Clean and Green Commission to recognize City businesses

Fredericksburg’s Clean and Green Commission will recognize City businesses that commit to adopting environmentally sustainable practices in their business operations.

The Commission’s Sustainability Award will be issued annually to any Fredericksburg business that meets or exceeds a minimum set of criteria for environmental sustainability. Each awarded business will receive the Commission’s Sustainability Award sticker for its storefront window and the award image for its marketing materials.

“This annual award will let customers know about the business’ commitment to the environment and help make being green more marketable in our community,” said Fredericksburg Clean and Green Commission Chair Sarah Hurst.

Examples of criteria to meet for restaurants include eliminating the use of plastic bags, participating in a recycling program and purchasing and selling locally grown produce. For non-restaurant businesses, criteria examples include transitioning to LED lighting, investing in an efficient HVAC unit or regularly recycling office paper.

Several area businesses have already undertaken environmentally sustainable practices and were recognized through the Fredericksburg Clean and Green Commission’s Green Spotlight or have committed to participating in the program. Those businesses include FOODE, the Olde Towne Butcher, Dragonfly Yoga Studio and Xquizit Coffee Roasters.

“These businesses are the first of what the Commission hopes will be a growing number of city businesses recognized for their more sustainable practices, including the soon to be open Fredericksburg Food Co-Op. We applaud these initial business awardees and we look forward to seeing the award logo displayed in their storefront windows,” said Robert Courtnage of the Fredericksburg Clean and Green Commission’s Sustainability Subcommittee.

Businesses may apply to receive recognition, and the public can learn more about the Environmental Sustainability Award by visiting cleanandgreenfxbg.com.

The City of Fredericksburg Clean and Green Commission is a group of volunteer city residents that work on clean, green and sustainable initiatives such as tree planting, litter clean-ups, recycling, composting, energy efficiency and investments in renewable energy. It also works to educate Fredericksburg residents on how to be more environmentally sustainably in their daily lives.