Month: August 2026

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, sustainability is more than a goal. It is part of the company’s commitment to making the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Through practical environmental initiatives and employee engagement, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s north St. Louis County location is turning that commitment into action. 

In 2025, the site participated in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, earning recognition at the Leader Level for its sustainability efforts. Through the Challenge, team members took a closer look at their environmental impact and identified opportunities to reduce waste, lower emissions and strengthen their sustainability practices. 

One of the first steps was launching a Green Team dedicated to leading environmental initiatives across the site. As part of the Challenge, the team completed a baseline sustainability assessment, which helped identify areas for improvement and establish a roadmap for future progress. 

“Joining the Green Business Challenge has heightened our awareness of how we impact the environment,” said Shana Lawson, EHS Manager for Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Conducting the baseline score was eye opening. We thought we were greener than we actually are. Now we have a pathway to move our company towards the corporate goals of zero waste to landfill and reduction in Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.”  

Armed with those insights, the Green Team began implementing simple yet impactful changes throughout daily operations. Employees received reusable Nalgene water bottles to encourage the use of water bottle filling stations, while Styrofoam cups were replaced with paper coffee cups in all breakrooms. The site also launched a pilot recycling program for lab pipette tips and boxes and transitioned from individual office trash bins to a centralized waste collection area that includes single-stream recycling. 

These efforts are already making a difference. By tracking and sharing results with company leadership, the Green Team has demonstrated the value of sustainability-focused actions and helped build support for continued environmental improvements. 

The site’s commitment to sustainability has also been recognized beyond the Green Business Challenge. During its ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System audit, Thermo Fisher Scientific received positive recognition for maintaining native plantings and participating in Project Clear’s Rainwater Bioretention Program. These initiatives help manage stormwater runoff while supporting a healthier environment and improved regional air quality. 

While many of these efforts are relatively new, they reflect values that have long been central to Thermo Fisher Scientific’s culture: innovation, responsibility and continuous improvement. By integrating sustainable practices into everyday operations, the company is creating lasting benefits for its employees, customers and the communities it serves. 

For more information about Thermo Fisher Scientific 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.

As a global science-based consulting and advisory company, Jacobs is dedicated to delivering resilient, digitally enabled infrastructure solutions that help communities thrive. From its St. Louis-area office in the city’s Cheltenham neighborhood, the company is also committed to making a positive impact locally through employee engagement, environmental stewardship and continuous improvement. In 2025, Jacobs returned to the St. Louis Green Business Challenge as a Leader Level participant after a five-year hiatus, using the Challenge as an opportunity to strengthen sustainability efforts within its office, empower employees to adopt sustainable practices and turn environmental goals into meaningful action both inside and outside the workplace. 

A key accomplishment during the Challenge was the relaunch of the Jacobs Green Team, which is helping foster a culture of sustainability throughout the workplace. The team has focused on identifying opportunities to improve the office environment, engage employees and lay the groundwork for future sustainability initiatives. As part of these efforts, Jacobs launched a Taking Green Home education campaign, encouraging employees to incorporate environmentally conscious practices into their daily lives both at work and at home. 

The organization also took a data-driven approach to sustainability planning by conducting audits of employee commuting habits, office energy use and copy paper consumption. These assessments provided valuable insights into current practices and will help guide future strategies aimed at reducing environmental impacts and increasing operational efficiency. 

Beyond internal initiatives, Jacobs demonstrated its commitment to community engagement and collaboration through innovative programs and partnerships. One standout effort was the establishment of a recurring Tasty Tuesday Food Truck event, which serves employees, neighboring businesses and the surrounding community while highlighting local Green Dining Alliance partners. 

Jacobs also excelled in biodiversity-focused activities. Through seasonal Floral Frolics events, employees have been encouraged to connect with nature and learn about the importance of supporting local ecosystems. Building on this success, the company plans to collaborate with property management to increase the use of native plant species around the facility, helping create healthier habitats for pollinators and other wildlife. 

Another significant initiative was the development of a new recycling program designed to be expanded throughout the building. By creating a scalable approach to waste diversion, Jacobs is helping lay the foundation for broader sustainability efforts that can benefit all building occupants. 

These local efforts reflect Jacobs’ overall commitment to addressing environmental challenges through innovation, collaboration and long-term thinking. As CEO Bob Pragada explains, “Our focus is on our future as a science-based consulting and advisory company delivering resilient, digitally enabled, infrastructure solutions.” 

To learn more about Jacobs or 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 supports better air quality, visit the Clean Air Partnership website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X @gatewaycleanair. 

As students head back to the classroom and St. Louis area families settle into new routines, late summer is the perfect time to refocus on healthy habits, including paying attention to the air we breathe. While school supply lists, sports schedules and after-school activities may be top of mind, air quality remains an important consideration for protecting children’s health and helping everyone enjoy a strong start to the school year. 

Children are among those most vulnerable to air pollution because their lungs are still developing, and they tend to spend more time being active outdoors. That’s why the Clean Air Partnership encourages families and schools to prioritize lung health, especially for children with asthma or other respiratory conditions. 

Fortunately, there are several simple steps families can take to help protect their health while also doing their share for cleaner air across the St. Louis region. 

Check the Daily Air Quality Forecast 

One of the easiest ways to stay informed is by checking the daily air quality forecast. The Clean Air Partnership provides color-coded forecasts based on the Air Quality Index (AQI), helping residents understand current air quality conditions and whether extra precautions may be needed. When air quality reaches unhealthy levels, children, older adults and those with existing lung conditions may need to reduce prolonged outdoor activity. 

Individuals can also sign up for EnviroFlash alerts through the Clean Air Partnership website to receive timely air quality notifications via email or text. 

Build Cleaner Commutes Into Your School Routine 

Returning to school often means more cars on the road and increased traffic around pick-up and drop-off times. Since transportation remains one of the largest contributors to ozone-forming emissions, small transportation choices can make a meaningful difference. Consider: 

• Carpooling with neighbors or classmates 
• Walking or biking when possible
• Using public transportation 
• Combining errands into a single trip 
• Avoiding unnecessary vehicle idling in school zones 

These simple actions help reduce emissions while supporting cleaner air for everyone. 

Support Healthy Lungs at Home 

As schedules become busier, maintaining healthy habits is crucial. Encourage children to stay hydrated, especially during warm late-summer days, and be mindful of symptoms such as coughing, wheezing or unusual shortness of breath during outdoor activities. Families with children who have asthma should ensure medications and action plans are readily available as the school year begins. 

For additional tips on protecting lung health and managing asthma symptoms, visit the American Lung Association’s website at Lung.org. 

Small Actions Add Up 

The good news is that cleaner air is something we can all help support. Whether it’s choosing a cleaner commute, conserving energy at home, avoiding excessive vehicle idling or simply staying informed about local air quality conditions, every action contributes to a healthier community. 

As summer gives way to fall, make air quality awareness part of your family’s back-to-school routine. By staying informed and taking a few simple steps, we can help protect children’s health, support cleaner air and ensure everyone has an opportunity to breathe a little easier this school year. 

To learn more about the link between sustainability and air quality, explore our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X @gatewaycleanair.