Includes conference planning; cultural events; festivals, indoor and out; weddings and religious events.
Company
Required:
- Business core purpose includes a “green” business function.
- Social and environmental mission and vision statement for your business on website.
Services
Required:
- Use environmentally friendly versions of at least two out of the four following products: Paper, including napkins; Cleaning products; Cups, cutlery, plates; Linens.
- Offer clients carbon offsets or purchase of Renewable Energy Credits or offset entire company’s footprint annually.
- Encourage clients to co-locate events with public transportation.
- Only serve certified fair trade (preferred) or USDA certified organic coffee, tea and sugar.
- Signage/ education explaining green efforts.
- Donations of leftover food to food banks or hospitals for flowers.
- Snack service focused on locally available foods.
- Snack service focused on healthy, minimally process foods.
Preferred:
- Focus on vegetarian food with meat on the side.
- Provide reusable hot beverage cups and do not serve water in single use plastic bottles.
- Use of linens where paper products are typical.
Company Employment:
Required:
- Employees have access to family friendly benefits including high-quality health insurance, sick days, paid parental leave and childcare help.
- Offer a flexible workplace culture that encourages work/life balance and makes reasonable accommodations for telecommuting and flex schedules.
- Pays a wage that ensures employees well-being.
- Has an established non-discrimination policy and procedure, and ensures an inclusive workplace culture.
- Governs fairly and in a transparent manner. Is open to employee input. Has a whistle blower protection policy in place.
Preferred:
- Living wage is paid.
- Has an established program that invests in employee growth and development.
Education:
Required:
- Use transparent and truthful marketing.
- Advocate for green business practices in your industry.
- Established program for receiving input from both internal and external stakeholders.
Preferred:
- Actively seeks feedback from industry peers and participates in industry associations and mentor programs.
Green Office/Facility
Required:
- HVAC system well-maintained, building well-insulated, and smart and efficient climate control employed.
- System in place for reducing electricity consumption from lighting and electronics.
- Use of Energy Star rated appliances and CFL/LED light bulbs in office.
- Use of 100% post-consumer recycled, Chlorine Free paper in the office and in all envelopes, marketing, and print materials.
- Systems in place for reducing paper use such as electronic processes, printers set with double sided printing as the default, and more.
- Use of only non-toxic cleaning and pest control products.
- Maximum amount of waste is reused or recycled including paper, plastic, metals, glass, electronics, and printer ink cartridges.
- Action on clean energy such as purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or use of on-site clean energy.
- Compost all food waste (including from events).
- Landscaping done with sustainability in mind, especially considering runoff and stormwater management.
- Only fair trade and USDA certified organic coffee and tea served in the office.
- Use of green or local caterers for events.
- Use of a certified E-Steward for electronics recycling.
