Preparing for Your Green Event

Incorporating environmentally friendly actions through every stage of your event planning is vital to the welfare of the Georgia Tech and greater communities. Use the guide below as a resource to produce exciting, environmentally conscious special events.

Selecting a Venue

  • Look for sites around the city who use environmentally friendly products
  • Plan to use an outdoor area that is already sustainable and beautiful - it will need less decoration
  • Talk to your venue about ways you can conserve throughout the course of the event

Selecting Food Options/Caterers

  • Use organic foods or purchase from vendors who are environmentally conscious
  • If purchasing food, look for the USDA organic seal, food endorsed by the National Organic Program
  • Avoid over packaging food when used for box lunches, gifts, take out, etc.
  • If buying drinks, consider organic brands

Preparing For Your Event

  • Scan contracts and use an electronic signature to reduce paper waste
  • Use paper products that contain recycled materials
  • Reuse laminated calendars each year
  • Reuse handouts and scraps of paper for to-do lists
  • Print documents that are only for your use in draft mode - you will conserve 50% of the ink
  • If presenting a gift, use recycled gift wrap and materials
  • Reduce mailings by using on-line registrations
  • When mailing on-site, send via reusable inner-office envelopes
  • Buy only those supplies you will need - return extras
  • Reuse totes and bags when purchasing items for your event
  • Recycle any unused/old cell phones, printers, faxes or ink cartridges in the office

Making Site Visits

  • Use mass transit systems to travel between venues
  • Walk to the venue and vendors, if applicable

During Your Green Event

  • Prior to guests' arrival, turn heat down or off - when people begin to fill the room, the temperature will most likely rise to a comfortable level
  • Use recycling bins for plastic, aluminum and paper products
  • Serve tap water as much as possible; if bottled water must be served, provide plastic recycling bins
  • Use glassware as much as possible to avoid plastic waste
  • Instead of using heat or the AC, open windows for natural temperature control
  • Reduce handouts - use technological means (i.e. projectors, computer monitors, screens, etc.) to display information
  • Turn off lights that are not in use
  • Use rechargeable batteries
  • If you are going to use disposable cups, plates, or silverware, make sure they areÊbiodegradable

After Your Event

  • Donate any leftover food to local shelters
  • Try to conserve water - use the dishwasher instead of hand washing dishes, vases, cutlery, etc.
  • Conserve light - only turn on those that are needed
  • Report leaky faucets to the building manager
  • When cleaning, use organic, non-toxic cleaners
    • Vinegar and water for windows/floors
    • Olive oil and lemon juice for furniture