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Sustainable Business Recognition Program

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Government > Departments > Resource Stewardship > Sustainability > Green Topics > SustainaBiz
Government > Departments > Resource Stewardship > Sustainability > Green Topics > SustainaBiz

Sustainabiz, Leon County’s Sustainable Business Recognition Program, acknowledges local businesses and organizations that have made substantial efforts in implementing sustainability practices in areas like energy, water, waste, community and employee engagement, and local economy. This voluntary program - modeled after LEED certification criteria - is free and provides businesses and organizations with an easy checklist to help determine their recognition level, as well as technical assistance, and a sustainable business network for our county.

Why be recognized through Sustainabiz?

  • Your business or organization will be highlighted on our social media, website, and newsletter
  • You’ll get technical assistance and consulting from Leon County’s Sustainability Team
  • You will be searchable on our Green Map which will feature all the recognized businesses in Leon County
  • We’ll help you tell your sustainability story!

Who is eligible to be recognized?

Any business or organization in Leon County. There are two criteria lists – one for bars and restaurants, and one for office and retail. Any organization including non-profits, faith-based organizations, or any group with an office is eligible to be recognized.

There are three levels of recognition

Gold RecognitionSilver RecognitionBronze Recognition

Below are the requirements for each:

  • Bronze: Must meet all the required criteria and earn at least 50 points across all categories.
  • Silver: Must fulfill the requirements for bronze and earn at least 80 points across all categories.
  • Gold: Must fulfill the requirements for Silver and earn at least 110 points across all categories.

What are the benefits of being a sustainable business or organization?

Conserving energy and water and finding ways to reduce waste can lead to cost savings.

Making investments into more efficient equipment and appliances can put dollars in your pocket over time.

You have a chance to tell your sustainability story to consumers. Nearly 70% of consumers in the U.S. think it is important that a brand is sustainable.

Sustainable businesses do good for the environment, their community, and the local economy. As a recognized sustainable business, consumers will know you do good business for our community.

How the Sustainabiz program works

Step 1: To get started, download and review the criteria score sheet for your business or organization (multiple download formats available in the Criteria Score Sheet and Resources section below). Want to learn a bit more about the program before diving in? Email the Sustainability team at sustainability@leoncountyfl.gov.

Step 2: Fill out the criteria list. If you need technical assistance or have any questions, contact Leon County’s Office of Sustainability here at sustainability@leoncountyfl.gov. In order to be recognized, your business must meet, at minimum, the criteria for Bronze recognition.

Step 3: Send your completed criteria score sheet and any supporting documents to sustainability@leoncountyfl.gov. The Sustainability Team will review your score sheet and contact you if there are any questions.

Step 4: Once your criteria score sheet has been verified by the Sustainability Team, we will let you know what recognition level you have achieved and you will officially be recognized through the Sustainabiz program! You will receive a sticker for your door or entry-way, be featured on our website, social media, and newsletter, and be searchable on our Green Map. You will also receive a Sustainability Action Plan template based on your criteria score sheet to help you grow your sustainability practices.

Criteria Score Sheet and Resources

Want to learn more about what it takes to be recognized through the Sustainabiz program? Download the criteria score sheets here:

Restaurant & Bar Criteria Score Sheet

Restaurant & Bar Criteria Score Sheet

Office & Retail Criteria Score Sheet

Office & Retail Criteria Score Sheet

Download resources as Excel file

Energy

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
1 Perform energy audit (Free with COT and Talquin) (This box can be checked if the audit has been scheduled, but not yet performed at the time of filling out this form) Energy audits can help identify opportunities for utility savings and increased efficiency. To schedule an energy audit with the City of Tallahassee, call 850-891-4968 or visit the Tallahassee energy audit website for more information. To schedule an energy audit with Talquin Electric, call 850-627-7651 or visit the Talquin energy audit website for more information.
2 Actively monitor monthly energy consumption You can't manage what you don't measure! Actively monitoring your energy consumption can help you set a "normal" range, set energy reduction goals, and avoid unexpected peaks and high bills.
3 Perform one energy retrofit or upgrade that your energy auditor recommends Go over your energy audit/analysis with your auditor and identify at least one upgrade you can make to help save energy
4 Set a goal for energy reduction to achieve in one year Step 1: Take a look at your most recent monthly energy bill Step 2: Make note of your kilowatt hours (kWh) each month over the last year Step 3: Set a goal for a reduced energy consumption (fewer monthly kilowatt hours) for one year from now
5 Create a policy/protocol to ensure all non-essential lights and appliances are turned off during non-business hours Option 1: Assign a point person (or persons) the responsibility of shutting off all lights and appliances before leaving, being specific about which lights and appliances should be turned off and which must be left on for safety Option 2: Create a specific restaurant/bar policy that all appliance and lights must be turned off when not in use, including after closing hours
6 Replace 50% of lighting with LED light bulbs LED lightbulbs come in various lighting types, sizes, and styles. Pick ones that work the best for the space. After the retrofit is complete, take note to see if there is a reduction in your overall kilowatt hours (kWh) in future energy bills!
7 Install lighting controls, such as occupancy sensors in spaces of variable occupancy, daylighting controls, or timed switches To learn more about lighting controls, visit the Department of Energy's Lighting Controls page
8 Make a policy/protocol requiring all purchased equipment and appliances are ENERGY STAR, EPEAT, and/or WaterSense qualified Products with these qualificiations have increased efficiency built in.
Energy Star Product Finder
EPEAT registry
WaterSense Product Search
9 Participate in a utility or community solar program Contact your local utility to see if they have a solar program you can participate in. If you'd like to learn more about options for solar, talk to the Office of Sustainability!
10 Generate renewable energy on-site Do you think your restaurant or bar may be a good candidate for solar energy? Get in touch with a local electric contractor to get more information or visit:
US Department of Energy's EnergySage: renewable energy quotes and information page
Financial Tool through Leon County's PACE Program

Water

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
11 Monitor water consumption monthly Step 1: Open your monthly energy/water bill Step 2: Look at your water consumption - did it go up or down from last month? Step 3: If your consumption went up, think about why it might have increased and what steps you can take to reduce consumption in the coming month. If your consumption went down, congrats! Keep implementing strategies that help conserve water!
12 Install low-flow faucet aerators on all restroom sinks Low-flow faucet aerators can be found at most hardware stores
13 Install low-flow toilets and urinals in all restrooms Low-flow toilets and urinals can be found at most appliance stores
14 Set a goal for water reduction to achieve in one year Step 1: Take a look at your most recent monthly energy/water bill Step 2: Make note of your gallons consumed (cgal = 100 gallons) each month over the last year Step 3: Set a goal for a reduced water consumption (fewer monthly cgal) for one year from now
15 Replace all pre-rinse spray valves with low flow ones EPA WaterSense Pre-Rinse Spray Valves
16 Switch cleaning products to low toxicity cleaning products Learn more and view a product list on the EPA's Safer Choice page
Learn more about Green Seal Certified products
17 Utilize green infrastructure, low-impact development principles, and Florida Friendly Landscaping Practices to decrease total volume of stormwater runoff, provide natural filtration systems, and utilize sustainable landscaping practices. Learn more about Low-Impact Development from UF/IFAS Extension
Learn more about Florida Friendly Landscaping Practices from UF/IFAS Extension

Transportation

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
18 Take a survey of how your employees commute to work. Identify at least one opportunity to make getting to work via alternative transportation easier (i.e. carpooling, walking, biking, taking the bus, or driving an electric vehicle) Some good questions to ask could include: 1. In a typical day, which form of transportation do you use to get to work? 2. Is alternative transportation an option for you (i.e. carpooling, walking, biking, taking the bus, or driving an electric vehicle) 3. What barriers do you have in taking alternative transportation? 4. How can we (as a business) remove one of these barriers or help incentivize alternative transportation? For information about ride share and alternative transportation, visit Commuter Services of North Florida
19 Promote or offer food delivery by bike Make bike (or pedestrian) delivery an option to reduce the use of fuel!
20 Provide free or discounted bus passes to your employees To learn more about Star Metro (and bus passes), visit the Star Metro website or call 850-891-5200
21 Install an electric vehicle charging station on site Electric vehicle charging stations help encourage the adoption of electric vehicles by providing regular access to charging for employees and customers alike. There are various types of charging stations. Learn more about types of charging stations from the Department of Energy

Waste Reduction

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
22 Take a look in your trash can and list the top three most commonly found items in it. Do the same thing for your recycling bin. Much of what we throw in the trash is either avoidable, recyclable, or compostable. The first step towards reducing waste is taking an inventory of what's in your trash to begin with. Recycling items is a much better alternative to throwing them in the trash, but what if we could avoid using those items altogether? Remember, the order of importance is Reduce, Reuse and then Recycle.
23 Eliminate the use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) and single-use plastic bags for to go orders and only provide single-use utensils, napkins, straws, and condiments upon request for in-house dining and to go orders More information on Green Purchasing
24 Pick one of the most commonly found items in your trash (from #22) and make a plan to eliminate (or drastically reduce) its use Step 1: Identify one of the most commonly thrown-away items in your trash bin that could be eliminated from the waste stream Step 2: Make a plan to eliminate it (Example 1: do you have a lot of food waste? Hire a composting service to take your food scraps. Example 2: do you throw away a lot of cling wrap? Invest in sealable lids for your storage containers) Step 3: Put your plan into action and educate your staff on the new initiative
25 Provide reusable utensils, plates, and cups for dine-in customers Eliminating single-use items and switching to multi-use items can drastically reduce the amount of waste your company generates
26 Provide recycling for employees and customers, including clear sorting instructions for what can and can't be recycled More information about what can and can't be recycled in Leon County
27 For food storage, eliminate the use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) and minimize the amount of single-use plastic bags and packaging Work with your supplier/distributor to find available options
28 Bring "Household Hazardous Materials" such as batteries, light bulbs, cleaning supplies, etc. to the Leon County Household Hazardous Waste center, or another certified recycling center Leon County Household Hazardous Waste Center
29 Take plastic wrap, plastic bags, or other plastic film to a box retailer for recycling Find the nearest place where you can take plastic film for recycling
30 Offer incentives for customers to bring their own cups and/or to-go containers Incentives could include a discount on a beverage or meal or a voucher for a free item after a number of purchases using a reusable to-go item
31 Purchase items in bulk to avoid excessive single-use packaging (i.e. bulk sugar vs. individual packets) Work with your supplier/distributor to find available options
32 Utilize at least three (3) paper products with at least 30% post-consumer recycled material (e.g. printing paper, paper towels, bags, napkins, etc.) Work with your supplier/distributor to switch your paper products to ones that contain post-consumer material
33 Eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags Switch to an alternative such as paper bags
34 Provide at least one dish on the menu with a local ingredient For information about local agriculture suppliers, visit the Red Hills Small Farm Alliance.
35 Eliminate the use of all single-use plastics (including polystyrene) in all operations, including prep-work, to-go orders, and in-house dining If you need help brainstorming or researching alternatives, contact the Office of Sustainability
36 Implement a composting program Learn more about how you can sign up for a compost bin or to pay for a composting service, visit Compost Community

Employee and Community Engagement

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
37 Educate all employees on the sustainable initiatives in your company Your employees are your biggest champions and best messengers - are they aware of all your company's sustainability initiatives? How could you better educate and involve them? If you want some ideas, contact the Leon County Sustainability Team for help!
38 Offer at least two (2) plant-based (vegan) dishes According to the UN Climate Change Report, shifting to more plant-based diets is a significant way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Providing plant-based foods gives more options to your customers and can have a positive environmental impact.
39 Communicate your sustainability initiatives to your customers Communicate your sustainability successes to your customers through social media, through your employees, and in print in your restaurant
40 Organize a clothing, used items, and/or food drive to donate to a local non-profit, or work with a local non-profit to organize a collection for used items. List of a few places to donate items in Leon County
41 Establish a policy/protocol allowing employees to take home unserved food and allowing donations of unserved or excess food to food kitchens or other community programs The Federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects you from liability when you donate to a non-profit organization
42 Establish a Green Team (i.e. a group of designated employees who oversee and help implement sustainable practices) 5 Steps to Building an Effective Green Team
43 Organize or take part in a company volunteer day, or support "give hours" (paid employee hours for volunteer/community work) View a list of volunteer opportunities in Leon County
44 Practice equity, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, hiring, and retention For more information, read about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Recruitment, Hiring and Retention and Recruiting for Diversity
45 Promote physical health (social sustainability) among your employees through access to a gym or other wellness activities Healthy, happy employees make for a healthy, happy business!

Local Economy

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
46 Source at least two ingredients from local or organic farmers For information about local agriculture suppliers, visit the Red Hills Small Farm Alliance
47 Prioritize ordering and purchasing office items and other purchases from local businesses (e.g. promotional items, shirts, landscaping plants) For questions about buying local, email the Sustainability Team

Innovation

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
48 Provide information on or attach supporting documents on a project or program your company has implemented that relates to sustainability but was not covered in this application Any additional projects or innovative ideas and initiatives related to sustainability are welcome!
49 Attach a document endorsed by your company or organizational leadership that outlines a plan for implementing further sustainability action items and goals For questions or help creating this document, please email the Sustainability Team 

Download resources as Excel File

Energy

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
1 Perform energy audit (Free with COT and Talquin) (This box can be checked if the audit has been scheduled, but not yet performed at the time of filling out this form) To schedule an energy audit with the City of Tallahassee, call 850-891-4968 or visit the Tallahassee energy audit website for more information To schedule an energy audit with Talquin Electric, call 850-627-7651 or visit the Talquin energy audit website for more information
2 Actively monitor monthly energy consumption You can't manage what you don't measure! Actively monitoring your energy consumption can help you set a "normal" range, set energy reduction goals, and avoid unexpected peaks and high bills.
3 Perform one energy retrofit or upgrade that your energy auditor recommends Go over your energy audit/analysis with your auditor and identify at least one upgrade you can make to help save energy
4 Set a goal for energy reduction to achieve in one year Step 1: Take a look at your most recent monthly energy bill Step 2: Make note of your kilowatt hours (kWh) each month over the last year Step 3: Set a goal for a reduced energy consumption (fewer monthly kilowatt hours) for one year from now
5 Create a policy/protocol to ensure all non-essential lights and appliances are turned off during non-business hours Option 1: Assign a point person (or persons) the responsibility of shutting off all lights and appliances before leaving, being specific about which lights and appliances should be turned off and which must be left on for safety Option 2: Create a specific office policy that all appliance and lights must be turned off when not in use, including after closing hours
6 Replace 50% of lighting with LED light bulbs LED lightbulbs come in various lighting types, sizes, and styles. Pick ones that work the best for the space. After the retrofit is complete, take note to see if there is a reduction in your overall kilowatt hours (kWh) in future energy bills!
7 Install lighting controls, such as occupancy sensors in spaces of variable occupancy, daylighting controls, or timed switches To learn more about lighting controls, visit the Department of Energy's Lighting Controls page
8 Change the settings on all computers and printers to go into sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity This can help save you energy (and money) when devices and appliances are not in use.
9 Make a policy requiring all purchased equipment and appliances are ENERGY STAR, EPEAT, and/or WaterSense qualified Energy Star Product Finder
EPEAT registry
WaterSense Product Search
10 Participate in a utility or community solar program Contact your local utility to see if they have a solar program you can participate in. If you'd like to learn more about options for solar, talk to the Office of Sustainability!
11 Generate renewable energy on-site Do you think your restaurant or bar may be a good candidate for solar energy? Get in touch with a local electric contractor to get more information or visit US Department of Energy's EnergySage: renewable energy quotes and information
Financial Assistance through Leon County's PACE Program

Water

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
12 Monitor water consumption monthly Step 1: Open your monthly energy/water bill Step 2: Look at your water consumption - did it go up or down from last month? Step 3: If your consumption went up, think about why it might have increased and what steps you can take to reduce consumption in the coming month. If your consumption went down, congrats! Keep implementing strategies that help conserve water!
13 Install low-flow faucet aerators on all restroom sinks and/or sinks with automatic sensors Low-flow faucet aerators can be found at most hardware stores
14 Install low-flow toilets and urinals in all restrooms Low-flow toilets and urinals can be found at most appliance stores
15 Set a goal for water reduction to achieve in one year Step 1: Take a look at your most recent monthly energy/water bill Step 2: Make note of your gallons consumed (cgal = 100 gallons) each month over the last year Step 3: Set a goal for a reduced water consumption (fewer monthly cgal) for one year from now
16 Switch cleaning products to low toxicity cleaning products Learn more and view a product list on the EPA's Safer Choice page
Learn more about Green Seal Certified products
17 Utilize green infrastructure, low-impact development principles, and Florida Friendly Landscaping Practices to decrease total volume of stormwater runoff, provide natural filatration systems, and utilize sustainable landscaping practices. Learn more about Low-Impact Development from UF/IFAS Extension
Learn more about Florida Friendly Landscaping Practices from UF/IFAS Extension

Transportation

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
18 Take a survey of how your employees commute to work. Identify at least one opportunity to make getting to work via alternative transportation easier (i.e. carpooling, walking, biking, taking the bus, or driving an electric vehicle) Some good questions to ask could include: 1. In a typical day, which form of transportation do you use to get to work? 2. Is alternative transportation an option for you (i.e. carpooling, walking, biking, taking the bus, or driving an electric vehicle) 3. What barriers do you have in taking alternative transportation? 4. How can we (as a business) remove one of these barriers or help incentivize alternative transportation? For information about ride share and alternative transportation, visit Commuter Services of North Florida
19 Provide free or discounted bus passes to your employees To learn more about Star Metro (and bus passes), visit the Star Metro website Or call 850-891-5200
20 Offset the greenhouse gas impact of your company travel Sustainable Travel International Carbon Calculator
21 Install an electric vehicle charging station on site Electric vehicle charging stations help encourage the adoption of electric vehicles by providing regular access to charging for employees and customers alike. There are various types of charging stations. Learn more about types of charging stations from the Department of Energy

Waste Reduction

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
22 Take a look in your trash can and list the top three most commonly found items in it. Do the same thing for your recycling bin. Much of what we throw in the trash is either avoidable, recyclable, or compostable. The first step towards reducing waste is taking an inventory of what's in your trash to begin with. Recycling items is a much better alternative to throwing them in the trash, but what if we could avoid using those items alltogether? Remember, the order of improtance is Reduce, Reuse and then Recycle.
23 Eliminate the use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) and single-use plastic shopping bags for customers, minimize the use of packaging, and encourage customers and employees to bring their own bags. More information on Green Purchasing
24 Provide reusable utensils, plates, and cups for employees that eat at work Create a protocol for washing dishes for safety and efficiency
25 Pick one of the most commonly found items in your trash (from #22) and make a plan to eliminate (or drastically reduce) its use Step 1: Identify one of the most commonly thrown-away items in your trash bin that could be eliminated from the waste stream Step 2: Make a plan to elimiante it (Example 1: do you have a lot of food waste? Hire a composting service to take your food scraps. Example 2: do you throw away a lot of cling wrap? Invest in sealable lids for your storage containers) Step 3: Put your plan into action and educate your staff on the new initiative
26 Provide recycling for employees and customers, including clear sorting instructions for what can and can?t be recycled More information about what can and can't be recycled
27 Bring "Household Hazardous Materials" such as batteries, light bulbs, cleaning supplies, etc. to the Leon County Household Hazardous Waste center, or another certified recycling center Leon County Household Hazardous Waste Center
28 Take plastic wrap, plastic bags, or other plastic film to a box retailer or other facility for recycling Find the nearest place where you can take plastic film for recycling
29 Purchase items in bulk to avoid excessive single-use packaging (i.e. bulk sugar vs. individual packets, bulk coffee vs. individual pods) Work with your office supplier/distributor to find available options
30 Utilize three (3) paper products with at least 30% post-consumer recycled material (e.g. printing paper, paper towels, bags, napkins, etc.) Work with your supplier/distributor to switch your paper products to ones that contain post-consumer material
31 Reuse materials or work with vendors to minimize and/or take back product packaging where possible Do some of the things you order come with excessive single-use packaging? Work with your vendors to minimize unecessary waste.
32 Eliminate individual, single-use plastic water bottles for employees and guests Have a water fountain? Add on a water bottle filling station so employees and guests can easily fill up their reusable water bottles. Provide reusable cups and a pitcher of water for those that do not have their own reusable water bottle.
33 Eliminate single-use plastic bags in all operations Switch to an alternative such as paper bags
34 Establish a paper-free or reduced printing policy or protocol to reduce paper and printing consumption Strategies could include a combination of the following: 1. Creating a system for electronic signatures 2. Prohibit or highly discourage the printing of emails, long documents, and anything else that can be viewed electronically 3. If printing is necessary, encourage employees to print in black and white 4. Have a board next to the printer where unclaimed printing is posted 5. Set printers to default double-sided printing
35 Implement a composting program Learn more about how you can sign up for a compost bin or to pay for a composting service, visit Compost Community

Employee and Community Engagement

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
36 Educate all employees on the sustainable initiatives in your company Your employees are your biggest champions and best messengers - are they aware of all your company's sustainability initiatives? How could you better educate and involve them? If you want some ideas, contact the Leon County Sustainability Team for help!
37 Communicate your sustainability initiatives to your visitors and clients Communicate your sustainability successes to your customers through social media, through your employees, and in print in your restaurant
38 Organize a clothing, used items, and/or food drive to donate to a local non-profit. Or work with a local non-profit to organize a collection for used items. A list of a few places to donate items in Leon County
39 Establish a policy/protocol allowing employees to take home unserved food and allowing donations of unserved or excess food to food kitchens or other community programs The Federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects you from liability when you donate to a non-profit organization
40 Establish a Green Team (i.e. a team of employees who oversee and help implement sustainable practices) 5 Steps to Building an Effective Green Team
41 Organize or take part in a company volunteer day, or support "give hours" (paid employee hours for volunteer/community work) View a list of volunteer opportunities in Leon County
42 Practice equity, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, hiring, and retention For more information, read about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Recruitment, Hiring and Retention
43 Promote physical health (social sustainability) among your employees through accesss to a gym or other wellness activities Healthy, happy employees make for a healthy, happy business!
44 Offer flex schedules or telecommuting to employees Read Sample Flexible Work Policies

Local Economy

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
45 Purchase food for events or meetings from a local business Support our local economy by ordering food from a locally-owned business.
46 Prioritize ordering and purchasing office items from local businesses (e.g. promotional items) For questions about buying local, email the Sustainability Team

Innovation

# Criteria Resources and Instructions
47 Attach any information on a project or program your company has impelemented that relates to sustainability but was not covered in this application. Any additional projects or innovative ideas and initiatives related to sustainability are welcome!
48 Attach a document endorsed by your company leadership that outlines a plan for implementing further sustainaibility action items and goals For questions or help creating this document, please email the Sustainability Team

Gold Recognized Businesses

Community Coop Market Logo

Community Coop recieving their gold recognition certificate

Community Coop Market

Community Coop Market's (CCM's) mission is to build a strong, local community and to ensure that everyone has access to healthy, delicious food. We are proud of the sustainability programs we have implemented, and we are committed to supporting local businesses, fighting food insecurity in our community, and being an equitable employer. We offer tons of locally produced options for food and wellness products, and we frequently act as a launch pad for local businesses to introduce their products to our community. Food waste is a huge issue in the grocery industry, but large, regular donations to local food banks and in-house programs to repurpose food before it’s unsellable helps us to ensure that we are doing our part in keeping good food out of landfills.

Highlights

  • We have several recycling programs in our store: cardboard and paper, toner and ink cartridges, glasses, and cell phones.
  • We offer the largest bulk selection in town (from food to body care!), allowing customers to eliminate packaging waste by bringing their own containers if they choose.
  • We installed energy efficient coolers and freezers that automatically turn off their lights after a period of inactivity and install LED light fixtures whenever our old light fixtures break.

Blackdog Cafe Logo

Blackdog Cafe receiving their gold recognition certificate

Black Dog Café

"At Black Dog Café, we are committed to being responsible stewards of the environment. As a local coffee shop devoted to our community, we take our role in ethical sourcing of our products as well as supporting local businesses seriously and hope, through our actions and words, to promote a more conscious community regarding foods, waste, and local sourcing."

Highlights

  • Use ethically sourced coffees roasted sustainably by Batdorf & Bronson coffee roasters
  • Compost all coffee grounds and compostable food waste
  • Raise bees and use only locally-sourced honey in shop

ALW Logo

ALW employees sitting in orange chairs around table in a white meeting room, discussing a document

Architects Lewis + Whitlock (ALW)

"At ALW, we are committed to helping preserve, protect, and enhance the environment through our LEED design and sustainability commitments. In our role as creators of the built environment, it is incumbent upon our team of design professionals to make sustainability an innate part of our daily lives. Through adopting sustainable business practices over the last two decades, our office has seen improvements to our bottom line in both the traditional and environmental sense. The cost savings, improved staff health benefits, and increased availability of eco-conscientious products and services that have more than off-set the costs of integration of sustainability initiatives. We are committed to continuing the journey toward a more sustainable office environment." – Cam Whitlock, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, ALW Principal-In-Charge

Highlights

  • Installed an electric vehicle charging station on site for employees with electric vehicles
  • Established the ALW Green Team consisting of several staff members from varying levels of the company. The Green Team is charged with expanding sustainability actions within ALW and serves as the steward of the AWL Sustainability Action Plan.
  • Created the ALW Sustainability Action Plan, an internal living document that establishes organizational goals and action items, assigns specific responsibilities to team members, and sets target dates for completion.

ProofLogo

ProofPic

Proof Brewing Co.

Since kickstarting the Tallahassee brewing scene in 2012, we have stood by an ethos of being as sustainable and efficient a brewery as possible. We are constantly innovating and evolving our business to help provide a greener future for all. We pride ourselves on being an industry leader and are proud of what our team has accomplished over the years.

Highlights

  • First Craft Brewery in Florida to implement Earthly Lab’s CiCi CO2 recapture system to capture and recycle carbon produced during our brewing process - Equivalent to 1500 trees worth of CO2.
  • We donate our spent grain to local farmers for livestock feed thereby diverting over half a million pounds annually from landfills
  • We use fully recyclable aluminum and cardboard packaging, Closed-loop steam system for water recapture. We substantially reduce effluent waste through use of a centrifuge and our grain silo increases material efficiencies and reducing the amount of deliveries.

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