Four back-to-school events co-ordinated by McGill students received Sustainable Event Certification from McGill’s Office of Sustainability (MOOS).
Three Frosh events – organized by Management, Music and Engineering students – earned Platinum status, the highest possible certification. This is the first year any Frosh event has achieved it.
In addition, McGill’s beloved Open Air Pub (OAP), organized by the Engineering Undergraduate Society, applied for sustainable certification for the first time and received Gold status.
The student groups earned their certifications by adopting such practices as working with local Milton-Parc suppliers, using digital promotions instead of printed materials and making plans to donate any leftover food.
“Everyone within the OAP team is super happy about our achievement,” said Alexis Demetriou, a fourth-year Electrical Engineering student and OAP Food Manager. “We already have some great ideas for next year.”
800 events and counting
Launched as a student initiative in 2017, McGill’s Sustainable Event Certification program has processed over 800 events hosted by students and staff, ranging from small coffee meets to the Faculty of Arts Grad Ball.
Its aim is to encourage environmentally responsible practices, promote diversity in programming and participation, and increase accessibility by reducing barriers.
“We applied for the Sustainable Event Certification because we wanted incoming students to be aware of McGill’s sustainability and EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) efforts,” said Constance Marin-Lamellet, a fourth-year Commerce student in the Desautels Faculty of Management. “We wanted to foster a sense of community and belonging for every incoming student at McGill.”
Organizers are asked to complete a checklist that has been customized to accommodate small, large, virtual and hybrid events. Based on the answers, events receive Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, or, for events held online, Virtual certification.
“I found it quite easy,” said Demetriou. “We realized we were already doing a lot of things on the list.”
Added Marin-Lamellet: “The checklist really pushed our Frosh committee to look at every detail. In the end, it felt less like a checklist and more like a roadmap for running a better Frosh.”
Organizers who adopt at least 50 per cent of the recommended practices receive Bronze certification; Platinum status requires the organizers to check off 95 per cent of the items on a 41-point list, plus at least three items on an additional five-point list.
The OAP team managed their waste by partnering with a Go Consigne, a Quebec-based app that offers a pick-up service for refundable containers. For its part, the Desautels Faculty of Management was inspired to work with socially responsible sponsors and make accessibility a priority.
“It shows that big events can be reimagined to reflect social and environmental responsibility, and I hope [our event] inspires other groups to aim this high, too,” said Marin-Lamellet.
Students leading sustainably
MOOS has noted a recent uptick in the number of organizers applying for Sustainable Event Certification: nearly 200 events have been certified so far in 2025. Staff hope to see the trend continue.
“Attending sustainable events helps McGillians embrace good habits and gives them a sense of how important sustainability is at McGill,” said Jessica (Jiyu) Tian, Sustainability Certification Programs Intern.
That importance is outlined in the University’s Climate & Sustainability Strategy (2025-30), which details McGill’s five long-term commitments, including becoming zero-waste by 2035 and carbon neutral by 2040.
“These accomplishments show just how passionate students are about making a real difference, and we’re excited to support their sustainability efforts throughout the school year,” Tian said.
Apply to have your event or workplace sustainability certified.
Have an idea on how to build a culture of sustainability on McGill campuses? Kickstart it with the Sustainability Projects Fund.