As a resident of Santa Monica, California, I’m proud of my city. Thanks to its comprehensive Sustainable City Plan, Santa Monica continues to take big steps towards its goal of becoming sustainable. And, since businesses have a large part to play in reaching that goal, it makes perfect sense that Santa Monica offers businesses a way to contribute: Green Business Certification.
By partnering with the non-profit organization Sustainable Works, the city encourages businesses to use resources more efficiently – benefiting both the company and the environment. Sustainable Works’ Business Greening program helps participant companies “green their bottom line” by assessing current policies and practices, then recommending new, greener options. To help ensure the adoption of new practices, the organization also assists the business in implementing the options they choose, and then tracks the outcomes.
Free for Santa Monica businesses, the program focuses on:
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Reducing and diverting solid waste,
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Becoming water efficient,
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Eliminating toxic chemicals,
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Minimizing transportation impacts,
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Reducing energy use, and
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Improving purchasing choices
Did I mention that the program is free?
In addition to their certifications, several businesses were awarded Sustainable Quality Awards (SQA) at a luncheon held last week. With SQA Grand Prizes going to businesses including Wilshire Restaurant, ECOLIMO, and marketing firm The Phelps Group, the diversity of the winners shows that any business can benefit from the program.
For individuals, Sustainable Works offers a similar Residential program. Designed to help people reduce their environmental impact, participants are grouped into “crews” of 10-15 for a series of six weekly meetings. Beginning with a self-assessment, the crews learn the concepts of sustainable living, including specific ways to live a greener lifestyle.
If only every city had these programs, what a wonderful (green!) world it would be.