Green Business Certification
The City of Salisbury's Sustainability Advisory Committee (Green Team) is excited to announce its new Green Business initiative! Participating businesses will receive a sticker to be placed at the business' point of entry, and a picture with the Mayor to be shared on social media! Additionally, participants will have their logo added to the City's website under a new section touting green business.
In order to qualify, a business must meet a number of criteria to which the Green Team has assigned point values. A business' total score determines whether they are bronze (10-14 points), silver (15-19 points), or gold (20+ points) level.
Upon receipt of your registration form, the City's Sustainability Coordinator, Alyssa Hastings, will contact you to schedule a time to visit and confirm your checklist.
CRITERIA:
Use non-plastic straws/go strawless
Become a strawless business, which means not purchasing straws for customer or employee use or switch to a plastic alternative straw. Examples of alternative straw are paper, bamboo, or even pasta! And, only offer straws upon request of the customer. If you choose to use a type of compostable straw, make sure that it is a BPI Certified product.
Use paper/reusable cups
Instead of using plastic or styrofoam disposable cups, use paper (preferably made from post-consumer recycled materials) or reusable cups to minimize waste.
Use paper/compostable bags
Kick the plastic bag habit and only use paper or other BPI Certified compostable bags, or promote the use of reusable bags.
Use compostable/reusable utensils
The best option is for all utensils to be reusable but, if you must use disposable utensils/flatware make sure that they are BPI Certified Compostable.
Use biodegradable to-go containers
If you offer to-go containers, often these are known as “clamshells,” make sure they are not plastic, Styrofoam (puffed polystyrene), or another non-compostable material. Instead, use biodegradable (also known as compostable) products. Make sure these products are BPI Certified compostable!
Use recycled paper towels
Where paper towels are used in your business, make sure they are made from at least 40 percent post-consumer product.
Use recycled toilet paper
Where toilet paper is used in your business, make sure it is made from at least 40 percent post-consumer product.
Use recycled plastic/paper trash bags
Trash bags offer convenience we are all familiar with. So, if you choose to use them at all, please make sure that they are either at least 40% recycled plastic or that they are paper.
Shred and Recycle used paper
If you send your used paper off for shredding, (or have a business that comes to you for shredding) make sure that the paper shreds are then recycled and not just put into a landfill or incinerated!
Use efficient light bulbs
Make sure your business is using energy efficient light bulbs, such as LED light bulbs.
Have 10% native plants in landscaping
If your business has outdoor space that is landscaped, make sure that 10% of the plants on the premises are native. Don’t have a lot of outdoor space? Feel free to get creative; for example, window boxes!
Recycle
No matter if you own a restaurant or work in an office building, make sure you are recycling all of the used materials that you can!
Donate leftover food to shelters
Minimize food waste and put all of your business’s leftover food to good use by donating your leftovers to food banks or shelters.
Purchase at least 10% local foods
If you are a business that serves food, make sure at least 10% of the food that you purchase is locally grown!
Have a bicycle rack
Encourage your patrons and employees to use healthy habits by providing a bicycle rack outside of your business.
Donate to an environmental organization or non-profit
If you’re feeling generous, make donations environmental organizations or non-profits… the more local the better! These donations can come in many forms, including monetary donations, materials, or even man-power!
Sustainable Practices during Events
City-sponsored events are great for citizens and businesses alike. Do your part to help the City of Salisbury’s sustainability mission by using sustainable practices during these events if you are in or near the event’s blueprint. One great example is if you are a restaurant in or near the 2019 Folk Festival footprint, make sure that you only serve on disposables that are compostable or recyclable to help the Festival stay on track for its Zero Waste goals!
Water efficient kitchen
Whether your kitchen serves hundreds of meals to customers a day or is just big enough to heat up some lunches, make sure that it is water efficient by having water-efficient dishwashers and/or flow restrictors on faucets.
Water efficient bathroom
Similar to the water efficient kitchens, make sure your bathrooms are efficient as well! This can be done with flow restrictors on faucets as well as high-efficiency toilets.
Energy efficient kitchen
No matter the type of kitchen in your business, make sure that the appliances that are being used are energy star rated for being energy efficient!
Use clean energy (solar or wind)
Have at least 20% of your energy come from a renewable, clean source. Good examples of this are solar and wind energy!
Designate a ‘Green Advocate’
Designate ‘Green Advocate’ by choosing one person in your organization to be a leader of green initiatives. This person will serve as the primary contact on all Green Business related activities as well as be the individual to keep track of and advocate for current and new environmentally friendly initiatives within the business.
Stormwater Management
Offer some stormwater management on your property. This can come in many forms, including a rain garden or a move to non-permeable surfaces wherever possible.
Green Cleaning Products
Using green cleaning products to clean your business can prevent chemicals from entering our wastewater system and will help protect our Wicomico River! From wipes to soaps to detergents, all green cleaning products count for this item.
Green Business Practices – Create Your Own!
Is there something your business does for the environment you don’t see on our list? Select this option! We will discuss when we verify your checklist.