Sustainability Good for Business

Not only are sustainable business practices good for the environment, but they are usually good for business too, said the honorees at Utah Business magazine’s Sustainable Business Awards Thursday afternoon.

Heidi Thorne, president and CEO of Navitus Sustainable Industries, said the companies being honored are companies leading the way in finding news ways for business to operate.

“These are companies that inspire because they look at the same old problems and come up with new and innovative solutions,” she said.

While some companies make a living in sustainable products or services, others said it’s nice to get recognition for something people don’t often see.

Uinta Brewing Company is known for the drinks they make, not their many green initiatives like giving spent grain from brewing to local ranchers and being the first fully wind-powered company in Utah. Stacey Hamill, Uinta Brewing marketing, said, “Today is special because Utah Business is recognizing Uinta’s practices are just as important as the product.”

Some of the honorees, like EcoScraps, which recycles food waste into compost, make a living as a green business. For EcoScraps CEO Dan Blake, being green isn’t just something he feels is the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense.

Sustainability isn’t as simple for other companies. XMission President and Founder Pete Ashdown said sustainability isn’t necessarily profitable for his tech company, but it strongly believes it’s the right thing to do and will ultimately lead to business success. He advised other companies to look carefully at the companies they do business with and select those that are making green choices.

The Sustainable Business Award honorees are featured in the November issue of Utah Business.

List of Honorees by Category:
Sustainable Building
Adobe
Conservice Utility Management & Billing

Social Impact
Salt Lake Community Solar
XMission

Action Programs/Initiatives
O.C. Tanner Company
Uinta Brewing Company

Innovation
Exotic Solar, LLC
CoreBrace, LLC

Energy
Xi3 Corporation
Fusion-io

Waste & Recycling
Momentum Recycling
EcoScraps

Water
People Water, Inc.

Air Quality
Ace Recycling and Disposal