Spotlight On: PGAV

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In 2020, the St. Louis Green Business Challenge is celebrating 11 years of providing organizations of all types and sizes across the St. Louis metropolitan region with a clear and measurable road map to more comprehensive green business practices. This month, the Clean Air Partnership is delighted to continue to shine a spotlight on this premiere program and its tremendous impact on the environment, as well as one local company that is stepping up to fight for cleaner air in a big way.

Founded in 1965, PGAV Destinations is one of the world’s largest independent design firms, serving as a leading master planner and designer of theme parks, zoos, museums, aquariums, heritage sites, destination retail and brand-based experiences. Using intuition, intellect and imagination, the company is devoted to helping its clients create enduring memories in the minds of their visitors.

A proud participant of the St. Louis Green Business Challenge and a leader of sustainability, PGAV works to fulfill this responsibility by engaging its team on the topics of sustainability and global stewardship. As a company with local, national and global influence, PGAV’s Green Team exists to educate, advocate and empower its people, clients and partners to positively affect global health. In 2019, the company received the Achievement Award in the Star Circle of Excellence and an Award of Merit at the Leader Level – Tenant Category for the greatest gain from their baseline to final point totals during the Challenge.

To raise visibility for their green efforts, PGAV developed a logo and graphic palette that is used on all communications and internal signage throughout their offices. Other green innovations include a PGAV Bike Day, where the company hired VeloFix to provide free bike repairs to employees on-site. Employees also ran a bike repair and maintenance workshop to encourage alternative modes of transportation to help take vehicles off area roads and reduce emissions that lead to poor air quality. This past May, nearly 15% of employees participated in National Bike to Work Day, and that inspired additional group bike rides over the summer and fall months.

Several other noteworthy accomplishments in sustainability helped PGAV place high in the 2019 Challenge. The company’s continued transition to paperless accounting has helped decrease paper usage by nearly 50%, collectively saving over 255,000 sheets. Since last May, the company began offering junk mail list removal services for corporate and personal mail to significantly cut back on the amount of waste acquired, ultimately removing 224 names from 125 different mailing lists. Furthermore, PGAV has composted over five tons of organic waste since partnering with STL Compost in June 2018!

Registration for the 2020 St. Louis Green Business Challenge opens on Feb. 4. For additional information on the sustainable efforts underway by PGAV and how your company can get involved in the Challenge, subscribe to the bi-monthly E-Newsletter or visit www.stlouisgreenchallenge.com. To learn more about the link between sustainability and air quality, explore our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair.