RECOGNITION PROGRAM

The application period will be open January – mid-March 2009. Businesses and other organizations located in Thurston County* may apply for recognition as a Thurston Green Business.
Applications will be reviewed in late March and honorees will be recognized at the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce Forum Luncheon in April 2009.
Thurston Green Businesses will receive certificates of recognition along with window stickers for their business location. They will also be given permission to use the Thurston Green Business logo on any of their promotional materials such as letterhead and website.
Recognized businesses will be featured on the Chamber website, City website and congratulatory ads will be placed in local media.

*Businesses and other organizations located that are Thurston County Chamber members located outside of Thurston County are eligible for Green Business designation, but not special recognition awards.

ANNUAL AWARDS

Special annual awards will be presented to businesses that display outstanding efforts in their green business practices. Awards will be based on efforts made prior to the application deadline.
Awards will be made in three categories:

• Small Business (1-5 employees)
• Medium Business (6-50 employees)
• Large Business ( 51+ employees)

Awards will be presented at the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce Forum Luncheon in April 2009.

HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM

The Thurston Green Business Program began in 2008. The Olympia City Council initiated the program as part of their goal to put sustainability into action. Its purpose is to recognize local businesses for their environmentally friendly efforts. To develop, market and implement the program, the City entered into partnership with the Thurston County Chamber. Local businesses, Puget Sound Energy (PSE), LeMay Enterprises and Apple Homes also offered support. The hope is more partners join in time to help grow this successful program.

In 2008, thirty-five businesses filled out the on-line application and survey to indicate what they are doing in the areas of green building, waste reduction & recycling, water conservation, energy efficiency, transportation, pollution prevention and buying & selling green products. All thirty-five businesses qualified for recognition as Thurston Green Businesses, and received a window sticker for their business location and permission to use the Green Business logo on any of their promotional materials.

In addition, a workgroup consisting of City, Chamber, LeMay Enterprises, PSE and Apple Homes reviewed the applications, and selected three special recognition winners based on a point-system. The three businesses were given special recognition for their leading efforts in the large, medium and small business categories. They were Providence St. Peter Hospital, Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters and Premiere Salon & Spa.

WHAT OTHER BUSINESSES ARE DOING

Thurston Green Businesses are leading the way toward sustainability. Local businesses have the power to greatly reduce waste and pollution in their communities, as well as influence global business practices. Not only is this good for the environment, it’s good for people and the bottom-line. So what exactly are Thurston Green Businesses doing to reduce their footprint?

All of the Thurston Green Businesses are doing creative things. For example, Premiere Salon & Spa, in downtown Olympia, purchases beauty supply products from a company that uses 100% wind power. They also only sell and use retail that comes in post-consumer packaging. Premiere’s commitment to consider the impact made by retail suppliers builds trust with customers who then return again and again.

Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters considers the impact thousands of coffee cups have as they enter our community’s waste stream every day. The company offer discounts to customers who bring their own cups, and they also serve drinks in compostable hot and cold cups. Their cold cups might look like plastic but they are actually corn-based, and when placed in the compost bin inside the coffee shop will turn to soil within 45 days. Also, their paper coffee cups are lined with corn-starch unlike normal paper ones which are lined with a petrol-based chemical that does not break down. It is important to note these corn-based products will not break down in a garbage dump, and depend on composting conditions. To help businesses make this same positive transition, the City of Olympia will roll out a compost collection with their regular garbage pick-up in the summer of 2008.

Providence St. Peter Hospital has a Stewards for a Sustainable Environment Committee, consisting of nine employees, who meet on a monthly bases to direct a “Green” program. Among many things the Committee has done, they have reduced consumption and disposal of IV tubing in the hospital by changing the length of use from 48 to 96 hours. They also use organic food in their commercial kitchen and create biodiesel from waste vegetable oil.

Following are some of the most common things Thurston Green Businesses are doing:

• Reducing paper usage or going paperless,
• Contacting companies to stop unwanted mail,
• Recycling a wide variety of materials,
• Turning off the lights when not in use,
• Coming up with their own commute trip reduction plans, and
• Using only green cleaning products.

The following things included on the Green Business application, but not being broadly implemented at this time include:

• Informing suppliers of a desire to buy recycled products,
• Recognizing employees for water conservation ideas and efforts,
• Offering free bus passes or covered bike parking for employees,
• Stenciling or using markers to denote “Dump no Waste/Drains to Stream” or similar language next to catch basins the parking lot. (Contact your local jurisdiction for a stencil), or
• Completing PSE’s online energy audit.

CONTACT US

City of Olympia
Amy Buckler
Management Assistant
Email: abuckler@ci.olympia.wa.us
Phone: (360) 753-8231