Select reusable or recyclable signage and table covers. Minimize items such as disposables and balloons.

Ask attendees to RSVP to avoid over-ordering food to reduce food waste. For small events, consider asking guests to bring Tupperware to take home extra food.

Green Your Food – Ask catering for foods with less packaging or bulk items. Use locally grown seasonal produce, organ­ically grown foods, Fair Trade foods or beverages, vegetarian/vegan options. Ensure that condiments, sauces, spreads, chips, and other items are served in bulk to avoid unnecessary waste from individual wrapping and choose food platters over individually-packaged boxed meals.

Beverages – Provide a water station with fillable water pitchers and reusable mugs in lieu of individual bottles of water. Have a post-event plan for composting or donating usable leftovers.

At minimum, make sure you have both trash and recycling bins in your event space. Make an announcement at the beginning of the event that you would like attendees to recycle plastic bottles, cups, and metal cans. Tell your guests NOT to put paperplates in recycling. If you want to add compostable serviceware (plates, cups, utensils, napkins, etc.), please follow the guidelines below.

Composting Guidelines:

All compostable serviceware must have the BPI certified logo to be accepted by the compost vendor. Ask caterers to provide  compostable plates, cups, and utensils with BPI logo. Announce recycling/composting goals at event and point out where to recycle and compost to guests. Contact the Sustainability Office for composting options.

Choose local vendors or Dining Services to minimize transportation costs and carbon emissions. Use natural light during the day if possible (e.g., hold the event outside or in an atrium).

Encourage attendees to carpool, take the shuttle or use alternate transportation to get to campus. Consider public transportation schedules and peak travel times when scheduling the start and end times for your event. Let guests know they can offset their travel carbon at TerraPass Events calculator and Myclimate event calculator.

Provide useful or eco-friendly products as promotional products or giveaways such as reusable bags, BPA-free reusable water bottles, reusable utensil sets, lunch kits that can be used at the event to take extra food, etc. Purchase from local, handmade, plastic-free, or otherwise “green” vendors.