Sustainable Business Community

Green Businesses in Santa Monica

The City of Santa Monica partners with Sustainable Works to engage with Santa Monica businesses about sustainability. Since 2000, the City provides a free business greening program for local businesses. The program helps businesses identify strategies where they can conserve resources, reduce their footprint, and improve efficiency. Businesses that complete a list of green business strategies are eligible to be certified. These programs are voluntary. 

Businesses demonstrating excellence in stewardship of the environment, economic development, or social responsibility can apply for a Sustainable Quality Award. Business can win excellence awards for any of the three categories or a grand prize if the business demonstrates excellence in all three categories. 

Business Green Program

This chart shows the number of businesses that have participated in the City's business greening program since 2001. In 2021, 24 businesses participated in the City's business greening program. There has been 409 businesses that have participated since the program launched in 2001. 

* In 2016, this program was paused during a contract renewal process.

Green Business Certification

This chart shows the number of green business certifications since the program launched. In 2021, 15 businesses were certified. There is a total of 226 certifications throughout the years. This number includes recertifications. 

Sustainable Quality Awards

This chart shows the number of Sustainable Quality Awards distributed over the years. In 2022, eight awards with given to six businesses. There were three Grand Prize winners in 2022. 

The 2020 SQA ceremony was cancelled. As a result, the 2020 applicants were recognized in a 2021 virtual ceremony. There was no application process for 2021. 

Buy Local Businesses

This indicator measures the number of Santa Monica businesses that sign up for the Buy Local Santa Monica campaign.