and seasonal options.
☐ We avoid food with lots of packaging, such as individually wrapped items.
☐ We serve fair trade coffee.
☐ We buy snacks and condiments in bulk.
☐ We use reusable dishware and utensils. Where this is not possible, we seek environmentally
friendly options such as recycled content and biodegradable products.
☐ We use reusable linens, either from our caterers or provided separately.
☐ We encourage participants to bring their own mugs or cups.
☐ We ensure there is access to a water fountain or provide water in bulk and do not provide
disposable plastic water bottles.
Transportation to the Event (At least 2)
☐ We encourage biking, walking, public transportation and carpooling to the event by choosing an
easily accessible and convenient location and informing participants about these options.
☐ We allow teleconferencing if appropriate and bring in local speakers.
☐ We provide shuttles and information about carpooling and local bus transportation.
During and After the Event (All)
☐ We provide appropriate recycling signs to make recycling easy. We recycle all paper, plastics #17, metals, glass and cardboard as available and remind participants about recycling during breaks.
☐ We ensure that all lights and equipment are turned off after the event.
Other
☐ After reducing the environmental impact of our event as much as possible, we offset our
remaining greenhouse gas emissions for the event by investing in a local carbon offsets project
through the Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative.
Please submit your completed checklist to sustainability@duke.edu.