Environmentally Sustainable Hackathon Documentation

Sustainability/Food-Waste-Reduction.md

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+## Food Waste Reduction
+
+Catering for hundreds of hackers is a difficult task. We can be tempted
+to over-order as we don't want anyone sleeping on an empty stomach, however
+this can sometimes leads to excessive left over food. We want to make sure all the extra food
+gets eaten and not thrown away. Here are some things to consider when trying
+to reduce food related waste.
+
+**Objective #1:**
+- Reduce the amount of food and packages waste.
+
+**Key results:**
+- Have a maximum of 3% food and package waste after every meal.
+
+**Action Items:**
+- Donate food leftovers to residence centers or communal student spaces within one hour after breakfast/lunch/dinner time to maintain the freshness of food.
+- Ensure compost bins are available and visible for food waste.
+- Provide maps of venue highlighting where the recycling/compost/garbage bins and water fountains are located. Because the location of the bins can change, we can keep an updated map in slack.
+- Offer paper food takeaway containers when giving out food to avoid food waste, this will help reduce people throw food in the trash, by giving hackers the option to store and eat food at their own convenience.
+- Microwaves should be all around campus to help them reheat the food.
+- Get condiments in bulk rather than in small packaging.
+- Encourage and remind hackers to bring reusable water bottles
+- Get at least 95% of hackers confirmed at least one week prior to finalize numbers with the Catering companies, including special requests due to dietary restrictions and food allergies.
+- Add double of the vegan, halal and gluten-free alternatives requested for last-minute hackers.
+- Explain in opening ceremonies and registration package how and where to compost/recycle the materials that the hackathon is using
+
+
+
+**Objective #2:**
+- Increase the use of reusable utensils.
+
+**Key Result:**
+- Have 95% use of reusable utensils.
+
+**Action Items:**
+- Avoid use of straws, stir sticks, non-reusable containers, plastic packaging, etc.
+- Notify the catering companies about our food waste reduction plan to encourage them to use reusable or biodegradable utensils and containers.

Sustainability/Go-Paperless.md

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+## Go paperless!
+
+Utilizing paper for any form of communication is not ideal, as it will
+most likely end up in the trash. We want to completely eradicate the
+usage of paper and stick to digital communication for little to no
+paper wasted.
+
+**Objective:**
+- Only use digital communication.
+
+**Key results:**
+- Reduce printed handouts and documents by 100%.
+
+**Action Items:**
+- Keep promotional materials digital, including the agenda and information documents.
+- Provide clear digital maps of the campus to hackers and sponsors.

Sustainability/Supplies-Reduction.md

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+## Supplies Reduction
+As we know, waste is a big problem when it comes to sustainability.
+Being able to use and reuse items to their greatest capacity reduces our ecological footprint adding to the sustainability of our events.
+Here are some ways we can not only reuse items but also how we can prevent over ordering.
+
+**Objective #1:**
+- Purchase reusable and eco-labeled products that can be used for future events.
+
+**Key results:**
+- Keep 70% of the supplies for next year, instead of throwing them away and buy new  ones in the future.
+
+**Action Items:**
+- Borrow as many (office) supplies as possible.
+- Provide reusable lanyards and ask hackers to return them for future events.
+
+**Objective #2:**
+- Purchase sustainably produced apparel.
+
+**Key Results:**
+- 100% sustainably produced apparel.
+
+**Action Items:**
+- Purchase durable clothing
+- Purchase clothes made from recycled materials
+- Attempt to avoid polyester
+
+**Objective #3:**
+- Reduce waste of apparel from over ordering.
+
+**Key Results:**
+- Have a maximum of 2% of apparel left over at the end of event.
+
+**Action Items:**
+- Accurate count of the different sizes of apparel so there won’t be leftovers.
+- Distribute leftover apparel to hackers.

Sustainability/Sustainable-Swag-Guide.md

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+## Sustainable Swag-Guide
+Swag is a massive part of hackathons. Companies may send in stickers, sunglasses,
+pens, and many other novelty items to be distributed among the hackers. However, some of these items may never be used or end in the garbage,
+so we encourage you to request sponsors for more reusable swag in order to ensure that everything we are giving out will be used multiple times.
+
+Here is a guide you can send to companies when requesting swag for your event:
+
+|          Swag Item         	|                                                                                      Pros 	| Cons                                                                   	| Acceptable/Unacceptable 	|
+|:--------------------------:   |:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:	|:------------------------------------------------------------------------:	|:-------------------------:|
+| Portable Power Banks       	| High Engagement                                                                           	| Destructive to the environment  They tend to break after 3 use cases.  	| Unacceptable            	|
+| T-Shirts                   	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                                       	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Glass Water Bottles        	| Reduces use of single use plastic  Reusable                                               	|                                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Plastic Water Bottles      	| Reduces use of single use plastic  Reusable                                               	| Potentially wasteful if no interest  Tend to degrade in sunlight       	| Acceptable              	|
+| Mini Dry Erase Boards      	| Reduces use of single use paper  Reusable                                                 	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Metal Reusable Straws      	| Reduces use of single use plastic  Reusable                                               	|                                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Notebooks                  	| Productive   Can be made of recycled materials  Useful at event                           	| Can waste paper                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Sunglasses                 	|                                                                                           	| Wasteful   Usually not used                                            	| Unacceptable            	|
+| Healthy Snacks             	| Provides hackers with sustenance                                                          	| Wasteful Packaging                                                     	| Acceptable              	|
+| Pens                       	| Productive   Useful at event  Can be made of recycled materials                           	| Usually don’t last that long  Usually cannot replace ink cartridge     	| Acceptable              	|
+| Books                      	| Educational                                                                               	| Can waste paper                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Travel Mugs                	| Reduce use of single use mugs                                                             	| Plastic can degrade                                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Earbuds                    	| High engagement                                                                           	| Usually don’t last that long and become waste                          	| Unacceptable            	|
+| Popsocket                  	| High engagement                                                                           	|                                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Phone Card Holder          	| High engagement                                                                           	| Plastic can degrade                                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Phone Charging Cable       	| Useful                                                                                    	| Break easily                                                           	| Unacceptable            	|
+| Mini Bluetooth Speaker     	| High engagement                                                                           	| Potentially wasteful depending on quality                              	| Acceptable              	|
+| Socks                      	| Reusable  Can be made from sustainable materials                                          	|                                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Luggage Tags               	| Reusable                                                                                  	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Stickers                   	| High engagement   Hackathon pride symbol                                                  	| Wasteful if people aren’t interested in company/design                 	| Acceptable              	|
+| Bottle Opener              	| Reusable                                                                                  	|                                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Umbrella                   	| Reusable                                                                                  	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Frisbee                    	| Encourages movement  Reusable                                                             	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Lunch Box                  	| Reduce use of single use plastic  Reusable                                                	|                                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Tote Bag                   	| Reduce use of single use plastic  Reusable                                                	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Ball Cap                   	| Reusable  High engagement  Can be made of recycled/sustainable materials                  	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Growable Plant (ex. basil) 	| Sustainable   Promotes gardening                                                          	|                                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Picnic Mat                 	| Promotes being outside  Reusable                                                          	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Keychain                   	|                                                                                           	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| USB Flash Drive            	| Reusable                                                                                  	| Can break easily                                                       	| Acceptable              	|
+| Phone Case                 	| Can be made of recycled/sustainable materials                                             	| Potentially wasteful if no interest  People like to pick out their own 	| Acceptable              	|
+| Backpack                   	| Can be made of recycled/sustainable materials  Reusable                                   	| Potentially wasteful if no interest  People like to pick out their own 	| Acceptable              	|
+| Paper Weights              	| Reusable                                                                                  	| Generally not a lot of interest                                        	|                         	|
+| Bamboo Toothbrush          	| Sustainable material  Reusable                                                            	|                                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Webcam Cover               	| High engagement                                                                           	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Towels                     	| Reusable  Can be made of sustainable material                                             	|                                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Business Card Holder       	| Useful                                                                                    	| People like to have their own branded ones                             	| Acceptable              	|
+| Car Mount for Cell Phones  	| Useful  High engagement                                                                   	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Yoga Mat                   	| Promotes exercise and well being  Reusable  Can be made of sustainable/recycled materials 	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Snack Bag Sealer           	| Encourages sustainability                                                                 	|                                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Customized Playing Cards   	| Reusable  Useful                                                                          	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Resistance Bands           	| Promotes exercise and well being  Reusable                                                	| Potentially wasteful if no interest                                    	| Acceptable              	|
+| Screen Cleaner             	| Useful                                                                                    	|                                                                        	| Acceptable              	|
+| Buttons/Pins               	| High engagement   Hackathon pride symbol                                                  	| Wasteful if people aren’t interested in company/design                 	| Acceptable              	|
+| Mugs                       	| Reusable                                                                                  	|                                                                        	| Acceptable              	|

Sustainability/Swag-Waste-Reduction.md

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+## Sponsor Swag Waste Reduction
+
+Hackathons are known for loading their hackers with a bunch of sponsored swag.
+Many times we can end up with loads of left over swag, which can go to waste.
+Here are some things you should consider when asking sponsors for swag.
+
+**Objective #1:**
+- Reduce the amount of extra swag.
+
+**Key results:**
+- Have a maximum of 2% sponsor swag leftovers by the end of the hackathon.
+
+**Action Items:**
+- Swag leftovers can be distributed to hackers at the end of the closing ceremony.
+
+
+
+**Objective #2:**
+- Provide hackers more reusable items.
+
+**Key Results:**
+- Make the swag bag at least 80% eco-friendly.
+
+**Action Items:**
+- Ask sponsors for items like reusable plastic water bottles, reusable coffee cups, mugs, stainless steel straw.
+- For prizes, using reusable bags not gifts bags and limit/eradicate excessive tissue paper.

Sustainability/Transporation.md

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+## Transportation
+
+Having hundreds of hackers all drive individually to your event is taxing
+to the environment, lets try to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible
+by encouraging hackers to carpool.
+
+**Objective:**
+- Reduce environmental footprint by cutting down carbon emissions.
+
+**Key results:**
+- Have 80% of attendees report as carpooling or commuting.
+
+**Action Items:**
+- Use Facebook group and/or Slack channel to mention that there will be limited parking and maybe provide parking discount if carpooling with 3 or more hackers.
+- Provide shuttle buses from centric places.
+- Provide schedules of public transportation around campus, share links and common routes from campus.
+- Put out post event surveys to collect information on how hackers commuted to the event.