Proudly serving the Midwest, Focal Pointe is a people-first landscaping organization that prides itself on honesty, integrity and service to its partners. Founded in 1997 and now more than 500 employees strong, the company’s innovations and collaborations across Missouri, Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma have earned it Champion Level status in the 2025 St. Louis Green Business Challenge.
Community partnerships were a highlight of Focal Pointe’s Challenge year. Through the Broken Bat program with the St. Louis Cardinals, the company planted 35 trees at local parks and schools, one for every bat broken by a batter during the 2025 season. Focal Pointe also teamed up with Operation Food Search and Liberty Apple Orchard to glean a record 2,726 pounds of apples for local food pantries. Gleaning gathers produce after the general harvest, minimizing waste so more of it can be shared.
“I think the Green Business Challenge reflects my philosophy on sustainable success, which makes it hard to measure and shine a bright light on,” said John E. Munie, President of Focal Pointe. “Success, and green initiatives, aren’t one-off shiny events to highlight for a moment. Rather, any sustainable, lasting progress is the result of repetitive, incremental improvements. For that reason, I’m very proud of the Focal Pointe team for humbly staying the course, not because of the recognition; because of the Purpose we have built within Focal Pointe. Our team aspires to help the world celebrate the harmony between people and nature, and I couldn’t be more proud!”
The team also showed up for neighbors after the May 16, 2025 tornado. Along with helping with aid and cleanup directly after the disaster, they raised money to purchase more than 9,000 items for shelters in the impacted area. The items included canned meat, beans, veggies, fruit, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, protein bars, applesauce, bottled water, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant and disinfecting wipes.
On the ground, Focal Pointe installed more than 28,00 plants in 2025, half of them native, representing 150 different native species. The company also installed green infrastructure that supports healthier ecosystems and smarter water use, including 81,838 ft² of bioretention, 2,400 ft² of rain gardens, 4,600 ft² of nature play, 2,155 ft² of green roof, 2,200 ft² of permeable pavers and 5,280 ft² of educational gardens.
Focal Pointe furthered its accomplishments by continuing to steward more than 30 acres of reclaimed urban land into reconstructed prairie. It also converted 113 irrigation clocks to Weathermatic smart controllers, with an estimated 20% water savings for local businesses.
In recognition of these partnerships, Focal Pointe was named co-winner, alongside the St. Louis Cardinals, of the 2025 Green Jean Ponzi Collaborative Impact Award. The award honors businesses that join forces on collaborative initiatives that go beyond normal green operations.
Learn more about Focal Pointe and the St. Louis Green Business Challenge by subscribing to the bi-monthly E-Newsletter or visit stlouisgreenchallenge.com. To learn how sustainability connects to air quality, visit our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X @gatewaycleanair.
