Green Business Program ramps up with PC’s lofty green goals

Winners and nominees gather for the 2021 Green Business awards. Photo: Recycle Utah.

PARK CITY, Utah. — Recycle Utah has revamped its Green Business Program, launched in 2016, in partnership with the Park City Municipal & Summit County Sustainability teams, Utah Clean Energy, and the Park City Chamber of Commerce. The Green Business Program celebrates, rewards, and supports businesses that act to be community sustainability leaders.

There is a need now more than ever for the Green Business Program as Park City, and Summit County have set ambitious climate goals, the Chamber has an increasing interest in sustainable tourism, and several local businesses have taken giant steps towards net-zero carbon, zero waste. With more than 100 businesses involved in the program, it’s clear that residents and business owners are concerned about climate change and motivated to improve sustainable practices. These transitions can be complicated and expensive, which is where the coalition of teams like Recycle Utah and the Park City Chamber of Commerce comes in to support.

The Green Business’s updated mission is to provide tools, more expert guidance, and more local resources for Summit County organizations to maximize value while building sustainable, regenerative business practices. It aims to bring greater recognition and incentives to businesses that surface as environmental leaders. Regular Green Business network meetings will add cohesion to sustainable business leaders and bring best practices and incentives to the community, resulting in concrete progress towards net-zero.

“We’ve revised the program, in collaboration with the city, county, and Chamber, to enhance impact,” said Recycle Utah’s Education Director Mary Closser. “Initially, we will focus on quality vs. quantity as we want to focus on the businesses who are ready to ramp their efforts with sustainability. The founding program was wonderful in that it opened the doors for businesses to think this way, but the new program is more stringent. Previously, businesses could select their own actions – anything they wanted. Now, they need to select actions in each of five categories: energy, waste, water, transportation, and social equity. We are so excited to see which businesses step up and eventually be able to start measuring impact from the collaborative efforts!”

The Green Business program now has three levels representing our ski-town and the snow we love. The levels require more effort and impact, respectively, starting with the Green Circle, Blue Square, and Black Diamond. Businesses must complete actions in five categories covering aspects of sustainability, like energy, water, materials, transportation, and thriving community and equity.

Winners of the Green Business Resiliency Awards in 2020 were Hearth and Hill, Alpine Apothecary, and Soaring Wings International Montessori School. 2021 winners were Green Business: Hyatt Centric, Zest for Zero: Park City Gardens, and People’s Choice: fulFILLED. 2022 winners will be announced in January 2023.

As green companies move to the Blue and Black levels, they receive increased recognition and incentive benefits. New and existing businesses are welcome in Summit County to learn about the program and start the process by filling out a sign-up form and contacting anyone listed below for more information.

Recycle Utah, Mary Closser: mary@recycleutah.org, 303-442-3129; Carolyn Wawra: director@recycleutah.org, 612-816-7575

Park City Chamber of Commerce, Morgan Mingle: morganmingle@visitparkcity.com, 435-321-5372

Park City Municipal Sustainability Department, Celia Peterson: celia.peterson@parkcity.org, 435-287-5624

Summit County Sustainability Department, Zack Darby: zdarby@summitcounty.org