Research local businesses that are working towards sustainability to provide products for your event.

If you plan on handing out items, make sure it is an item that people will want to keep. By passing out items that are likely to be thrown away several days after receiving them, the event begins to increase waste.

Try having guests bring their own cups! Make a fun theme. There is no harm in saving money on an event while saving the planet. However, if this isn't possible, look into a Solo Cup Recycling program here.

Take a group trip to the thrift store to find decorations or reuse items your organization may already have! Purchasing new, flimsy decorations will only further increase the waste from your event as well as increase the overall expenses of the event.

Use electronic advertising rather than paper! Social media is a powerful tool and will get the word out effectively that your organization is hosting an event! Save paper, save printing costs, and save trees!

Try not to waste leftover food! If there are leftover items from the event, partner with an organization to donate the food, distribute leftovers among group members, or offer the leftovers to other organizations on campus that you may work with.

Walk! If you can't walk, bike! A car should be your last resort unless it is necessary.

If driving is necessary, carpool! Most likely, several people need to get where you are going, so save some fuel and share a car.

Check out one of the three bike repair stations on campus to keep your green transportation running smoothly.

• Get involved in organizations on campus that are helping with issues you are passionate about! Look into several organizations such as the Student Sustainability Council and the Student Sustainability Network. If you are interested in other pieces of sustainability, check out Food Fighters, International Justice Mission, the Beach Clean Up Club, or Green Team at CNU. There are many more organizations on campus that take part in making CNU and Newport News more sustainable. Check out The Compass for more organizations that may be directed towards your interests.

• Set up swaps with your organizations or your friends to limit over consumption. You can swap old clothes, books, decorations, games, and more! This is a great way to hangout while creating relationships and helping develop more sustainable habits among your peers.

• Acknowledge the potential barriers of other groups. Sustainable efforts are not one size fits all. Be sure to include everyone in the conversation regardless of race, socio-economic status, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or other characteristics. The only way to make this planet better is for everyone to work together.