14 Jun Austin to recognize 2012 Austin Green Business Leaders

Thirty-one local businesses will be honored by the City of Austin during the Thursday, June 14, Austin City Council meeting for their achievements in Austin Green Business Leaders, a new Office of Sustainability program helping local companies become more sustainable. The presentation is scheduled for the proclamations portion of the agenda at 5:30 p.m.

“I've often said, ‘what is good for our environment is good for our economy,’ ” Mayor Lee Leffingwell said.  “It speaks to our values as a city that we have such vibrant and socially responsible businesses here in Austin, and these folks are setting an example in sustainability for businesses of all shapes and sizes to follow.”

The 2012 Austin Green Business Leaders included Fortune 500 companies, such as Dell and Whole Foods Market, as well as local independents such as House + Earth and Buenos Aires Café.  The City Council will recognize program participants for their green business practices in seven areas of sustainability: communications, energy, water, resource management, transportation, community stewardship, and healthy work environment.

“Austin’s strong business community is made even stronger by the leadership and dedication to sustainability innovation that is emblematic of the program’s participants,” Chief Sustainability Officer Lucia Athens said.  “The Office of Sustainability has helped establish one of the most comprehensive green business recognition programs in the nation, to give these leaders the kudos they deserve, and encourage other businesses to take action.”

Austin Green Business Leaders is an ongoing program, open to businesses of all sizes and all industries. The central tool of the program is the green business scorecard, which helps businesses assess and implement sustainability practices. Companies earn points for taking actions listed in the scorecard, and depending on their score, can progress through Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of recognition.  After completing the scorecard, businesses are provided recognition and a toolkit to promote their company as an Austin Green Business Leader.

“At Whole Foods Market, we are always looking for ways to support our company’s core values, and when it comes to the environment, our team also looks for ways to support the greater good,” said Jill Velez, Whole Foods Team Leader of Whole Foods Market Global Support Green Mission Team.  “This program is great because it allows us to do both – care about our community and the environment, and spread our knowledge to other businesses out there so they also can support that effort.”
Twenty-two of the 31 recognized Austin Green Business Leaders participated in a pilot of the program in late 2011. Members of the pilot initiative provided recommendations and feedback, which shaped the final version of the scorecard and program structure.

“I really enjoyed working with the City and the other founding companies in developing this program. It's a win-win for everyone,” Texas Mutual Insurance Company Facility Manager Catherine Brown said. “Texas Mutual supported the group's efforts all the way.”

“Not only does the Austin Green Business Leaders program provide an effective barometer for measuring the sustainability of a business' operations, it also serves as an educational and motivational tool for implementing more sustainable actions,” House+Earth Principal Scott Kuryak said. “With the current scorecard, large corporations and small companies alike can participate on a level playing field, which should encourage companies of all types to participate.”

Businesses can sign up and download the green business scorecard online at www.austintexas.gov/greenbusiness or contact greenbusiness@austintexas.gov with questions.

Businesses being recognized in the 2012 Austin Green Business Leaders awards ceremony include:
Adaptation International
Barr Mansion
Buenos Aires Café
Circular Energy
CP&Y Inc.
Dell Inc.
EcoChic HarperMadison Designs
EnviroMedia
Goodwill Industries of Central Texas
Hoover’s Inc.
House+Earth
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Journeyman Construction Inc.
Office Depot
Organics by Gosh
Pearson
Press8 Telecom
ProGraphix
Rackspace Inc.
ROUND2 Inc.
Samsung Austin Semiconductor
Silicon Labs
Snap Kitchen
SXSW Inc.
Texas Mutual Insurance Company
Texas Saké Company
The Shaw Group Inc.
URS Corporation
Wash Day Laundry
Wyndham Garden Hotel
Whole Foods Market