News

The Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County (GBPSBC) recently hosted its 14th Annual Green Business Certification Celebration on Friday, November 1st, 2024. It was a night to remember as we gathered to honor over 40 Santa Barbara County businesses that achieved Green Business Certification this year.

From sustainability leaders to local community members, the event brought together a dynamic group of people passionate about creating a greener future. With the largest number of certifications to date, this year’s celebration highlighted the incredible progress our local businesses are making in environmental stewardship.

Honoring Sustainability Leaders

During the event, we recognized businesses that went above and beyond in their sustainability efforts.

Innovator Green Businesses:
This special designation was awarded to eight organizations for achieving the highest level of certification:

• Oniracom
• RRM Design Group
• The City of Goleta (City Hall)
• The Community Environmental Council’s Environmental Hub
• The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
• The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center
• Santa Barbara County Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division
• Santa Barbara County Water Resources

First-Time Certified Businesses:
We welcomed 26 businesses into the Green Business community for the first time, including:

• Alpha Chi Omega
• Greener Golf
• KOZY Coffee
• Mission Refill
• Santa Barbara Trapeze Company
• The Santa Barbara Salad Project
  (And many more!)

Recertified Green Businesses:
We also honored 14 businesses that successfully completed the recertification process, reaffirming their commitment to sustainability. These businesses included:

• AC4 Fitness (Goleta and Santa Barbara locations)
• Hardy Diagnostics
• Santa Barbara Airbus
• UCSB’s Central Kitchen
  (And more!)

Event Highlights

The celebration began with networking opportunities and sustainability booths, where attendees explored local green initiatives and learned about impactful actions. After welcoming remarks from Program Director Kori Nielsen, inspiring speakers from Gauchos Go Green and the Community Environmental Council shared stories of sustainability success.

Attendees had the chance to win prizes donated by certified businesses and test their knowledge with fun environmental trivia. It was a night filled with community spirit, connection, and recognition for the hard work that goes into building a sustainable future.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

This year’s event would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors:

• Annual: Atlas Copco, RRM Design Group, Just 4 Fun Party Rentals
• Sustainers: Community Environmental Council’s Environmental Hub, Santa Barbara Airbus
• Contributors: Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, The Santa Barbara Salad Project, Riverbench Vineyard and Winery
• Friend: Nadra Ehrman,  Social Enterprise Realtor

Looking Ahead

We are proud to celebrate the achievements of local businesses that are paving the way for sustainability in Santa Barbara County. The record number of certified businesses this year highlights the incredible impact of our unique partnerships and the dedication of our community.

To all the businesses that participated, thank you for your commitment to making our county a greener, more sustainable place. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together in the coming year!

For more information about the Green Business Program or sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at knielsen@environmentalin.com.

Together, we’re building a thriving, sustainable community.