Greening Events: Beyond the Basics

Ashley Pennington – University of FloridaJacob Cravey – Earth Givers/Neutral Gator

Tips for Success

• Set the bar – Carbon Neutral by 2025 / Zero Waste by 2015

• Make it easy – Quantity and placement of bins/bags for consumer and cleanup crew

• Unique partnerships – Internal and external

• Remain proactive – Most concession disposables now compostable alternatives, as campus/county composting solution being finalized

• Self-reflect – What works? What doesn’t?

Game Day Recycling• Est. 2006• Fundraiser model▫ Two hour shifts ▫ Sponsorship

Funding Supplies Outreach

• Strategic Design▫ Identifying zones & assessing demand

• Cross campus coordination▫Grounds – putting out bins /A-frames; waste pickup▫UAA – post-game cleanup staff training (two bags)

Engaging and Educating

•Green Games▫One game a season for different athletics

Pre-game tabling – interaction, what’s recyclable

Halftime games / prizes•Zero waste events▫Alumni Association, Student Affairs (Family

Weekend, Preview)▫Partnering with research - biodigester

Culture Change•Consistency ▫Close gap: 90,000+ fans vs.

20 volunteers▫Ingratiating concept with

tailgaters

•Publicity and Promotion ▫“Brand” recognition through

tabling & t-shirts▫Press releases and social

media▫Stadium posters

Lessons Learned

•Perfecting the system▫Self service stations

Placement and frequency▫Bin Pairing

30,000 lbs. more collected in 2009, first year of paired bins

▫Shifts Not too many, not too long Incentivizing later ones – pay volunteers

double for kick-off shift

The Partnership

Leaving footprints on the competition, not the environment

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The Neutral Gator Initiative

Mission:To provide locally generated carbon offsets to the University of Florida that support environmental, economic, and social equity development in the Gainesville community.

Established in 2008, the Neutral Gator Initiative was initially created to calculate and offset the carbon emissions from the Gator’s home football season

2009 - UF offset first Carbon Neutral Athletics' Program

2010 - UF continues to host Carbon Neutral Athletics' Program

The Vision

The Neutral Gator Initiative would:

• Use Gator athletics as a vehicle to engage fans about ways to lower their environmental impact.

• Create a deeper relationships within the Gainesville community

• Provide UF with carbon offsets that are generated locally

• Set a new bar in collegiate athletics

The Model

Elements of success:

Willing Athletic Association• Show them the benefits

Outreach and Fan Engagement• Be Creative

Local Business Partnerships• Choose wisely

Community Based Carbon Offsets• Support your local community

Establish Diverse Community/Campus Relationships• Be Inclusive

Growth Beyond Athletics

Athletics was the start, the University is the future.

Other UF departments that have offset events:

• 2010 Commencement

• University Alumni Association

• The Foundation

• UF Study Abroad Program

Contact

Ashley Pennington, Outreach Coordinator amp1986@ufl.eduwww.sustainable.ufl.edu

Jacob Cravey, Executive Director jacob@neutralgator.org