Greener Events. Greener Illinois.
How to Green-Certify Your Event
1. Select a Green Team Leader
It helps to have one person take the lead. Identify someone from your event team who can communicate with iSEE to develop a plan for greening your event.
2. Read the Green Event Guide
The Certified Green Event Program Action Guide contains resources, examples, and guidelines to help you select elective sustainability actions best suited to your event. Even remote events can qualify as “green”!
3. Submit Your Plan Beforehand
Once you’ve identified the steps you plan to take and a method for implementation, complete the online Certified Green Event Registration Form, and we’ll get you certified! Be sure to submit this prior to the event.
4. Submit Your Post-Event Form
Submit photos, comments, and other information using the Certified Green Event Post-Event Form. Aim to submit this within two weeks after your event.
Congratulations! Your event is now certified for one year. We will work with you to showcase your certification with pride.
Here to Help: Tutorials, Hints, and Tips
Handy Links
- iSEE’s Guide to Sustainability Success
- Access free resources about zero-waste event planning through the university’s Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) membership
- iSEE’s Suggestions for Recycling Options
- Campus Waste Management and Recycling
- Sustainable transportation around campus
- CUMTD Trip Planner
Getting Started
- Certified Green Event Program Action Guide — Select sustainability elective actions for your event.
- Certified Green Event Registration Form — Fill out prior to your event.
- Certified Green Event Post-Event Form — Fill out within the two weeks following your event.
Contact the iSEE Certified Greener Campus Team
Click here to email our team at iseegreenoffice@gmail.com
Thank you for certifying your events!
2023 Certified Green Events
- Illini Lights Out Spring 2023 (five events) — Certified January 2023
- SSC Sustainability Career Panel — Certified January 2023
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Everyday Environment Webinar Series — Certified January 2023
- Office of the Chancellor for Special Events and Commencement: Illinois vs. Nebraska Men’s Basketball Event — Certified January 2023
- University of Illinois-Special Events-Chancellor’s Office HOPE Chicago Luncheon — Certified January 2023
2022 Certified Green Events
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events President and Chancellor’s Holiday Reception — Certified December 2022
- Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Research Development Day 2022 — Certified December 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Il. v. WIsconsin Men’s basketball game — Certified December 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Il. vs. Michigan State Men’s Basketball — Certified December 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Il. vs. Indiana Men’s Basketball — Certified December 2022
- Office of the Chancellor for Special Events Il v. Monmouth Men’s Basketball — Certified November 2022
- Office of the Chancellor for Special Events IL v. Lindenwood Men’s Basketball — Certified November 2022
- Office of the Chancellor for Special Events IL v. Syracuse Men’s Basketball — Certified November 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Il. v. Penn State Men’s Basketball — Certified November 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Il. v Alabama L&M Men’s Basketball — Certified November 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Il. v. Bethane-Cookman — Certified November 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events and Commencement Illinois v. Eastern Illinois Men’s Basketball — Certified November 2022
- Office of the Chancellor for Special Events and Commencement Illinois vs. Kansas City Men’s Basketball — Certified November 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Illinois vs. Purdue Men’s Football — Certified November 2022
- Facilities & Services Zero Waste Basketball Game — Certified November 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events and Commencement State of the University — Certified October 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events and Commencement Chancellor’s Medallion Presentation and Reception — Certified October 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events and Commencement Strategic Planning Summit — Certified October 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events and Commencement Illinois v. Quincy (Exh.) Men’s Basketball — Certified October 2022
- iSEE 2022 Campus Sustainability Celebration — Certified October 2022
- iSEE/SECS/SSLC Clothing Swap — Certified October October 2022
- Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) Sustainability Seminar Series — Certified October 2022
- iSEE TED Talk: Eco-Edition Series — Certified October 2022
- iSEE Campus Sustainability Month Trash Clean Up — Certified October 2022
- iSEE Water Taste Test — Certified October 2022
- iSEE Illini Lights Out events (Sept. 23, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 2, 2022) — Certified September 2022
- University of Illinois Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration — Certified September 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events & Commencement University of Johannesburg Dinner — Certified September 2022
- Office of the Chancellor – Special Events/Commencement Seitu Jones/Washington Carver Project Dinner — Certified September 2022
- Office of the Chancellor for Special Events MSI Alliance Dinner — Certified September 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Farewell Reception for Provost Cangellaris — Certified September 2022
- Office of the Provost Orientation for New Academic Leaders — Certified September 2022
- Office of the Provost Illinois New Faculty Orientation (INFO) — Certified September 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Chancellor’s Distinguished Staff Awards — Certified September 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Illinois vs. Wyoming Football Pregame Event — Certified September 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Shield Appreciation Event — Certified September 2022
- Parkland College Cobra Carnival — Certified May 2022
- Champaign Park District Bunny Brunch — Certified April 2022
- Champaign Park District Bunny Open House — Certified April 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Illinois Promise Welcome Lunch — Certified April 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events University-wide Commencement ceremony — Certified April 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Commencement Dinner — Certified April 2022
- Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Bronze Tablet Reception — Certified April 2022
- Office of the Chancellor for Special Events Chancellor’s Medallion Ceremony — Certified April 2022
- Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Illini Track & Field Invitational — Certified April 2022
- Office of the Chancellor for Special Events Academic Service Recognition Breakfast — Certified April 2022
- Office of the Chancellor for Special Events “Conversation with Senior Leadership” — Certified April 2022
- Illinois Marathon VIP Suite at the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon — Certified April 2022
- University Police Department Cherries and Berries — Certified March 2022
- University of Illinois Foundation Board and Donor Relations UIUC London Dinner — Certified March 2022
- Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club Young Olympians — Certified March 2022
- Illinois High School Association Wheelchair Basketball/Unified Sports State Tournament — Certified February 2022
- Illinois Extension Everyday Environment Webinar Series — Certified February 2022
- Disability Resources & Educational Services Wheelchair Basketball Tournament — Certified January 2022
- University Housing Gender Inclusivity Training — Certified January 2022
- Campus Recreation/Instructional Kitchen Winter Virtual Canned Food Drive — Certified January 2022
- CU at Home “One Winter Night” — Certified January 2022
2021 Certified Green Events
- Office of the Chancellor “State of the University” — Certified November 2021
- University of Illinois Foundation Board of Directors Basketball Game Watch — Certified November 2021
- Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS) Environmental Career Panel — Certified October 2021
- iSEE 2021-22 Illini Lights Out (10 events) — Certified October 2021
- Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS) Divestment Teach-in — Certified September 2021
- iSEE Oct. 20 Campus Sustainability Celebration — Certified September 2021
- iSEE Oct. 15 Campus Sustainability Trash Cleanup — Certified September 2021
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers September, October, November, and December General Meetings — Certified September 2021
- SECS iCAP Teach-In — Certified April 2021
- SECS Trivia and Happy Hour — Certified April 2021
- SECS Plant Parenthood Fundraiser — Certified April 2021
- SECS Roundtable with La Colectiva — Certified April 2021
- SECS Earth Day Climate Strike — Certified April 2021
- SECS Stargazing — Certified April 2021
- SECS Teach-In — Certified April 2021
- SECS Ecosociology Lecture & Discussion — Certified April 2021
- SECS Virtual Sustainable Cooking — Certified April 2021
- SECS Volunteering with Red Bison — Certified April 2021
- SECS “Plogging” 5k Fun Run — Certified April 2021
- SECS Painting Climate Strike Signs — Certified April 2021
- Illinois Solar Decathlon ADAPTHAUS Inauguration Event — Certified April 2021
- Campus Recreation Food Assistance & Well-Being Program Digital Food Drive — Certified April 2021
- iSEE Congress 2021: The Future of Water — Certified March 2021
- Champaign Park District/UIUC Bunny Brunch — Certified March 2021
- iSEE TED Talk: Eco-Edition Series — Certified March 2021
- Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) Environmental Policy Workshop — Certified March 2021
- ELP Corporate Sustainability Workshop — Certified March 2021
- SSC Coffee Hours — Certified March 2021
- RST/Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club Young Olympians Program — Certified March 2021
- One Winter Night Anniversary Plaza Donation Drive — Certified March 2021
- One Winter Night — Certified February 2021
- Parkland College Trivia Night, 3/24/2021 — Certified February 2021
- Illinois Extension Everyday Environment Webinar Series — Certified February 2021
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) general meeting series — Certified February 2021
2020 Certified Green Events
- Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) Sustainability Seminar Series — Certified December 2020
- ECEC21 (Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference 2021) — Certified December 2020
Certified Green Event Elective Actions
You have the power to reduce the environmental impact of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
While our other Certified Greener Campus Programs offer various degrees of certification (Bronze, Silver, and Gold), green certification for an event requires adopting any five elective actions in the following categories.
If you have additional questions about how best to complete an action, feel free to contact iSEE at any time at iseegreenoffice@gmail.com. Happy greening!
Transportation Elective Actions
- Elective Action #1: Encourage carpooling for out-of-town attendees, and provide information about lower-carbon ways to travel (e.g. rail instead of flying)
- Elective Action #2: Offer teleconference opportunities for attendees to participate remotely.
- Elective Action #3: Hold the event at a location convenient for public transportation, biking, or walking.
Energy Use Reduction Elective Actions
- Elective Action #4: Regulate room temperatures and reduce HVAC strain.
- Elective Action #5: Choose locations with natural lighting whenever possible to minimize lighting needs.
Waste Reduction Elective Actions
- Elective Action #6: Go paperless and offer the event program online.
- Elective Action #7: Use paper with recycled content for any printed materials.
- Elective Action #8: Ensure recycling bins are available at the event location.
- Elective Action #9: Encourage people to bring their own reusable mugs and/or offer them to attendees as a promotional item.
Food & Dining Elective Actions
- Elective Action #10: Offer at least one vegetarian or vegan option at all event meals.
- Elective Action #11: Serve local food, and advertise where it’s from.
- Elective Action #12: Offer food/beverages in reusable tableware (no single-use plastics or disposables).
Innovation Elective Actions
- Elective Action #13: Communicate the ways the event is sustainable and a Green Event via signage, shout-out, or other means.
- Elective Action #14: Communicate at the event itself that sustainability is a priority and identify in what ways.
- Elective Action #15: Provide functionable giveaway items.
- Elective Action #16: Recruit another event/host to join the program.
- Elective Action #17: Provide information on other sustainability events or opportunities.
- Elective Action #18: Record the event (if hosting online) and make it publicly available afterward.
- Elective Action #19: Come up with your own strategy to make your event more sustainable — and tell us about it!
Elective Actions for Certifying a Virtual Event
The following Elective Actions from the above categories are compatible with events hosted remotely. Please consider applying them to make your virtual conferences, webinars, and gatherings as sustainable as possible — many of these might be steps you are already taking!
Transportation Elective Actions
- Elective Action #2: Offer teleconference opportunities for attendees to participate remotely
Waste Reduction Elective Actions
- Elective Action #6: Go paperless and offer the event program online
Innovative Elective Actions
- Elective Action #13: Communicate the ways the event is sustainable and a Green Event via signage, shout-out, or other means
- Elective Action #14: Communicate at the event itself that sustainability is a priority and identify in what ways
- Elective Action #16: Recruit another event/host to join the program
- Elective Action #17: Provide information on other sustainability events or opportunities
- Elective Action #18: Record the event (if hosting online) and make it publicly available afterward
- Elective Action #19: Come up with your own strategy to make your event more sustainable — and tell us about it!