VIRGINIA BEACH — A new program rolled out recently by Lynnhaven River Now is aimed at helping local businesses find the double bottom line of what’s good for their business and also good for the environment.
Last week the first group of businesses to complete the Pearl Business Program was recognized at the Brock Environmental Center.
“The first cohort of businesses worked with Lynnhaven River Now to shape the Pearl Business program while working to identify areas they could incorporate sustainable practices within their business structure and culture,” said Helen Kuhns, Pearl Programs coordinator. “Starting early in 2017, we began meeting with these businesses regularly as a group and individually to develop a plan for their company, while also working to shape an impactful and actionable Pearl Business program.”
Recognized in this first group of “green businesses” were: Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E., Great Outdoor Provision Company at Hilltop East, Kerr Environmental Services Corp., L.L. Bean at Lynnhaven Mall, Matt Abbott State Farms Insurance, MSA, P.C., the Runnymede Corporation, and Westminster Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay.
The Pearl Business Program is the newest of Lynnhaven River Now’s offerings. Kuhns said the program works with various segments of the Virginia Beach community to encourage practices that improve water quality and sustainability through education and action.
The Pearl Business Award is a point-based award available to businesses that enroll in the Pearl Business Program and have achieved a certain level by incorporating sustainable, “green” values, actions, and projects into their day-to-day business operations.
The program takes a look at a business’ operations and determines where it can improve in a variety of areas, including water conservation, habitat improvement, energy efficiency, recycling and reuse, and sustainable purchasing.
Once a business has achieved a certain level of green accountability, it can be recognized as a Pearl Business.
“Each business starts at a different level. Most businesses already have some practices or programs in place that will help them to achieve the award. Many of these same sustainable practices also save businesses money and time,” Kuhns said.
She works with each individual business to identify reasonable and actionable areas where the business can make changes to operate in a more sustainable manner.
Since every business is different, the path they must complete to receive an award varies.
For example, some of the efforts included in this first cohort were:
- Westminster Canterbury is removing straws from the “independent living” segment of its food service;
- Kerr Environmental Services implemented a staff-inspired recycling program that allows them to recycle plotter paper, large plans and any of the paper produced in the office;
- Matt Abbott State Farm is a paperless office;
- Runneymede is converting landscaping in a local office park to native plants and native cultivars;
- MSA, P.C. staff helped to build a new gazebo at the 64th Street boat ramp with Lynnhaven River Now as part of a water quality improvement project at First Landing State Park;
- L.L. Bean at Lynnhaven implemented a storewide recycling program;
- Great Outdoor Provision Company staff and families attend regular waterway cleanups and are designated as a “one percent for the planet” organization;
- Edgar Casey’s A.R.E. has been renovating its older buildings and has embraced sustainable features such as lighter paint to enhance light reflection and buying HVAC and appliances that meet energy saving standards.
‘Every action counts’
Lynnhaven River Now regularly posts tips on how businesses can be more sustainable on their website and Facebook page.
Kuhns said the Pearl Business Program also has a reciprocal agreement with Virginia Green, a program that recognizes sustainable businesses in the travel and hospitality industry in the state.
Virginia Beach businesses that are a “fully certified” Green Travel Partner through the Virginia Green program may apply to be recognized as a Pearl Business, without having to go through the whole certification process.
She said impacts on the local environment are often caused by small, seemingly inconsequential actions, which are amplified by the number of agencies or businesses making them.
“They’re multiplied by the number of schools, faith communities, businesses and individuals we have in our community can compound to larger, more serious impacts,” Kuhns said. “Every action counts.”
