Steps to Apply for Certification:
- Commitment Letter: Review, fill in required action statements, and have high-level administrator sign and date commitment letter.
> Watch demo on how to complete the Commitment Letter
> Download campus commitment letter
> Submit campus commitment letter
- Apply for Certification: Review the Plastics Reduction Partner workbook, download and begin entering in your data and documentation.
> Watch demo on how to use the Workbook
> Download workbook
> Submit completed workbook and supporting documentation
Note to Applicants: The process of reviewing the completed workbook and supporting documentation will take up to three months. Once the application has been approved, the CR2ZW team will be in touch to award certification.
This document features category action opportunities, associated points and required documentation (same content that is hosted within the downloadable Workbook). This document will continually be reviewed and updated. Comments and suggestions are welcome, email CR2ZW@nwf.org.
AASHE STARS Eligibility
Participation in the Plastics Reduction Partner program is eligible for recurring AASHE STARS innovation credit. Schools are required to have submitted the commitment letter and share documentation for at least 10 points to be eligible for innovation credit.
Reporting
The Plastics Reduction Partner program is on a three-year cycle to integrate into action and reporting associated with AASHE STARS processes. Campuses will be asked to re-apply for certification every three years to remain current, and your three year date is determined by the month and year of your last submission. Once schools have submitted their letter of commitment, they are eligible to apply for certification if they meet criteria for one of the levels of certification (Bronze, Silver or Green). Schools will need to wait at least 1 year to apply for the next level of certification.
Recognition
Review the current list below of college and university Plastic Reduction Partners. Once campuses submit their Commitment letter, they will be placed on the list of current partners and receive a participant badge and a press release template to share with their campus's communications office to celebrate taking the first step toward certification. Once campuses submit their workbook and are awarded certification, National Wildlife Federation will share the certification badge and coordinate with the certified campus to promote and communicate their accomplishment.
Current Partners:
Contact Us
Contact CR2ZW@nwf.org with any questions. Feedback is welcome! Please send comments or questions to CR2ZW@nwf.org.
The Plastics Reduction Partner Program was designed by Amber Saxton, Sustainability Program Manager, Campus Efficiencies, George Mason University (Virginia), with support from Kristy Jones, Director, Higher Education Programs, National Wildlife Federation. A special thank you to the following campuses for reviewing this new certification program and providing feedback for improvement: Knox College, Mount Holyoke College, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Texas Tech University and The Ohio State University.
