Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tacoma (BEST)

Are you one of Tacoma’s BEST Businesses?

For a business to be competitive in this economy, companies must find how to increase profits while being a good corporate citizen at the same time. They need to learn how to keep investors, customers, employees and community members happy all while watching the bottom line.

Citizens for a Healthy Bay has a new program that will help local businesses do just that, and best of all, it’s free. The Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tacoma (BEST) program provides Tacoma businesses with free assistance to help them increase their profitability while lessening their environmental impact. It can help local companies learn about cost-saving, sustainable business practices such as:

• Energy conservation
• Water conservation
• Recycling and waste reduction
• Stormwater pollution prevention
• Carbon footprint analysis

FREE, CONFIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS

CHB staff members conduct free visits to local businesses, identifying opportunities for savings through conservation and improved environmental practices. Then they prepare practical recommendations for business owners' consideration. These recommendations, which are completely confidential and optional, are focused on producing bottom-line financial and environmental benefits.

When CHB staff members find that an in-depth audit of a company's water or energy use would be beneficial, they can arrange for these services to be provided at no cost through our partners at Tacoma Power and Tacoma Water.

CHB works with the City's Solid Waste Division, private waste haulers and recycling companies to help businesses develop strategies to cut waste, recycle whatever they can and keep their garbage bills to the bare minimum. CHB staff also helps businesses take advantage of rebates that are available for replacing old, inefficient water and electrical equipment.

RECOGNITION

CHB and its partners provide a great deal of recognition for companies that participate in the BEST program. CHB will produce articles about BEST businesses for its newsletter and website plus the websites and publications of its partners. An annual award event will also be held to recognize Tacoma businesses for exemplary environmental practices in a variety of categories.

Tacoma companies that take advantage of this new, free service will also be encouraged to promote their environmental efforts to their customers and the general public by displaying "We're one of Tacoma's BEST businesses" stickers. Over its 19 years of environmental work in Tacoma, CHB has learned that people who live around here really appreciate doing business with companies that show they care about our environment.

OUR PARTNERS

CHB has assembled a broad coalition of partners in the BEST program, including the City of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Utilities, the Economic Development Board for Tacoma Pierce County and the Port of Tacoma. CHB has also enlisted the participation of community-based organizations such as the Tacoma Urban League and Tacoma Community House and educational institutions, such as Bates Technical College, the University of Washington Tacoma and the Evergreen State College. These partnerships with the leading organizations in the community bring together a tremendous array of valuable resources and recognition opportunities for participating companies.

TAKE ACTION

If your company has already implemented some sustainable business practices, we would like to promote your firm as a BEST business and document your efforts for the benefit of other businesses in our community.

If you would like to arrange for a free, confidential visit by a CHB staff member to help you and your company find ways to cut costs, increase efficiency and help the environment at the same time, give us a call today.

(253) 383-2429