Main Street is the greenest street in Santa Monica and we’re working to make it greener!

Several Main Street businesses have “gone green” over the last few years; many of them have earned the city’s Sustainable Quality Award.  Many others offer green products (See The Green Life below).  A list of Green businesses is below.

Dave Lackman, owner of Library Alehouse and Chairman of the MSBIA in 2004 accepts the City of Santa Monica Sustainable Leadership Award for Outstanding Business Association, presented on Oct. 1, 2004.

Here is a summary of Green Businesses on Main Street, a north to south walking tour, provided by Sustainable Works, March 2009:

Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau
1920 Main Street, Suite B
Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau achieved Green Business Certification on January 23, 2007.
• Santa Monica Green Business Certified 2007-2009

Highlights of their green business practices include environmentally-preferred procurement, employee education and excellent ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ practices, and promoting alternative transportation. Accomplishments include:

• 2006 Sustainable Works Business Greening Program participant
• Reusing packaging materials, office supplies and durable kitchenware
• Participating in a comprehensive office-wide co-mingled recycling program for mixed paper, cans, plastic and glass.
• Posting prompts office-wide such as ‘Use Water Wisely’ and “Turn off Lights” to remind staff to be resource efficient
• Featuring superb use of natural day-lighting via built-in skylights and a secure area for staff bicycle storage
• Encouraging staff to rideshare and use public transportation. Asking staff perform local errands by foot
• Arranging walking tours with out of town visitors when feasible

The Doves 2000 Main Street

• 2009 Sustainable Works Business Greening Program participant
• Hair recycling via Matter of Trust. www.matteroftrust.org
• Hosting a benefit event on Earth Day 2009 for Heal the Bay
• Sustainable Quality Award 2009 supporter via gift bag donations

Green Building Resource Center 2218 Main Street
Hours: Wed, Fri, Sun 10AM-3PM Thurs 3PM-8-PM
A project of the City of Santa Monica and the non-profit Global Green USA, the Green Building Resource Center offers information about every aspect of green building. Some of the resources available include:
• Displays of environmentally friendly building materials
• Design advice for specific building projects
• Recent publications about green building and healthy homes
• Technical information for design and construction professionals
• Information about financial incentives and rebates for energy conserving appliance and water saving equipment
• A directory of local design and construction professionals with green building expertise
• Monthly educational workshops about green building topics

Euphoria Loves RAWvolution 2301 Main Street
Euphoria Loves RAWvolution is the first and only raw, organic, vegan market in the United States, selling raw dishes by the quarter pound. By requesting and requiring all of their vendors to stock certified organic alternatives and sustainable shipping materials, this small deli is an excellent example on how a small restaurant can positively impact and spread the sustainability movement. They are making a difference by:

• 2006 Sustainable Quality Award Excellence Winner
• 2005 Sustainable Works Business Greening Program participant
• Santa Monica Green Business Certified 2005-2007 (in process of 2009-2011GBC re-certification)
• Focusing on serving raw, organic food. Currently, about 95% of all foods are USDA certified organic and the remaining 5% are pesticide-free
• Demanding that vendors use biodegradable packing peanuts (corn-based) and durable shipping materials that Euphoria sends back for reuse
• Composting all organic waste i.e., food and plant leftovers etc., via City of Santa Monica Food Scraps program
• Using eco-friendly cleaning products
• Using only biodegradable to-go containers made from sugar cane fiber and corn
• Using natural daylight and ventilation instead of electric lights and HVAC system.
• During building renovations they required building contractors to separate scrap metal, then paid a company $20 to pick up and drop off for recycling. This act of environmental stewardship not only diverted 700 pounds of metal ending up in landfill but also saved them approximately $400 in ‘bulky item’ waste hauling fees
• Low-VOC paint, soy based paint stripper, and other green building materials

Urth Caffé 2327 Main Street
Established in 1989, Urth Caffé was the first exclusively organic coffee company in America. They are leaders in their industry; demonstrating that implementing sustainable practices lead to a successful business. Some of those practices are:

• 2005 Sustainable Quality Award Grand Prize Winner
• Only purchasing coffee from farms that pay workers a fair wage, grow organically and produce shade grown beans.
• Adopting a procurement policy that includes natural and/or certified organic teas and food items, unbleached recycled paper products and printing with soy inks.
• Installing an advanced solar system that exclusively powers their hot water heater and feeds back into the main power grid.
• Paying transportation costs for staff that commutes using public transportation.
• Paying above minimum wage, offering health insurance, vacation time and profit sharing, which allow them to boast an extremely low staff turnover.
• Urth Café was strategically built on an empty lot in the less developed part of Main Street, with aim to help strengthen the local business economy.

Bravo Pizza 2400 Main Street
Owner, Ernest Lepore owns 2 restaurants in Santa Monica (Bravo Pizza & Bravo Cucina on 3rd St Promenade). Both restaurants have participated in the Sustainable Works Business Greening Program. They implement many green business measures such as:

• 2004 Sustainable Quality Award Excellence Winner in Stewardship of Environment
• 2003 Sustainable Works Business Greening Program participant
• Recycling cans, plastic, glass and mixed paper.
• Replacing bleached napkins with unbleached recycled content napkins
• Using organic eggs in their dough and many organic toppings
• Featuring vegan pizzas i.e., vegetables only – no cheese
• Installing flow restrictors on all their kitchen faucets

Natural High Lifestyle 2400 Main Street
In making its soft and comfortable apparel and accessories, Natural High Lifestyle uses renewable resources including bamboo, hemp, Tencel, organic cotton and vegetal leather.

ZJ Boardinghouse 2619 Main Street
ZJ Boardinghouse sells surf, snow and skate equipment. Accomplishments include:

• 2003 Sustainable Quality Award Excellence Winner
• 2002 Sustainable Works Business Greening Program participant
• Supplying surf, snow, skate equipment and features environmentally-friendly organic fibers and non-toxic materials in their product lines
• Adopting an assertive eco-friendly procurement policy
• Performing energy-saving retrofits resulting in a reduction of 45% energy usage
• 50% of ZJ’s staff is local and either bikes or skateboards to work
• Requesting whole-sellers stop including excessive packaging with their deliveries
• Reuse plastic coat hangers by returning to manufacturer or donating to local stores
• Using a citrus based cleaning solvent on their surf boards

Bubble Beach Laundromat 2633 Main Street
This innovative laundromat has received Excellence awards for Stewardship of the Environment and Sustainable Economic development. Highlights include ‘Wash & Walk Service’ where customers start their washes and Bubble Beach does the drying and folding; this innovate service supports the local economy by allowing time to shop on Main Street. They are also ahead of the game for selling ‘eco-friendly detergents –even in bulk!

• 2005 Sustainable Quality Award Excellence Winner
• 2004 Sustainable Works Business Greening Program participant
• Boiler set on a timer so it does not run throughout the night to save energy.
• Setting water temperature to the most efficient setting, 120 degrees, instead of the conventional setting of 140 degrees.
• Keeping a regular maintenance schedule for the boiler and dryers to maintain efficiency.
• Setting washers for 2 complete thorough rinse cycles instead of 3, as advised by the manufacturer.
• Using recycled paper office wide including laundry order forms.
• Donating unclaimed clothing to local Good Will Industries.

Seashore Motel 2637 Main Street
Seashore Motel is a family-run motel business on Main Street.
Accomplishments include:

• 2003 Sustainable Quality Award Honorable Mention
• 2002 Sustainable Works Business Greening Program participant
• Implementing a “We Care” program asking guests to place items on the floor when they require laundering
• Using an eco-friendly laundry detergent
• Purchasing front-loading energy efficient washing machines
• Recycling everything from paper to batteries
• Performing a lighting retrofit to save energy i.e., installed sodium lights & CFLs
• Donating old bed sheets and other materials to local schools

The Victorian 2640 Main Street
The Victorian features a café for breakfast and lunch. They also host special events, such as weddings, and provide handmade baked goods for sale at the Main Street Farmers Market on Sundays. They implement many eco-friendly practices such as:

• Serving certified organic coffee in the café
• Recycling programs for mixed paper, cardboard, cans, plastic and glass
• At the farmer’s market, they use biodegradable to-go items such as paper plates and cups. Even their utensils are made from potato starch!
• Phasing in Xeriscape i.e., replacing annuals/ perennials with native drought resistant plants. Rosemary, lavender
• Environmental purchasing policies give preference to recycled content office supplies.
• Installed 3 waterless urinals! Yup – no flushing required!
• Dual flush toilet installed allowing full flush (1.6 gallons) or half flush (0.8 gallons)

Groundwork 2908 Main Street

• 2009 Sustainable Works Business Greening Program participant
• Sustainable Quality Award 2009 supporter via gift bag donations

Library Ale House 2911 Main Street
The Library Ale House is a Main Street restaurant and bar specializing in microbrews from around the world. Library Alehouse is a sponsor of many local community programs. Accomplishments include:

• 2003 Sustainable Quality Award Excellence Winner
• 2001 Sustainable Works Business Greening Program pilot participant
• Santa Monica Green Business Certified 2005-2007
• Featuring certified organic ingredients in their menu and compost kitchen waste
• Giving away Library Alehouse $5 wooden coins for marketing. The coins are reusable, cost little to produce and have gained popularity throughout the community
• Offering ESL classes to non-native English speaking employees
• Incorporating organic ingredients in their menu
• Implementing extensive recycling of cans, plastic, glass and, mixed paper
• 90% of the wood used throughout construction is certified sustainably harvested
• Purchase to-go containers made from alternative biodegradable materials such as sugar cane stalk (normally a waste product after harvesting) and corn

Aura Shop 2914 Main Street
Aura Shop is a resource center for self-awareness and self-empowerment, providing tools and services to balance physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy. Upon recent energy conservation retrofits, they immediately saw their energy bill go down $100 on their next bill and continue to see consistent savings each month! Some of the steps they have taken are:

• Santa Monica Green Business Certified 2008-2010
• 2007 Sustainable Works Business Greening Program participant
• Purchasing recycled office and janitorial products such as 100% post-consumer content: recycled paper towels, unbleached paper bags for store purchases and printing paper
• Participating in the Energy Coalition Free Tune-up program and replacing 20 incandescent high-wattage flood lights with more efficient compact fluorescent alternatives
• Installing a motion sensor on the storage room light

The Bey’s Garden 2919 Main Street
The Bey’s Garden is committed to environmentally responsible business practices in all aspects of the spa. They implement excellent environmental stewardship in their purchasing practices. Achievements include:

• Santa Monica Green Business Certified 2008-2010
• Stocking bamboo towels and robes
• Purchasing post-consumer content recycled paper and floor carpeting, as well as sheets made from recycled polyester microfiber (plastic bottles)
• Using natural antiseptics, organic essential oils and also carry a line of non-toxic polish for nail care
• Integrating recycled lumber and zero VOC paint during building renovations
• Offering gift boxes with recycled tissue paper and a note enclosed reminding customers to reuse and / or recycle the materials

Patagonia 2936 Main Street
Patagonia has been located in Santa Monica since 1997, and is part of a $250 million international company that designs and distributes outdoor clothing. Their definition of quality includes working with processes that cause the least harm to the environment, as they rely on the availability of abundant natural landscape in order to sell ‘outdoor’ clothing. Some of the steps they have taken are:

• 2006 Sustainable Quality Award Excellence Winner
• Santa Monica Green Business Certified pilot participant 2005-2007
• Making all Patagonia cotton attire from organic cotton
• Collecting worn-out garments from customers and recycle them into polyester (PET) used to make new filament yarns. This process uses far less energy in manufacturing and reduces the production of related greenhouse gases.
• Becoming the first California Company to buy 100% of its electricity from renewable sources.
• Becoming the first outdoor clothing manufacturer to introduce a fleece clothing line made from post-consumer recycled plastic soda bottles.
• Patagonia Inc. has awarded over 18 million dollars in grants to various environmental groups nation-wide via their Patagonia Environmental Grants Program, which donates 1% of company sales.

One Life Natural Foods 3001 Main Street
Established 25 years ago as a commune, One Life Natural Foods is a cozy, earthy store catering to the discriminate, health-conscious consumer. The store features an exclusive Herb section, Juice Bar, Deli, Organic Produce, and a variety of Vitamins and Cosmetics. Folks are invited to come by and see what a unique store One Life is.

Gladstein, Neandross & Associates LLC
3015 Main Street, Suite 300
GNA works throughout western USA in efforts to develop and implement transportation and energy strategies with aim to reduce emissions and the use of conventional petroleum fuels. They are pioneers in their industry for encouraging alternative fuel fleets, sustainable development, and renewable energy programs. Accomplishments include:

• Santa Monica Green Business Certified 2005-2007
• 2005 Sustainable Works Business Greening Program participant
• Purchasing eco-friendly products including recycled office products, furniture and non-toxic cleaners from local ‘green’ grocers
• Printing company letterhead paper on recycled paper with soy-based inks

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The Green Life (2409 Main) is an eco-friendly lifestyle store focuses on a wide variety of green products for the home and body.They support sustainability through the following business practices:

-Only “green” products are sold in the store
-All business materials (bags, business cards, etc.) are 100% recycled
-Reuses all shipping and packaging materials from vendors for shipments to customers
-Donates 1% off total sales to local environmental charities
-Paper-free business
-Offers green living workshops in-store through a partnership with Santa Monica based non-profit, Sustainable Works
-Uses natural ventilation instead of an air-conditioning system
-Purchases from local vendors whenever possible
-No-VOC paint and sustainable building materials are used in any remodelling or store maintenance
-The Green Life’s goal is to be a carbon neutral and zero-waste business