Author: Julie Hauser

Known for its creativity, community spirit and commitment to quality, 4 Hands Brewing Co. extended that same passion to sustainability in 2024 by joining the St. Louis Green Business Challenge. What began as a goal to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste has evolved into a company-wide dedication to environmental responsibility — an effort the Clean Air Partnership is proud to spotlight this month.  

“The Challenge was a great catalyst to organize our sustainability efforts with a 4 Hands Brewing Green Team,” said Tom Sounders, Sustainability Manager for 4 Hands Brewing Co. “Challenge staff guidance gave us direction, purpose and accountability. Our department heads see their role and the teams they lead through a new lens, one where environmental sustainability projects can reduce operational costs and provide ROI. We’re building momentum towards sharing our internal sustainability journey with the market in the future.” 

During the Challenge year, 4 Hands formed a Green Team to integrate sustainability into daily operations across all departments. Their efforts have led to measurable progress in energy savings, waste reduction and greenhouse gas management. 

The brewery tapped into Ameren Missouri’s energy efficiency incentives to install three new rooftop air conditioning units with higher energy ratings, which helped cut power use and improve comfort. A lighting audit with Graybar also identified opportunities to upgrade all fixtures to high-efficiency LEDs, with an expected payback period of just 2.5 years. 

Waste reduction was another key Challenge priority, with 4 Hands introducing single-stream recycling, partnering locally to recycle plastic can carriers, switching to 100% recycled office paper and adopting a no-idling policy for delivery trucks to reduce emissions. 

In addition, the brewery completed a 2023 Greenhouse Gas Inventory using tools from the World Resources Institute, Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) and New Belgium Brewing, establishing a baseline for future emissions tracking. They also participated in a Sustainability Assessment with Missouri State University to support the development of the Missouri Green Brewers Association. 

By taking part in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, 4 Hands Brewing Co. is showing that great beer and environmental stewardship can go hand-in-hand. 

To learn more about 4 Hands Brewing Co. or how your organization can 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 website, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X @gatewaycleanair. 

Tarlton Corporation continues to prove that its commitment to making the St. Louis region a better place to live is more than just a mission statement — it’s a guiding principle that drives sustainable and environmentally conscious innovation across the industry.

Tarlton is a general contracting and construction management firm with a prolific presence in the region. With nearly 80 years of experience, the company has played a pivotal role in shaping iconic St. Louis landmarks, including Busch Stadium, The Muny and the Saint Louis Zoo. In appreciation for Tarlton’s role as a proud participant in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge at the Leader Level, the Clean Air Partnership is delighted to recognize the firm for its outstanding green achievements, which reflect the company’s enduring commitment to making the St. Louis region a better place to live and work through sustainable innovation and environmental leadership.

“In the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, each firm competes with their own best self,” said Tracy Hart, president of Tarlton. “Tarlton has continued to advance sustainability practices, and each year it’s exciting to see the ways we can further improve our efforts.”

During the 2024 Challenge, Tarlton demonstrated leadership through a series of impactful initiatives. When a key Construction and Demolition Waste (C&D) service provider ceased operations, Tarlton took swift action by alerting regional recycling leaders and initiating a collaborative effort to address waste conversion challenges. The company also organized a Challenge team site visit and meeting with Eco Recycling, a C&D specialist, to explore solutions for sorting, hauling and documenting diversion efforts to support LEED certifications for client projects.

Tarlton’s sustainability efforts extend beyond external projects. Internally, the company updated its Sustainability-ESG statement to reinforce its commitment to environmental stewardship and community well-being. It also revised its Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Plan to promote healthier work environments and hosted a staff Lunch & Learn session titled “Sustainable Gardens: Native Plants,” further embedding sustainability into its workplace culture.

From job sites to the boardroom, Tarlton embodies its “Let’s Build” motto, continually strengthening its environmental legacy while setting a high standard for sustainable business practices across the region. Through these impressive initiatives and countless others, the company is not only shaping a greener, healthier St. Louis today but also laying the foundation for a more resilient future for generations to come.

For more information about Tarlton 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.

Seed St. Louis has been cultivating environmentally friendly roots in the St. Louis community for decades, and in 2024, the organization took its commitment to sustainability even further. Founded in 1984, the nonprofit supports a thriving network of more than 250 neighborhood gardens, school gardens and urban orchards across the region. Through education, resources and empowerment, Seed St. Louis helps communities grow their own food and foster healthier, greener neighborhoods.

As Seed St. Louis continues its mission to promote both human and ecological well-being, the Clean Air Partnership is proud to spotlight the organization for its outstanding green achievements. These efforts earned Seed St. Louis recognition in the 2024 St. Louis Green Business Challenge, where it participated at the Apprentice Level.

“Seed St. Louis is a longtime champion of sustainability in our promotion of local farming and greening of vacant lots,” said Joe Jovanovich, Chief Operating Officer of Seed St. Louis. “The Green Business Challenge has helped us become more eco-friendly in our office by focusing us on simple yet meaningful changes in practice that add up to a big impact.”

During last year’s Challenge, Seed St. Louis implemented a range of operational improvements to reduce its carbon footprint. The organization transitioned to fully digital accounting procedures, eliminating paper invoices and payment records, and replaced most printed checks with electronic transfers. When printing is necessary, the team now uses 30% recycled content paper sourced locally from Office Essentials, reducing reliance on large online retailers like Amazon.

Staff volunteers also embraced creative, grassroots solutions to sustainability challenges. Because the building lacks commercial recycling, employees established a mobile recycling bin system, taking turns bringing recyclables home to ensure proper disposal. This inventive workaround reflects the team’s dedication to environmental responsibility, even in the face of logistical hurdles.

Beyond the office, Seed St. Louis extended its green practices to events by adopting compostable cups, plates and utensils. The organization also partnered with New Earth Farms and Total Organics Recycling to divert food-service waste from landfills. Additionally, plastic bottles were eliminated from company events, with staff encouraged to use refillable water bottles instead.

Through its hands-on gardening programs, internal initiatives and sustainable event practices, Seed St. Louis continues to build on its decades-long commitment to a greener future. By integrating sustainability into every layer of its operations, the organization proves that environmental stewardship truly can grow from the ground up.

For more information about Seed St. Louis 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.

As summer winds down, the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership and Citizens for Modern Transit’s joint “No Red Day” campaign has officially wrapped with nearly 500 sign-ups for free Metro Adventure Day Passes. The campaign aimed to prevent a “red” air quality day from happening by encouraging area residents to take transit instead of driving, especially during peak ozone season when heat and emissions can combine to create unhealthy levels of ozone air pollution.  

Thanks to strong community engagement and creative outreach efforts, campaign organizers and participants played an important role in helping the region avoid any red air quality days this season. However, the return of warmer weather late last week and into this week has brought with it five additional orange air quality days, a reminder that poor air quality can persist even outside the traditional forecasting window, underscoring transit matters throughout the year.  

Ozone pollution remains a concern for everyone, especially children, seniors and those with respiratory conditions. Even as the campaign concludes, the need to reduce emissions continues. Choosing transit over personal vehicles – even if just occasionally – can make a meaningful impact on air quality. Taking MetroLink or MetroBus to get to school, work, appointments, sports and entertainment venues, and everywhere else you need to go helps keep emissions down and air quality in healthier ranges.  

Planning ahead for high ozone days by checking the daily air quality forecast and encouraging others to make the switch to try transit are simple but powerful steps we can all take. Let’s keep the momentum going and continue doing our part for cleaner air – because every ride counts. 

To learn more about the summerlong campaign efforts, visit NoRedDay.com. 

When we think about summer hazards, sunburns and heat waves may come to mind first. But there’s another invisible danger that can take a serious toll on our health — air pollution. Ozone and particle pollution are more than just environmental concerns; they affect how we breathe, how our bodies function and even how long we live. While everyone is impacted to some degree, certain groups are far more vulnerable to the harmful effects of polluted air.

Data from the American Lung Association’s 2025 “State of the Air” report shows that 156.1 million people — about 46% of the U.S. population — are living in places that get failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. This is nearly 25 million more people breathing unhealthy air compared to last year’s report and more than in any other “State of the Air” report in the last 10 years.

Children and older adults remain among the most physically vulnerable, with 34.6 million children under the age of 18 and some 25.2 million adults over 65 living in counties that received an “F” grade for at least one pollutant. People living with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease and even lung cancer survivors also face heightened risks. Pregnant individuals are not immune either, as more than 1.7 million pregnancies in 2023 occurred in counties that failed at least one measure. Of those, close to 453,000 were in counties that received failing grades for all three measures.

The report also makes clear that the burden is not evenly shared. People living in poverty often reside closer to pollution sources and have fewer options for relocation or access to health care. Approximately 19 million people with incomes at or below the federal poverty level live in counties with at least one failing grade, and nearly 5.7 million live in areas failing all three. Racial disparities are equally troubling with people of color making up just over 41% of the U.S. population, yet 78.3 million live in counties with at least one failing grade for ozone and/or particle pollution, and more than 26 million live where all three measures received failing grades.

To help residents safeguard their health, the Clean Air Partnership issues color-coded daily air quality forecasts throughout the summer months and into the fall so people can know ahead of time if the next day’s air quality calls for limiting outdoor activity. Staying informed is important as unhealthy air days can still occur during the cooler months, making continued awareness crucial for protecting your health.

By checking the forecast, making small adjustments to daily routines and supporting local clean air initiatives, we can protect our most vulnerable neighbors — and ourselves. For more tips to help clear the air this summer and beyond, visit CleanAir-StLouis.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on X @gatewaycleanair.

As a national leader in environmental mitigation and water resource solutions, Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) is at the forefront of using nature-based approaches to restore and protect ecosystems. With sustainability rooted in its mission and vision, RES is making significant contributions to environmental stewardship and climate resilience, efforts that the Clean Air Partnership is proud to recognize.  

As a Leader Level participant in the 2024 St. Louis Green Business Challenge, RES implemented several impactful green infrastructure initiatives across the St. Louis area. In the Hyde Park neighborhood, the company supported the Be Well Café — a community-focused eco-artisan job incubator — by installing rain gardens, a permeable plaza space and an outdoor café terrace that combines environmental function with community amenities. At KIPP Triumph Academy, RES constructed rain gardens, green space, a nature play area and installed rain barrels to help foster environmental awareness and stewardship among students. Additionally, RES donated more than 250 native plants to local community organizations to enhance biodiversity and promote sustainable landscaping. 

“RES is proud that our mission of providing resiliency through restoration is benefiting the City of St. Louis,” said Tim Moritz, Regional Client Solutions Manger for RES. “RES green infrastructure projects for MSD prevent flooding and improve water quality, furthering our mission. Joining the Green Business Challenge has helped us better align with other community members who want to share our mission to increase resiliency in the metro area.” 

During the Challenge year, RES was also active in outreach and workforce development. The company participated in the Green Community Workforce Development partnership and contributed to climate education efforts by tabling at the Archdiocese of St. Louis Climate Symposium, the first event hosted by the Laudato Si Commission dedicated to creation care through climate action. 

Further demonstrating its commitment to sustainability, RES has taken significant steps to reduce its environmental footprint internally. By allowing most of its St. Louis employees to work from home, the company eliminated 39,000 commuting miles, saving approximately 1,480 gallons of fuel and preventing around 15 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere. Additionally, more than 80% of the construction materials used by RES are manufactured within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis, reducing transportation-related emissions and supporting the local economy. 

For more information about RES and how your organization can get involved in the Green Business Challenge, subscribe to their bi-monthly E-Newsletter or visit stlouisgreenchallenge.com. For more on the link between sustainability and air quality, explore our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @gatewaycleanair. 

Midwest Recycling Center (MRC) is a leading electronics recycling company serving businesses, schools, hospitals, government agencies and nonprofits across the region. With the most current R2v3 and RIOS certifications, MRC demonstrates a firm commitment to sustainable recycling practices, quality management and environmental responsibility, which helped earn them recognition in the 2024 St. Louis Green Business Challenge. 

As part of the Challenge, MRC highlighted its Champion Innovation Project: a series of E-Waste Collection Events designed to offer residents a convenient, responsible way to dispose of unwanted electronics. Staffed by trained professionals and equipped to manage everything from traffic flow to unloading vehicles, these events were held at various community locations, with 90 hosted in total — 68 in the Imperial/St. Louis area and 22 in the Kansas City region. During these events, MRC successfully collected and processed more than 1 million pounds of electronic waste, including 1,500 CRT televisions, 776 appliances containing freon and 2,028 printer units. By diverting this material from toxic landfills, the company helped reduce air pollution risks and supported healthier, more sustainable communities. 

“The opportunities we have to serve communities with convenient, affordable and responsible E-Waste recycling enhance MRC’s reputation as a trusted partner in regional environmental stewardship and sustainability efforts,” said Greg Cooksey, Sr. Director of Business Development & Compliance Officer of MRC. “We appreciate how Green Business Challenge connections help us maintain and grow our service capacity.” 

MRC offers comprehensive electronics recycling solutions that span everything from small devices like cell phones to large appliances such as refrigerators. Any item with a battery or power cord is eligible for recycling or repurposing through their services. In addition, MRC prioritizes data protection with advanced security protocols, including hard drive shredding and certified data destruction, helping clients and their customers avoid identity theft. 

These collection events also played a key role in public education. Through strong partnerships with local governments and organizations, MRC was able to demonstrate the environmental importance of proper electronics recycling while strengthening community relationships and promoting a shared vision for sustainability. This combination of outreach, environmental action and collaboration has solidified MRC’s standing as a valued partner in regional sustainability efforts. 

The Clean Air Partnership is proud to celebrate companies like Midwest Recycling Center that actively promote cleaner air by embracing meaningful sustainability practices. For more information on MRC 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. 

Citizens for Modern Transit and the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership are heading into the home stretch of their summerlong “No Red Day” campaign. To date, more than 440 individuals have registered to receive a FREE Metro Adventure Day Pass to give transit a try, especially on really hot days, as rising temperatures and transportation-related emissions combine to create dangerous levels of ozone air pollution.

There have been no “Red” – or unhealthy – air quality days reported yet this summer, and with peak ozone season wrapping at the end of this month, our campaign will conclude then as well.

Help us finish strong by continuing to take MetroLink and MetroBus to get to school, work, appointments, sports and entertainment venues, and everywhere else you need to go. Forgoing a personal vehicle, even if it’s just occasionally, can make a big impact.

Learn more at www.NoRedDay.com. Free passes are available to new registrants through August 31.

Together, we can do our share for cleaner air and prevent a red day from happening.

Scientific evidence continues to reinforce what many communities are experiencing firsthand: climate change is making it increasingly difficult to protect public health. While these threats pose serious long-term concerns, their effects are already evident today. Rising global temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns are fueling higher levels of air pollution — particularly ozone air pollution — leading to more frequent and severe unhealthy air days.

According to the American Lung Association’s 2025 “State of the Air” report, more than 125 million people — about 37% of the U.S. population — were exposed to unhealthy levels of ozone pollution during the years 2021–2023. This worsening trend is largely fueled by climate-related conditions like extreme heat, droughts and wildfires. Together, these factors are not only driving up pollution levels but also making it harder for cities and states to reduce emissions and meet clean air goals.

Here in the St. Louis region, ozone pollution remains a persistent challenge. Several days this summer have been classified as “yellow” (moderate), which poses concerns for those with respiratory issues or heightened sensitivity to polluted air. The region has also experienced at least one “orange” day, when air quality is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups and potentially the general public. In recent years, wildfire smoke drifting from Canada and the West Coast has triggered some of the worst air quality events on record, impacting cities nationwide, including New York, Chicago and St. Louis.

While everyone is affected by poor air quality, certain groups are especially vulnerable. Children, older adults, people with asthma or other lung conditions, pregnant individuals, and those who work or exercise outdoors face a higher risk of serious health impacts. For these individuals in particular, it’s important to monitor daily air quality and take precautions when pollution levels are elevated.

To help keep residents informed and safe, the Clean Air Partnership issues daily, color-coded air quality forecasts during the summer months. These forecasts provide a clear snapshot of what the air will be like the next day and offer guidance on whether people should limit outdoor activity. With the ozone season in full swing, these updates are an essential resource for helping the public reduce exposure and minimize health risks.

Additionally, our “No Red Day” campaign with Citizens for Modern Transit is running through the end of August, encouraging individuals to ride MetroLink and MetroBus to get to school, work, appointments, sporting events, entertainment venues and everywhere else they need to go. The goal is to help reduce emissions and prevent a red air quality day from happening in the region. Area residents can still visit NoRedDay.com to register for a FREE Metro Adventure Day Pass (a $5 value), which provides unlimited rides on the transit system for a day of their choice.

For more information, visit CleanAir-StLouis.com, like us on Facebook or follow @gatewaycleanair on X.

The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station is making waves with its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The St. Louis Aquarium is a 120,000-square-foot facility, filled with more than 13,000 aquatic animals across 44 exhibits, including a 250,000-gallon shark habitat. As a proud participant in the 2024 St. Louis Green Business Challenge, the Aquarium has embraced a hands-on approach to reducing its environmental footprint while inspiring guests to live more sustainably.

“Here at the St. Louis Aquarium, we aim to educate and inspire our guests by bringing them surprisingly close to nature,” said Connor Murray, guest experience supervisor and green team chair member for the St. Louis Aquarium. “We humans share this water planet with some incredible plants and animals, and being a better neighbor with them is surprisingly easy — and intuitive! We’re grateful to the Challenge for helping us explore new ways to engage our guests around living sustainably.”

Throughout the 2024 Challenge, the Aquarium initiated several impactful projects across its operations. It revitalized its Rain Garden, earning certification as a National Wildlife Habitat. The organization also switched to recyclable receipt paper in its ticketing offices and responsibly recycled more than 1,000 pounds of materials over the past year. Additionally, internal systems saw sustainable upgrades, including a reorganized and streamlined staff recycling area to improve access and participation.

The Aquarium’s dedication to innovation even extended to guest-focused sustainability efforts. The Guest Experience team launched a crayon melting initiative, repurposing used crayons to help reduce landfill waste and create fun, eco-conscious souvenirs. In another creative reuse project, retired Team Member shirts were transformed into t-shirt bags during a Friends and Family event. Furthermore, the Life Sciences’ water reclamation process has saved millions of gallons of water per year for future reuse, aiding in the organization’s commitment to responsible water and air quality stewardship.

Through all its endeavors and with every initiative, the St. Louis Aquarium reinforces its three guiding principles: Education, Conservation and Imagination. From habitat restoration to recycling and creative reuse strategies, the Aquarium continues to show how small, intentional changes can spark meaningful environmental impact.

For more information about Saint Louis Aquarium at Union Station 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.