These businesses joined 222 businesses already recognized in this program which is managed by the San Francisco Department of the Environment

Yesterday the San Francisco Green Business Program awarded 71 local San Francisco businesses (27 are new to the program and 44 are renewals). Each recognized business went through an extensive checklist to improve its operations for sustainability, from minimizing waste to utilizing less toxics products to energy and water efficiency measures.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health and Public Utilities Commission both support the Green Business Program through their incentives and services, and operated by the Department of the Environment.

The Green Business Program has been helping businesses adopt environmental practices that are sustainable as well as profitable since 2006. Department of the Environment staff provide technical assistance for the program’s stringent criteria, and conduct outreach in order to publicly recognize and promote Green Businesses, including a seal which customers can look for.

“The Green Business Program is one way the private sector can help achieve San Francisco’s Zero-50-100” climate action goals of sending zero waste to the landfill, taking 50 percent of all trips via sustainable options, and using 100 percent renewable energy,” said Debbie Raphael, Director, San Francisco Department of the Environment. “These recognized businesses are the key to our city’s sustainability as well as the engine of our local economy.”

“The San Francisco Green Business Certification Program is one of full emersion into all aspects of environmental sustainability,” said Christopher Billawala, Regional Director of Engineering, Toll House Hotel & Hotel AbRi.  “The process took about 8 months to complete but the end result was significant cost savings and better employee engagement to support green business practices.  Great Job SF Green!”

“Congratulations to all the local businesses which have been recognized by the Green Business Program,” said Anna Frankel, Green Business Coordinator, San Francisco Department of the Environment.  “They are leaders in our community and demonstrate every day that profits and sustainability can go hand in hand. We need these leaders, so I ask our city’s shoppers to please look for the Green Business Seal and reward our local businesses for doing the right thing for our community and our environment.”

“Our commitment to sustainability is something that makes Hanson Bridgett stand out among law firms in San Francisco and we are thrilled to be recognized as a Green Businesses for the past 8 years,” said Rachel Patterson with Hanson Bridgett.

On May 2014, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a resolution to designate 24th Street a Latino Cultural District (LCD) and the San Francisco Department of the Environment is pleased to announce that the first business in the Latino Cultural District to earn a Green Business Certification is L’s Caffe at 2871 24th Street.

“For L's Caffé it is not only important to be environmentally friendly for ourselves, our immediate community or the City of San Francisco but the responsibility we carry to pass on our teachings and a healthy environment to the generations to come,” said Gabby Lozano.

To see the complete list of San Francisco Green Businesses and to learn more about the Green Business program, visit www.sfgreenbusiness.org .