Several Santa Monica businesses earned recognition for their environmental leadership at the Green Business Certification Awards held Thursday, January 16th at the Santa Monica Family YMCA.
The ceremony, presented by Sustainable Works Santa Monica in partnership with the City of Santa Monica, celebrated local companies that have demonstrated a commitment to sustainable practices and met rigorous environmental standards to earn the green certification designation.
The businesses present at the ceremony were:
Back on the Beach Cafe
Elizabeth Sorgen Santa Monica Real Estate
Minarc Architects
Regent Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica Daily Press
Santa Monica Family YMCA
The Bike Center Santa Monica
Three Squares Inc
According to the Santa Monica Green business directory, 287 businesses have been certified in Santa Monica since 2007. The certification lasts 3 years.
The next phase for these organizations is their nomination for the Sustainable Quality Awards, scheduled for April 29th.
The Green Business Certification Program evaluates businesses across multiple categories including energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation, and pollution prevention. Certified businesses must implement measurable changes to their operations and undergo verification to ensure compliance with program standards.
Representatives from the newly certified businesses gathered at the 5:30 p.m. event to receive their official recognition, joining a growing network of environmentally conscious Santa Monica establishments committed to reducing their ecological footprint.
The program aims to make sustainability accessible and achievable for businesses of all sizes, providing resources and guidance throughout the certification process.
Business owners interested in pursuing green certification for their own establishments can learn more about the program requirements and benefits by visiting smgbc.org/benefits. The website includes information on how certification can help reduce operating costs while demonstrating environmental responsibility to customers and the community.
Disclosure: The Santa Monica Daily Press received the Sustainable Quality Award in 2014.