Month: March 2026

Embodying the phrase “Where Sports Meet Sustainability,” Passback works to revitalize the lifecycle of sports equipment while providing underserved youth with the tools they need to participate fully in sports. By redistributing gently used gear, Passback reduces waste, keeps materials in use longer and helps communities thrive through inclusivity and sustainability, which are outcomes that also support cleaner air across the St. Louis region.

The nonprofit’s green efforts extend beyond redistribution. Through education, advocacy and partnerships with businesses, school and other nonprofits, Passback helps reduce the demand for new manufacturing and transportation of sports equipment, which in turn lowers greenhouse gas emissions and improves regional air quality.

Sustainability is not an add‑on for Passback — it is a core pillar of who they are. As a participant in the 2025 St. Louis Green Business Challenge at the Apprentice Level, the organization formed a Sustainability Committee to oversee initiatives, monitor progress and explore opportunities such as energy credit sales to help minimize environmental impact.

During the 2025 Challenge, Passback was recognized for creating a Warehouse Sustainability Strategy designed to reduce environmental impacts through optimized lighting, reuse systems, clear signage and intake and output tracking. The organization also implemented a 10% Waste Reduction Plan focused on tracking event waste and diverting plastic and metal bottles through recycling and take‑back programs that help keep pollutants out of landfills and the air.

Passback’s impact extends well beyond its Challenge participation. Since launching in August 2023, the organization has gifted more than $140,000 worth of sports gear to children in underserved communities, with 90% of that support staying local. In doing so, Passback has recirculated more than 10 tons of plastic and metal back into the economy, reducing waste and emissions associated with producing new equipment.

Passback also developed and adopted a Green Purchasing Policy that prioritizes reused, recycled and local materials that can biodegrade or be recycled. In addition, the organization established a Partner Sustainability Policy that encourages partners to demonstrate sustainable practices and continuous improvement, helping expand positive environmental impacts across the region.

Other innovative Challenge efforts included advancing evidence‑based circularity through research conducted with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Washington University in St. Louis and independent analysts. This work helped quantify the lifecycle impacts of sports gear while implementing greenhouse gas emissions and diversion tracking, turning data into meaningful outcomes for access, equity and community health.

“The Challenge helped the Passback team transform ideas into actionable strategies, connecting our work in circularity with the people and organizations capable of scaling it,” said Magdalen Sparrow, executive director for Passback. “The experience reinforced our belief that sustainability isn’t just about reducing waste, it’s about reimagining how businesses collaborate to build a regenerative, equitable future. Systems change is a team sport!”

For more information about Passback or to get involved in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, subscribe to the bi-monthly e-newsletter or visit stlouisgreenchallenge.com.  For more on how sustainability connects to air quality, visit the Clean Air Partnership’s website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X @gatewaycleanair.

St. Louis Green Business Challenge 2025 Rookie of the Year, Home Sweet Home, serves the St. Louis region by providing essential furniture and household items to individuals and families as they establish new homes. With a mission centered on reuse and education, the organization ensures that everyone who touches a donated item understands how it can be reused, demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and community well‑being.

In 2024, Home Sweet Home kept 537 tons of furniture out of landfills and distributed $1.2 million worth of home essentials to new homes across the region. By extending the life of furniture and household goods, the organization reduces landfill waste while cutting emissions associated with manufacturing and transporting new items, contributing to cleaner air throughout the St. Louis area.

“We give new life to gently used items, extending the life cycle of furniture and household goods by placing them in homes where they’re needed most,” said Betsy Reznicek, executive director of Home Sweet Home. “Donors can trust that their pre-loved pieces will be cherished by another family, not sent to a landfill. Our challenge was to expand the usefulness of items that cannot be used by clients, whether too “used” or damaged. The Green Team has come up with innovative ways to reduce even the minimal waste of our warehouse.”

As part of its sustainability initiatives, Home Sweet Home reviewed donation processing to identify items that could be forwarded, reused or repurposed. Materials such as metal, electronics, towels, linens and fabric were redirected to recycling centers, animal shelters and local resale shops, while woodworker volunteers repair or reconfigure broken furniture, keeping materials in circulation and reducing waste that could contribute to air pollution.

One notable Green Business Challenge accomplishment was the Home Sweet Home Green Team hosting a Challenge tour of the organization’s warehouse. The tour highlighted the many ways donated items are reused, repaired or responsibly redirected, offering a behind‑the‑scenes look at how thoughtful operations can support sustainability and air quality goals.

The organization also fostered a strong culture of sustainability internally. Staff expanded recycling efforts for items commonly used by clients, such as snack wrappers and water containers, added single‑stream recycling bins throughout the warehouse and reduced single‑use items at organizational events. Additional recycling options were introduced for donated household items, including light bulbs, plastic bags and shredded office paper, further minimizing landfill contributions.

Education and communication played a key role in these efforts. Home Sweet Home implemented an organization‑wide communication plan to ensure staff and volunteers understood how each donated item could be kept out of the landfill. The team also toured a local recycling facility and hosted a Lunch and Learn to share best practices for recycling at home and in the warehouse, reinforcing habits that support cleaner air and healthier communities.

For more information about Home Sweet Home and how your organization can get involved in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, subscribe to the Challenge’s bi-monthly e-newsletter or visit stlouisgreenchallenge.com. To learn more about the link between sustainability and air quality, explore the Clean Air Partnership’s website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X @gatewaycleanair.

Building on more than a decade of progress, the St. Louis Green Business Challenge continues to show that sustainability is not only attainable, but transformative, for organizations of all sizes and sectors. As a program of the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Challenge remains committed to weaving environmental stewardship into everyday business practices while delivering measurable Triple Bottom Line results — fiscal, environmental and social — across the bi‑state region.

Since launching in 2010, the Challenge has engaged hundreds of businesses, nonprofits, municipalities and institutions, collectively influencing the daily habits and decisions of thousands of employees, residents and customers throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. This growing network demonstrates strong, long‑term commitment, with the majority of participating organizations returning year after year to strengthen sustainability culture, accountability and results.

In 2025 alone, 74 companies, nonprofits, institutions, local governments and sponsors participated in the Challenge. Notably, 100% formed Green Teams to lead sustainability efforts and maintained or launched workplace recycling programs. In addition, 99% sustained internal sustainability communications and continued or expanded special waste‑stream recycling; 98% established or were developing sustainability policies; and 96% provided green learning opportunities or Green‑at‑Home resources.

The Class of 2025 highlighted the power of innovation and collaboration. Participants advanced sustainability across key operational areas including energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation, sustainable purchasing, transportation and healthy workplace environments. Organizations expanded recycling and special waste recovery efforts, implemented new green policies, strengthened Green Teams and elevated sustainability communications, embedding environmental responsibility into organizational culture rather than treating it as a one‑time initiative.

Innovation remained a defining theme throughout the year. Many participating organizations adopted data‑driven decision‑making, green infrastructure investments, native landscaping, smart water technologies and expanded education initiatives that benefitted both employees and surrounding communities. Together, these advancements helped reduce environmental impact while supporting cleaner air, healthier neighborhoods and more resilient regional economies, which are all outcomes closely aligned with the Clean Air Partnership’s mission.

Now in its 16^th year, Challenge activity influences business, higher education, municipal, and nonprofit sectors alike and supports organizations at every stage of their sustainability journey — from newcomers exploring foundational practices to seasoned participants pushing the boundaries of innovation. Central to this success is customized coaching and technical guidance provided through the Missouri Botanical Garden’s EarthWays Center, including site visits, benchmarking tools, professional development opportunities and peer‑to‑peer knowledge sharing.

As sustainability challenges grow more complex, the St. Louis Green Business Challenge continues to demonstrate the power of voluntary action, regional collaboration and practical solutions that strengthen communities while protecting natural resources.

Registration for the 2026 Challenge year is open through March 31. Organizations interested in joining are encouraged to subscribe to the Challenge’s bi-monthly e-newsletter or visit stlouisgreenchallenge.com to learn more. To explore the vital connection between sustainability practices and cleaner air, like us on Facebook, follow us on X @gatewaycleanair or visit CleanAir-StLouis.com.

Free Monthly Transit Pass Allows Commuters to Test-Drive MetroLink and MetroBus

Area commuters looking to save money, reduce stress and rethink their daily drive are encouraged to give transit a try as part of “Make Your Move to Metro.” This Citizens for Modern Transit campaign—held in partnership with St. Clair County Transit District and Metro Transit—offers those new to transit the opportunity to register for a FREE monthly transit pass during March at MakeYourMoveSTL.com. The transit pass (valued at $78) is valid on MetroLink and MetroBus throughout the entire month of April. The website also includes links to plan routes, calculate cost savings and access tips and tricks for navigating transit.

The integrated public transit system in St. Louis offers a safe, convenient and cost-effective way to get to work, or anywhere else individuals want to go. Taking MetroLink or MetroBus even a few times a week can significantly reduce gas expenses, vehicle maintenance and parking fees. Beyond personal cost savings, choosing transit over driving helps reduce vehicle emissions, improving regional air quality and supporting a healthier environment for everyone. It also allows commuters to skip traffic congestion and reclaim their time.

“Commuters often shy away from taking transit due to the fear of the unknown,” stated Kimberly Cella, CEO of Citizens for Modern Transit. “This campaign breaks down that barrier by allowing new transit riders to test drive MetroLink and MetroBus at no cost. Partners are confident that once commuters experience its many benefits, they will continue to choose transit, especially with rising gas prices.”

Between now and March 31, new transit riders need to simply visit MakeYourMoveSTL.com to register by providing contact information and responding to two brief questions. Upon completion, an April monthly transit pass will be mailed to their attention—making it easy to try transit, reduce their environmental footprint and be part of the solution for cleaner air across the St. Louis region.

Learn more at MakeYourMoveSTL.com.