St. Louis Green Business Challenge Celebrating 15 Years Sustainably Strong

Coming off another successful year of delivering Triple Botton Line results (fiscal, social and environmental) to enterprises of all types and sizes across the bi-state area in 2024, the St. Louis Green Business Challenge continues to support integration of sustainability measures into the kinds of everyday operational practices common to every business. The Challenge – a program of the Missouri Botanical Garden – is focused on inspiring voluntary steps to help improve the environment and air quality in the region. As the Clean Air Partnership has a similar mission, we’re pleased to once again highlight its tremendous impact by recognizing some of the outstanding participants throughout this milestone year.

Since the program launched in 2010, more than 300 businesses, non-profits and municipalities have joined the Challenge, engaging over 160,000 employees and nearly 570,000 residents that have been influenced by this work. Ongoing commitment to sustainability remains strong as 60% of these companies have participated in the Challenge for two or more years and 50% for three years or more. Just this last year alone, 60 companies, non-profits, institutions and governmental bodies participated in the Challenge. An impressive 100% of these participants formed a Green Team to lead sustainability efforts, established or are developing sustainability policies, kept up with or started workplace recycling (even during remote working), and maintained sustainability communications with colleagues or constituents. Moreover, 99% continued or added to special waste stream recycling and 98% provided green learning opportunities or Green-At-Home resources for employees.

Now in its 15th year, Challenge activity influences the business, higher education, local government and non-profit sectors of the St. Louis regional economy. The program works for building owners and tenants, supporting companies new to sustainability concepts, those already engaged and seeking to improve, as well as high-performing multi-year participants. 2024 Challenge companies benefitted from customized coaching, including annual site visits provided by expert staff of the EarthWays Center, the Garden’s sustainability division. These services supported company Green Teams in efficient and cost-effective sustainability work through policies and practices, in accord with each company’s unique goals and culture.

Other noteworthy sustainability service honors for the Challenge included being recognized with the 2024 Program Excellence Award by the American Public Gardens Association. Additionally, Challenge manager Jean Ponzi received the Lewis C. Green Environmental Service Award from Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, was named by Grow Native! as 2024 Native Plant Ambassador, and was also honored with the Gateway Lifetime Public Service Award from East-West Gateway Council of Governments. Talk about a clean air champion! 👏

Registration for the 2025 Challenge is open now through March 31st. A Green Biz Showcase happy hour event will kick off this year’s program on Thursday, Feb. 27th from 4:30-7 p.m., hosted at Cortex Innovation District. For more information on how to get your company or municipality involved in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge/Green Cities Challenge, subscribe to the Challenge’s bi-monthly E-newsletter here or visit stlouisgreenchallenge.com. To learn more about the link between sustainability and air quality, be sure to check out our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair.

(L-R) Jaclyn Jezik and Jean Ponzi, Challenge staff

25 Resolutions to Live Greener in the New Year

While it’s hard to believe we’re already wrapping up the first month of 2025, many have already established resolutions to better themselves in the new year. Even so, it’s never too late to consider making additional goals that not only enrich your life but also benefit the region’s air quality. 

Whatever that may look like for you; whether it be looking to reduce waste, conserve energy or embrace a more sustainable diet, there are countless ways to make a positive difference. By integrating green practices into your resolutions, you can contribute to the health of our planet while inspiring others to follow suit. Here are 25 ideas to get you started: 

  1. Adjust the thermostat by turning it down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in summer to decrease emissions and save money on your power bill. 
  2. Adopt a plant-based diet, even part of the time, to reduce your meat and dairy consumption as those industries are major contributors to climate change. 
  3. Avoid “topping off” your gas tank as gasoline pollutes the air when it evaporates. 
  4. Avoid vehicle idling that releases harmful chemicals, gases and particle pollution into the air. 
  5. Buy local to reduce harmful carbon emissions and grow the local economy. 
  6. Carry reusable utensils and/or straws with you to avoid the use of disposables. 
  7. Combine errands into a single trip to minimize vehicle use and related emissions. 
  8. Don’t pollute. Switch up your commute. Instead of driving to work or school every day, try taking public transit, carpooling, biking, walking, or working from home at least once a week to help improve air quality. 
  9. Ease up on the pedal while driving to significantly lower gas consumption and vehicle emissions. 
  10. Eat out at farm-to-table restaurants where food is sourced locally and reduces the need for long-distance transport. 
  11. Engage in environmental advocacy to protect the planet and do your share for cleaner air. 
  12. Focus on green cleaning products instead of ones with harsh chemicals that can negatively affect air quality. 
  13. Go paperless when possible to save trees and cut back on air pollution and water consumption associated with production and transport. 
  14. Install LED light bulbs at home or the office – they use 75% less energy than their regular counterparts. 
  15. Learn how to properly recycle and find nearby alternative recycling options to help conserve natural resources and reduce waste. 
  16. Make the switch to online banking to help save time, postage and trees. 
  17. Minimize “phantom” energy by unplugging electronic devices not in use. 
  18. Nix bottled water since single-use plastic contributes significant amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere as litter lingers in landfills. 
  19. Consider an electric or hybrid vehicle to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. 
  20. Organize your refrigerator to easily keep track of what you need to use up to avoid food waste. 
  21. Refrain from burning wood that contributes to polluted air, which will also help improve lung health. 
  22. Shop secondhand first before buying new items or try DIY items yourself to reduce excess waste. 
  23. Shop smarter online by choosing companies that offer sustainable packaging and consolidating your orders to limit excess packaging. 
  24. Start composting to promote better air quality by turning food and lawn waste into rich mulch. 
  25. Upgrade to ENERGY STAR appliances that are more efficient, cost-saving and air quality-friendly. 

For more great tips on how we can all work together to achieve cleaner air in 2025, visit the Clean Air Partnership’s website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair.  

Area Commuters Encouraged to Make Transit Your Ride in 2025

Citizens for Modern Transit’s FREE Try & Ride Program is Available to New Transit Riders

Taking MetroLink or MetroBus even a day or two a week saves commuters money on gas, maintenance and parking – it also helps them stay active and reduce stress. Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), in partnership with St. Clair County Transit District, has therefore launched a new initiative encouraging area commuters to consider taking transit in the new year. The goal of the “Make Transit Your Ride in 2025” campaign is to connect with those new to the safe, integrated public transit system and show them how they can take advantage of CMT’s FREE Try & Ride Program that provides personalized route information, helpful resources and complimentary transit tickets. With transportation-related emissions being one of the biggest contributors to air pollution, taking public transportation is also a great way to reduce harmful vehicle emissions to help keep the air quality in healthy ranges.

“Transit is a great consideration for those looking to save money, increase exercise and reduce stress in the new year,” said Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit. “Research shows transit users can save more than $13,000 per year just by using public transit. They can also increase steps by walking to and from transit centers and reduce stress by sitting back, relaxing and enjoying the ride instead of navigating roadways and fighting traffic congestion.”

CMT’s FREE Try & Ride program was developed to help those who are new to public transportation test and learn the transit system. It helps first-time users determine exactly how to get to where they need to go using MetroLink, MetroBus or a combination of the two, provides tips for using the system and a free monthly pass. The program requires riders to commit to utilizing the bus or train for one additional month at their own expense, for a total of two months.

CMT’s Try & Ride Program has been credited with helping more than 7,000 workday and school commuters learn how to successfully navigate public transit. To learn more about the “Make Transit Your Ride in 2025” campaign or to register for the program, visit CMT-STL.org.

For more information on the link between sustainable transportation and air quality, visit the Clean Air Partnership’s website at CleanAir-StLouis.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair.

Spotlight On: Quiet Village Landscaping

Based in St. Louis, Quiet Village Landscaping is a full-service custom landscape design and lawn care service company that has been providing the bi-state area with high-quality landscape design, hardscape, maintenance, bed maintenance and seasonal services since 2001. With a focus on sustainability and commitment to bringing clients’ visions to life with its unique processes, the Clean Air Partnership is pleased to shine a spotlight on the company for its green achievements that are having a positive impact on regional air quality and outdoor spaces across the region.

“Our passion lies in leading the way toward sustainability in green spaces,” said Dennis Evans, owner of Quiet Village Landscaping. “Over 2,300 native plants we installed will support local wildlife, thrive with minimal irrigation, and reduce use of harmful chemicals. Our drainage solutions protect local waterways, sustainably diverting thousands of gallons from overloading creeks and streams and proliferating best practice examples. And our commitment extends beyond our work. We engage in community projects to beautify public spaces and connect people and nature. At Quiet Village Landscaping, we believe that together, we can make a positive environmental impact.”

As a participant in the 2023 St. Louis Green Business Challenge at the Leader Level, Quiet Village Landscaping introduced additional native plants and provided ongoing maintenance for its Adopt-A-Highway beautification project and butterfly garden in Olivette, Missouri. The company also organized a volunteer team to lead park beautification efforts at the historic St. Louis Place Park, as well as coordinated a group training and volunteer event to complete edging, composting and mulching to support the growth of 15 young saplings at Dr. H. Phillip Venable Memorial Park. Furthermore, to help preserve the well-being of local waterways for the communities it serves, the company facilitated the design and installation of 19 drainage solutions projects, which effectively averted water damage.

Other impressive accomplishments during the Challenge included the installation of several automatic light sensors throughout four sections of the company’s office and a new water bottle filling station, in addition to providing new reusable water bottles to all staff members to reduce excess plastic waste. Additionally, Quiet Village Landscaping revamped its waste management procedures, recycling more than 2,500 yards of natural yard waste into compost and mulch and circulating over 175 pots. Team training was also implemented to reinforce the company’s commitment to removing invasive plants and replacing them with native alternatives, which also helped to improve air quality!

For more information about Quiet Village Landscaping and how your company can get involved in the St. Louis 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 known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair.

Put an Eco-Twist on Traditions This Holiday Season

‘Tis the season to be eco-conscious as the holidays bring many opportunities to go green and think about the impact our treasured traditions and activities these next couple weeks can have on the environment. In all the enthusiasm and hustle and bustle that comes between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, it’s easy to overlook our impact on the planet, though it’s important to recognize that the average household will produce up to 25% more waste during this festive period, according to the EPA.

Merrymakers can reduce their carbon footprint and limit unnecessary waste by making a few small changes in the way we celebrate. Here are some insightful tips to making the holiday season more merry, bright and sustainable to help improve regional air quality for area residents to breathe easier:

    • Gift Greener – Consider gifting an experience to loved ones to reduce waste and environmental impact. Buying gifts from local businesses that follow social and environmental practices or supporting local artists, craftspeople or farmers will also largely benefit the region’s air quality. Additionally, newspapers, old posters, maps, reusable gift bags or scrap fabric lying around the house make for beautiful, personal and unique gift wraps. If you choose to buy gift wrap, look for recycled content gift wrap paper whenever you can find it.
    • Green Your Holiday Dinner Table – If you’re in charge of hosting a holiday feast for loved ones this year, sourcing as many of your ingredients as possible locally helps to cut down on emissions produced by large transport trucks. The less your produce and supplies must travel, the less waste is produced, and the smaller the environmental impact. Additionally, single-use items (while they make the cleanup process more convenient) are less visually appealing than reusable dishware and far worse for the environment. So, consider swapping out disposable plates, cups, napkins and silverware for your favorite set of dishes this year for greener dining.
    • Properly Dispose of Your Tree – If your holiday includes a tree, and you opt for an artificial one, box it up once the season is over and save it for years to come. When you’re ready to get rid of it, do your best to recycle or donate it to help avoid the hazardous landfill. For real trees that still have the root ball attached, consider re-planting in your yard after the holidays or dispose of the tree at a composting or chipping facility in your neighborhood to do your share for cleaner air.

    • Travel Sustainably Last but not least, greener travel starts before even leaving the house. The more weight trains, planes and automobiles must carry, the more fuel they use, and the more harmful greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere. So, be conscious of how many extra items you’re packing to lighten the load and help keep the air quality in healthy ranges. If traveling by your own personal vehicle, routine maintenance steps like checking engine performance and keeping tires properly inflated are ideal ways to help reduce emissions and fuel consumption. The bus or train are also great options that can offer a certain level of convenience, particularly if the weather and roads are bad along your route.

To learn more about the link between living greener and our air quality, visit the tips section of the Clean Air Partnership’s website, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair.

Spotlight On: Shapiro Metals

Since 1904, Shapiro Metals has been providing advanced scrap metal recycling services to the greater St. Louis region. With a dedication to sustainability and efficiency, the company creates customized recycling programs for manufacturing partners across a broad range of industries, in addition to trading materials with consumers across the globe and providing programs with a pathway to sustainability and circularity. This month, the Clean Air Partnership is delighted to shine a spotlight on Green Business Challenge Leader Shapiro Metals for its new approach to industrial recycling and sustainability solutions for manufacturers that is creating a better, greener tomorrow for area businesses and the planet.

As a participant in the 2023 St. Louis Green Business Challenge at the Leader Level, Shapiro Metals initiated a “Green Team” among 11 of the company’s plants to create awareness and excitement around recycling. The teams were able to collect nearly 15,000 pounds of paper and cardboard in just three months as part of the very first challenge they took on. In the end, the plant that collected the most pounds per team member was able to receive $500 per person. Additionally, across all Shapiro Metals plants, the company performed a “Safety & Sustainability Stand Down” training to introduce employees to the importance of what it means to be sustainable as a business and at home. As part of the training, an overview of basic elements included the environmental impacts of their day-to-day decisions, including what they eat, what they drive, and how they dispose of waste.

Among the other eco-friendly innovations that helped earn Shapiro Metals recognition in the Challenge was the purchase of a wood shredder at the company’s Springfield, Missouri location to reduce hazardous landfill waste. Since then, the Springfield facility has seen a 40% reduction of its waste by simply shredding the material of unusable pallets so it can be repurposed rather than sent to the landfill, which also benefits air quality by eliminating gases released into the atmosphere as waste decomposes.

Moreover, Shapiro Metals participated in a “Pollution Prevention” training hosted by the Green Business Challenge with Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute, which included an assessment of its manufacturing facility efficiencies and associated possible cost savings for added sustainability.

“The Challenge enabled us to reaffirm our company’s purpose: Making the Planet Better, Together,” said Emily Patterson, Chief of Staff for Shapiro Metals.

For more information on Shapiro Metals and how your company can get involved in the St. Louis 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 known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair.

Shop Sustainably This Holiday Season

The holidays are a time for joy, celebration and giving, but amidst all the festivities, we must still be mindful of our impact on the planet. And since the biggest shopping weekend of the year is only days away, sustainable holiday shopping and spending become increasingly important around this time as people seek ways to celebrate the season while minimizing their environmental footprint.

Eco-friendly behavior starts with buying decisions. So, whatever your shopping plans entail for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and beyond, there are countless ways to step up to do your share for cleaner air and cut down on waste while grabbing the best deals:

  • Shop smarter online – Online shopping allows you to shop from the comfort of your home, leaving you and the planet happy. While unfortunately everything in life has an environmental footprint, including online shopping, you can minimize your impact by looking for companies that offer sustainable packaging and consolidating your orders rather than purchasing individual items from different shops. You’ll also want to do your best to avoid expedited and overnight shipping by completing your holiday shopping well ahead of time and opting for the slower but much eco-friendlier standard shipping option.
  • Shop locally – For those who prefer to shop in person, planning ahead by mapping out your shopping plan can reduce carbon emissions that lead to poor air quality and create a much easier shopping experience overall. Also, if you’re planning to host a festive holiday dinner this year, consider shopping for sustainable produce from your local farmers. Not only does local, organic food taste better, but you’ll also be doing your part for the community and the planet.
  • Bring reusable shopping bags – Holiday shopping is great fun but also a huge producer of excess plastic shopping bags. Consider keeping reusable bags in your car so they’re always available and you don’t have to worry about leaving them at home. Going the reusable route helps to reduce the number of non-renewable resources necessary to produce plastic bags, in addition to cleaning the air by reducing harmful waste that winds up in landfills.
  • Look for environmentally friendly products – When making your purchases, especially big-ticket items, try to find the best green alternatives. Look for electronics and appliances that use less energy by checking for the ENERGY STAR® mark. ENERGY STAR® certified products use less energy than standard models, ultimately saving you money on your utility bill while helping to protect the environment and clear the air. You can also make sustainable decisions about your purchases by choosing products made from eco-friendly materials, such as organic cotton or recycled plastic. And remember, giving the gift of your time or a shared experience may be among the greenest options of all.

A few small changes are all it takes to help people across the St. Louis region breathe easier this holiday season. To learn more, visit the tips section of the Clean Air Partnership’s website, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair.

Spotlight On: MilliporeSigma

MilliporeSigma is a life science company and leading supplier of a diverse range of products and services for research, biotechnology production and pharmaceutical drug development. Operating globally with eight local facilities, including their St. Louis headquarters in Midtown, MilliporeSigma provides methodical, needle-moving solutions that enable customers and scientists to accelerate access to health for people everywhere – all while reducing the environmental footprint of science. This month, the Clean Air Partnership is pleased to spotlight MilliporeSigma’s focus on greener products and solutions, sustainable operations, and employee and community engagement making a big impact in the region.

“MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt Germany, is highly committed to global sustainability,” said Emily Becker, CSP Head of Environmental, Health, Safety & Security for the St. Louis Hub. “We focus our efforts on areas where we can have the greatest impact. In St. Louis, we continue to challenge ourselves to think greener, innovate, and upgrade processes and programs. Through this mindset, we’ve reduced water usage by 30% and landfill waste by over 50% over the past few years. We are incredibly proud of the progress and excited to make an even greater impact with our upcoming initiatives.”

As a participant in the 2023 St. Louis Green Business Challenge at the Leader Level, MilliporeSigma completed numerous water savings projects, including removing single-pass chilled water and installing cleaning sprayers and level sensors and controllers, resulting in over 13M gallons of water savings per year. The company also installed a spray-ball tank cleaning system that reduces water use by 87% each cleaning cycle, ultimately resulting in water savings of an added 1.9M gallons per year.

Additional eco-friendly innovations included the creation of a process cooling loop reusing pH pit water to replace once-through city water, resulting in water savings of more than 7M gallons per year, as well as diverting all general trash (over 850 metric tons annually) from the landfill to a waste-to-energy facility. This not only helps to reduce emissions, but also largely benefits the region’s air quality!

Moreover, MilliporeSigma has implemented several sustainable upgrades to company property, including food composting and reusable dishes in the main cafeteria and the installation of 38 new electric vehicle charging stations across all locations. They also completed HVAC, VFD and LED upgrades throughout their facilities, resulting in over 1,100 MWh energy savings per year. Such advancements have allowed the company to match 100% of their purchased electricity with renewable energy.

For more information about MilliporeSigma and how your company can get involved in the St. Louis 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 known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair.

Celebrate America Recycles Day Today and Every Day

Each year on November 15, millions of people across the nation will come together for America Recycles Day, a day all about spreading the word on how recycling helps us reduce waste, save energy, and conserve precious resources. And it seems only fitting the sole nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting recycling in the U.S. comes at the perfect time – between Halloween and Thanksgiving – two holidays known for creating an excess amount of waste and a negative impact on the environment.

Even though the recycling rate has increased from less than seven percent in 1960 to the current rate of 32 percent, there is still much room for improvement and work to be done to reach the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Recycling Goal of 50 percent by 2030. The collective recycling efforts of businesses, communities, and individuals alike help with this success and growth, and to continue building on this progress, the EPA encourages every person living in the U.S. to contribute by recycling right, not only on America Recycles Day, but all throughout the year.

Understanding what can be recycled in your area is key to ensuring that anything you sort and place in curbside recycling containers with the intention of it being sent to your local recycling center actually makes it there. This means checking with your local recycling provider to know what they will accept in your recycling bin. Items like cardboard, metal cans, and paper are commonly accepted by local curbside programs, while items like plastic bags, electronics and batteries do not go in the curbside recycling bin. The Clean Air Partnership recommends readers research the specifics for your individual municipality.

Another tip to consider for incorporating greener recycling habits into your day-to-day routine is opting for reusable bottles and bags – that way you’re not only reducing the amount of non-renewable resources necessary to produce them, but also helping to clear the air by cutting down on the thousands that wind up in toxic landfills and never fully decompose. You can go one step greener by replacing plastic straws and using paper or reusable metal straws, too.

It’s also worth mentioning that a major portion of our waste can be reduced or reused before even resorting to recycling. Shopping at or donating to secondhand stores are great ways to prevent unwanted items from ending up in the landfill and polluting the region’s air quality. Additionally, with the holidays coming up, using recyclable materials around the house like old fabric, maps, newspapers or magazines for gift wrap are also easy ways to significantly reduce waste.

Whether it’s America Recycles Day or just another day at home or the office, your contribution, however big or small, matters. Get started today here and visit our website, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair for tips on how to achieve cleaner air the other 364 days a year.

Spotlight On: Perennial

Perennial – a St. Louis-based nonprofit community workshop and store dedicated to creative reuse – offers educational programming to diverse populations, turning trash into treasure and teaching the community to do the same. Located in Dutchtown, Perennial was established as a resource for area residents to discover ways to reuse objects, reduce waste, and live a sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle through the power of personal creativity. From eco-refinishing, to upholstery, to building new furniture from pallets, Perennial teaches creative classes to build a culture of sustainability in which discarded items are transformed into valued and cherished resources, and this month, the Clean Air Partnership is delighted to shine a spotlight on their green achievements having a positive eco-impact.

“Perennial enjoys being a leader in creative reuse education and a resource for anyone starting their sustainability journey,” said Katie Carpenter, executive director of Perennial. “The Challenge helps us prioritize efforts to strengthen, document, and share while connecting us to a local network of passionate partners committed to a greener region.”

As a participant in the 2023 St. Louis Green Business Challenge at the Apprentice Level, Perennial implemented several policies promoting sustainability in the workspace, including one to inform staff and customers of the organization’s commitment to sustainability and resourcefulness in both the workplace and the greater St. Louis community. Perennial also completed a Green Purchasing Policy to guide staff members in choosing environmentally conscious office supplies and class materials.

Furthering their dedication to waste diversion, Perennial scheduled an energy audit for the building to identify wasted energy and detect opportunities for energy efficiency upgrades. Additionally, the organization proudly increased the capacity of their clothing swaps, diverting more useful textiles from toxic landfills, including 2,400 pounds that were collected in a single afternoon event. The clothing swaps are a great way to build a new wardrobe with the planet and air quality in mind, allowing individuals to bring in clothes they no longer want and take home new-to-you items from the swap as a greener, economical alternative.

Perennial’s educational initiatives included installing signage showing how to properly dispose of waste in the workshop and encouraging recycling and composting to minimize landfill disposal. Moreover, the organization published an online resource guide to help people reduce, reuse or repair items when possible, as well as presented on the circularity panel for the Missouri Recycling Association Conference.

For more information about Perennial and how your company can get involved in the St. Louis 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 the Clean Air Partnership’s website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair.