Sustainability in Action at the 2026 NSS Conference

Hosting a sustainable conference can be a challenging task for event organizers. At large venues such as universities and conference centers, many of the services - such as catering and waste disposal - are only available through contractors who do not offer sustainable options.

For our 2026 Annual Conference, NSS evaluated a number of options to supplement the services offered at the Colorado State University.

Local catering and food selections

All vegetarian food provided by local caterers: 

Pirate Chef is a woman-owned business that believes giving back and helping everyone is essential. We use our knowledge and expertise to educate and provide work experience for future chefs by volunteering with the Colorado Restaurant Association's ProStart Program. 

Our motto: A rising tide helps all boats.

Combi Taco is a Denver-based, immigrant-owned catering company specializing in authentic Mexican-inspired food and large-scale meal service. What started as a small food business has grown into a catering operation serving everything from corporate events and weddings to community meal programs throughout the Denver area.

A minority women-owned business, Larimer Catering is committed to sustainable food practices, including waste reduction, responsible sourcing, and community partnerships. Through collaboration with local food rescue organizations, surplus food from events is thoughtfully redirected to support individuals and families in need.

Zero plastic

All servingware will be made of compostable materials.

Composting services

CSU integrates composting

Name tags

We are resurrecting our supply from the 2024 conference! Please return your holder and lanyard at the end of the conference. We will wash them and reuse them at subsequent events.

As an NSS member and conference participant, you can take steps to improve our conference's sustainability:

• Share your itinerary with NSS organizers. This will help us meet our sustainability goals of minimizing food waste and providing shuttle service to and from downtown hotels.

• Reusable containers: Bring a reusable water bottle (and coffee cup if you’d like!) to the conference. Water filling stations are located throughout the CSU Spur buildings.

• Use the Whova app to connect and ride-share with fellow conference attendees.

• Transportation: Take advantage of the NSS-arranged hotel shuttle service throughout the conference.

• Return your badge holder and lanyard at the end of the conference (Look for the drop box at the info desk)