The Green Business Awards create a partnership between private business and government entities to recognize businesses making efforts in sustainability. Winners were announced on Wednesday, April 11th, rewarding local businesses with credentials of being a sustainable business.
“When businesses reduce waste, it creates greater efficiencies in business practices,” describes Thurston County Chamber CEO David Schaffert who also states that the Chamber takes the program seriously because it’s “just the right thing to do.”
In his fifth year at the event, Puget Sound Energy’s VP of Corporate Affairs, Andy Wappler, comments that it was “exciting to see familiar faces plus a lot of newcomers. Business leaders are staying with sustainability for the long term and bringing more people in with them.”
Schaffert encourages all businesses to review ways to reduce waste and improve operations. “Take advantage of our partnerships and utilize these available resources,” explains Schaffert while referencing this link to the Chamber’s page promoting ten easy ways to make a positive, environmental difference.
“Practices that are sustainable and green are good for the bottom line,” adds Wappler. Thurston County businesses are also encouraged to be involved in the Green Business Awards because it provides an outlet to share sustainability ideas with other business leaders. “Thurston County residents are very conscious of the environment and sustainability. Give them a reason to choose your business over a competitor,” summarizes Wappler.
Small Business – Bron’s Automotive
Bron’s Automotive credits the energy audit completed by Puget Sound Energy as the key step in their “green” efforts. “An energy efficiency audit is an in-depth way to analyze energy use,” explains Wappler when discussing the variety of tools that PSE uses to perform the audit. “Audits are conducted in cooperation with Thurston Energy and then PSE will connect business owners to local companies and contractors to fix issues.” In this case, the audit highlighted areas where energy was wasted and suggested some simple changes such as replacing fluorescent bulbs and rewiring fixtures to reduce the amount of time a light is turned on. The auto shop has also adopted a recycling focus – not just oil, but other fluids and old parts. Using online resources, they were able to locate recycling centers.
Medium Business – Organic Wellness Massage
“Since we opened six years ago, we have made it a goal to be a sustainable business. To be a part of this community we need to be sustainable and not contribute to waste. This is a philosophy that we’ve always had,” says Matt Murray, owner of Organic Wellness Massage. The company offers only organic lotions and aromatherapy and educates its employees on how to reduce waste. “We only dispose of one garbage bag about every two weeks,” continues Murray who also states that he makes buying local a priority.
Large Business – OBee Credit Union
Melanie Ransom, VP of Human Resources, credits OBee Credit Union’s Green Team for encouraging incremental improvements. “We focused on the tiny things that we can do each day,” says Ransom. The company’s goal was to record 2,000 green acts. Ransom sites examples such as scribbling on scratch paper rather than post-it notes, finding alternative ways to work such as walk, and composting a lunch. “It’s all of the little decisions that we make every day that add up to big things that impact our environment. This is what is going to change our world,” reports Ransom.
Large Business – Intercity Transit
“Intercity Transit has a long history with sustainability,” cites General Manager Mike Harbour. In 2001, IT was one of the first transit systems in the nation to fuel its entire fleet of buses with clean-burning biodiesel. More recently, IT has introduced hybrid electric buses to the region. Like other winners, IT emphasizes recycling and waste reduction programs. To read more about Intercity Transit’s accomplishments in sustainability, click here. “It’s great to see so much good, smart business activity occurring around sustainability,” comments Meg Kester, Marketing and Communications Manager. Intercity Transit, which has also recently received industry recognition for sustainability, believes that these awards demonstrate their commitment to protect the environment and serves as a model for other public agencies and the larger community.
