Sustainability resources curated for and by Washington small businesses, from packaging to assessments to second-life material sourcing.
Environmental sustainability is one of the founding principles of Seattle Good Business Network’s mission. We work to support businesses and local communities get access to technical assistance through EnviroStars and facilitate circular economy initiatives that are collaboratively designed to strengthen Seattle’s transition from a linear, extractive economy to a more regenerative one through waste prevention, reuse, and repair strategies.
Featured Resource
EnviroStars is a one-stop shop for Washington businesses to access sustainability assistance and gain recognition for being green. Through the program, businesses can receive free technical assistance, connect with rebates and resources, and follow a clear path to sustainability.
Assessments & Education
EnviroStars – A free, one-stop hub for Washington businesses to get information, help, and recognition for actions that protect their workplace, the community, and the planet. Through EnviroStars, businesses are offered free resources and technical assistance to be able to adopt sustainable business practices more easily.
- EnviroStars offers a free climate calculator that takes your industry, business volume, and geography into account. The tool can be found in the “Reports” section of your EnviroStars portal. Get started here.
Impacti – Impacti compiles leading research & practices on net zero across the development sector and transforms them into technology solutions that accelerate progress for all. Set goal and measure success through Carbon Accounting, SDG Impact Reporting & Communications, and Gender & DEI Initiatives.
B Corp certification is the only certification that measures a company’s entire social and environmental performance. From your supply chain and input materials to your charitable giving and employee benefits, B Corp Certification proves your business is meeting the highest standards of verified performance.
• The B Impact Assessment evaluates how your company’s operations and business model impact your workers, community, environment, and customers.
Ecograder allows you to assess what your website’s carbon footprint look like? Find out for free with EcoGrader! Learn how you can reduce your website’s carbon footprint through a free, or discounted consultation.
Carbonalyser is a browser extension that allows users to visualize the electricity consumption and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions that your Internet browsing leads to.
Rheaply Materials Marketplace – Buy and sell recovered building materials and furnishings. In their paid features, businesses can access analytics to support emissions-reduction and waste diversion data associated with their marketplace use.
Saving Water Partnership – An organization comprised of 19 water utilities in King and Snohomish counties. They offer tips, tools, and rebates to help businesses and homeowners reduce their water use. If you are looking to get ahead of potential damages & reduce your utility bill, sign up for an assessment here!
Water
Seattle Public Utilities’ Water Footprint Request form – Puts you in contact with an EnviroStars representative to help better understand your water footprint.
RainWise – If your business or home is in a targeted sewer overflow basin, you may be eligible for rebates to hire a trained RainWise contractor to install a rain garden or cistern. See if your property is eligible, find a contractor, and apply at RainWise Rebates.
King County Voucher Incentive Program (VIP) – The Voucher Incentive Program (VIP) pays 75% reimbursement up to a maximum of $599 per site to King County businesses that qualify as small quantity generators (SQGs) of hazardous waste for improving the way they manage their hazardous materials.
Waste
King County’s Solid Waste Division – Lets you search and find out where to dispose of any material. Here you can find how to dispose oils, grease, appliances, batteries, furniture, you name it!
BottleStore What & How to Recycle – A general but comprehensive overview of recycling tips and junk prevention, ranging from food waste to paper to household toxics. This is a national-level guide, please reference county-specific rules for specific material recycling questions.
Green Business Waste Audit Tool – This SPU tool helps you assess your business’ waste practices by guiding you through the steps, from audit to action, needed to reduce waste and increase recycling.
Six Steps to Saving Money and Reducing Waste (PDF) – This guide, assembled by SPU and Resource Ventures, walks your through six steps that help your business and the environment.
EnviroStars Sustainability Kits – Order free waste signage, spills kits, water conservation kits, and pollution prevention kits courtesy of Seattle Public Utilities.
Reuse Seattle Rebate – Apply for incentives to move your business from single-use to reuse. The rebate can be valued to up to $500.
See what is compostable at your business – Seattle Public Utilities’ official list of what is commercially compostable. Flyers available in 14 languages.
With a mission to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a global thought leader, establishing the circular economy on the agenda of decision makers across business, government, and academia. With the support of its Core Philanthropic Partners SUN, MAVA, People’s Postcode Lottery, and The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation and Knowledge Partners Arup, Dragon Rouge Ltd, IDEO, and SYSTEMIQ the Foundation’s work focuses on six interlinking areas:
- Learning – Developing the vision, skills and mindsets needed to transition to a circular economy
- Business – Catalysing circular innovation and creating the conditions for it to reach scale
- Institutions, Governments, and Cities – Creating the enabling conditions for a circular economy to thrive
- Insight & Analysis – Providing robust evidence about the benefits and implications of the transition
- Systemic Initiatives – Transforming key material flows to scale the circular economy globally
- Communications – Engaging a global audience around the circular economy
The Circular Economy Learning Hub – Dive into an intro on what, how, why, and more about the circular economy
Why and How to get started on circularity – The Circular Guide
Measure your circularity – Circulytics (Companies must apply to be able to submit their qualitative and quantitative data. The insights generated in this scorecard help companies identify opportunities to design out waste, keep materials and products in use, and generate environmental benefits.)
ResCom Platform (Resource Conservative Manufacturing) – a collaborative decision-support platform based on product lifecycle management and material information management software modules. Tools include but are not limited to: Ideation, Workshops, Assessments, IT, Games)
Toolkit for policymakers – a step-by-step methodology and demonstrates its application through a case study in Denmark. The circular economy offers business leaders and governments a clear opportunity for long-term growth that is less dependent on cheap materials and energy, and which can restore and regenerate natural capital.
Circular Economy General Resources – an interactive Kumu Map
Schools and Colleges resources – a series of lesson plans provide a good introduction to the circular economy, and can be taught in sequence or as stand-alone lessons.
ASBN, formerly the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), believes in the power of business to build a better world and a truly sustainable economy.
Sign up to join here!
Seattle Good Business Network members (Seattle Made, Northwest Sewn, Seattle Good, and other partners) can receive a 20% discount on their first year of membership. Contact Seattle Good Business Network to get your code and then sign up with ASBN to get exclusive benefits starting at:
- 10+ exclusive webinars every year
- Access to online skills training workshops
- In-person events in numerous states
- Share your news and events in our monthly Policy Update
- Discounted pass to the Annual Conference
SERVICES & PROGRAMS
Green Cleaning Seattle – An eco friendly cleaning company which uses only biodegradable products. They have office and commercial cleaning services available.
Ridwell – Takes your hard-to-recycle stuff and makes sure it goes to a good home, be that a domestic recycling facility or a local nonprofit. Offering pick up service.
Fleet Electrification Program (Seattle City Light) – From fleet advisory services to charging solutions, this team offers free, expert guidance at every step on your journey to electrification. You can save up to 50% of the costs for eligible charging infrastructure.
Blue Daisi Consulting offers guidance for small businesses that want to work towards zero waste and implement more sustainable business practices
Cascadia Consulting helps businesses become more environmentally friendly in many areas, including land use, recycling practices, and resource conservation.
Sustainable Business Consulting offers strategic business assessment, resiliency planning, sustainability strategy consulting, brand enhancement, and more!
GreenBlue – A nonprofit dedicated to advancing sustainable use of materials. With online resources, consulting services, and studies available. Partner of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
Mind Over Markets is a marketing consulting service that works with your sustainable business to create clear and simple messages.
Commute Seattle is a nonprofit Transportation Management Association that provides free services and technical assistance to help businesses develop commuter benefits program to support the use of sustainable commuting habits, and provide a roadmap to flexible, affordable commuting options. If you’d like to set up a free consultation, please contact Nick Abel at: moc.elttaesetummoc@akcin, or 206-613-3233.
Coming soon!
See “Building & Furniture” for second-life building materials.
King County Metro offers ORCA Business Programs, allowing employers to offer transit benefits through their various option packages.
Commute Seattle is a local nonprofit partnership that works with private and public partners to educate about transportation policy and trends. They offer free consultations for business owners about commuter benefits and the different ORCA programs.
Alternative Eco-Friendly Packaging, printing, and more!
Modern Species – A local sustainable packaging design studio that helps small brands take the leap from regional to national success & also support in-house teams with brand-savvy, sustainable design.
Studio Wild– A graphic design studio with services including brand design, workshops, and printed materials.
Girlie Press– Woman owned business in Seattle that does all types of printing, from CD packaging to scented envelopes. (Ask about their Conservation Cover paper that uses 100% recycled content!)
United Print. Signs. Graphics – an eco-conscious, locally-owned business and commercial print industry resource.
Elevate Packaging offers bags, pouches, and labels, and more; a complete one-stop compostable packaging solution for sustainable business.
Good Start Packaging provides compostable food packaging made from renewable plant based materials like corn, wheat, fiber, and sugarcane.
Futamura has a long list of products, from sustainable cellulose to activated carbon products. This international group has centers in Asia, Europe, and the States.
Shred the World takes the packaging from their sister company, Tuft the World, and shreds it to upcycle shipping waste so it can have another life.
Bee’s Wrap is a plastic wrap alternative produced by a certified B corp headquartered in Vermont. Various sizes are available, starting at 7″ by 8″ and all the way to 14″ by 52″.
Mightynest has a search engine to shop sustainable products, most notably for kitchen and cleaning uses. Subscriptions for monthly boxes and discounts are available.
TekPak Solutions produces “Omnidegradable” packaging: biodegradable packaging that doesn’t degrade on the shelf. Offering both stock and custom packaging options.
Clearbags offers a variety of eco-friendly bags, both clear and opaque. Their signature transparent bags are as high clarity as any traditional plastic bag you can find.
ePac Flexible Packaging has been built to create custom packaging for small to medium businesses with a quick turnaround time. Featuring many sustainable options and digital based printing platform, ePac can help your business as a cost effective sustainable packaging option.
Tricorbraun has many different packaging options for different industries, from sanitization to agriculture. Their Biotrē packaging line offers an array of pouches and bags to hold your products, and is 60% compostable.
EcoEnclose offers eco friendly packaging options, product protection wrap, and custom boxes made from 100 % recycled content to support packaging and shipping needs.
Better Packing Co. is a carbon neutral B Corp offering recycled plastic and compostable bags. Their product line ranges from garment bags, labels, ziplock bags, envelopes, pallet wrap and more.
Boox was recommended to us by a Seattle Made member dedicated to zero-waste. This packaging company offers customizable packaging using minimal product (not even shipping tape!) and offers a takeback program that they coordinate with your customers. This reusable packaging is cost-competitive with standard single-use cardboard boxes.
Nissha Metallized Labels- Metallized labels are a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastic coated labeling. Their metalized paper can also help your packaging pop out.
Online Labels- A marketplace of 100% post consumer waste white labels among other label material types. No minimum order.
Lightning Labels- Offering a variety of eco-friendly labels made from post consumer waste, recycled vellum, and stone.
Sunshine POS- Retailers of receipt equipment and supplies. Offering custom printed preprinted rolls and BPA free printed thermal receipt paper rolls.
POS Supply – A wide array of point of sale equipment and supplies, including digital displays, software, and many printing brands. They carry many types of eco-friendly printer rolls, available here.
Sendle is the first 100% Carbon-neutral shipping service, complete with compostable mailers. Sendle has competitive pricing, is a certified B Corp, and is great for small and medium businesses – Sign up for an account through this link to access premium rates.
Evergreen Packaging offers cartons, paperboard, paper, and other sustainably-sourced fiber products. They also offer equipment & parts services.
EcoEnclose offers mailers, boxes, tape, bags, packing tissue, and plenty more, all clearly noted as compostable, recyclable, upcycled, or biodegradable. They even offer free sample kits.
AllPak Container has boxes, palettes, pop displays, totes, customizable items, and much more. A tier 3 champion level EnviroStars and Renton based company.
Trojan Litho offers performance consumer packaging, with Forestry Stewardship Council products available. Renton based company used worldwide.
Biomass Packaging has bags, office & shipping supplies, cleaning & janitorial supplies, food & table service, and custom printed items, all made from plant based materials.
Naturbag produces high performance compostable and biodegradable alternatives to traditional plastics, including bag liners and cutlery. They are committed to a sustainable and circular future.
BioBags focuses on producing bags and films that can be composted in municipal facilities alongside typical organic waste. BioBags is on a mission to keep food scraps out of the landfill.
Ridwell collects your hard-to-recycle items from your front door and we make sure it gets sustainably reused or recycled. You know your stuff stays out of the landfill.
FoodBiz Supply is an online marketplace for compostable and biodegradable products for food-related businesses, from catering to bakery.
EcoProducts produces disposable sustainable products, such as plates, utensils, containers, bags, and liners. They also provide services, such as life cycle analysis reports, marketing, and zero waste consulting.
Durable Dish is a service of Human Eco Consulting, LLC. Human Eco’s services focus on waste reduction strategy for corporations and cities. Dishes that are unsold in the Deerborn, Seattle Goodwill store are given a second life instead of being sent to the landfill.
Impact Bioenergy (Seattle Based) creates portable bioenergy systems that take in food waste and put out energy and compost. Contact them to see if they can help your business.
Food service
EnviroStars for Restaurants – Get free sustainability support and get connected with rebates while you use this tool for sustainability resources.
Plastic Free Restaurants – A nonprofit eliminating petroleum-based, single-use plastic from restaurants and schools by subsidizing the purchase of reusable replacements.
Reuse Seattle – Make the switch from single-use to reusables with help from the City of Seattle with rebates, education, and more.
Current Requirements
The City of Seattle requires food service businesses to use food service packaging and service ware—items such as containers, cups, straws, utensils, and other products—that is either reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Single-use items that are not accepted in Seattle’s recycling and composting programs are not allowed. Single-use items used for on-premise food service must be compostable. These requirements apply to all food service businesses, including restaurants, grocery stores, delis, coffee shops, food trucks, and institutional cafeterias.
The Plastic Product Degradability Law sets marketing claim standards for compostable products sold in Washington State. See statewide compostable labeling requirements here. Highlighted requirements include:
- “Biodegradable” or “decompostable” labels will be prohibited, as these products cannot be composted and generate confusion among product users.
- White compostable cutlery no longer acceptable, as to prevent confusion between compostable and non-compostable cutlery.
- Compostable cutlery without recently approved marks must be green, beige or brown.
Resources
- Seattle Food Service Business Guidance (Do & Don’ts, Signage, Banned Items)
- Compostables:
Have a compostables provider that you would like to see on this list? Contact gro.doogelttaes@yendys
Beyond Disposables
- Reuse Seattle – Make the switch from single-use to reusables with help from the City of Seattle with rebates, education, and more. Businesses can find reusables suppliers using the service provider directory.
The Good Food Exchange (GFX) connects local food businesses and food security organizations with good food collected from retail rejections.
GFX aims to break down current silos in the food value chain and provide equitable access to low-cost products for food businesses and food security organizations.
To achieve this goal, GFX promotes procurement of rejected or otherwise unclaimed food through a dynamic online marketplace, keeping good food out of landfills and building a community dedicated to eliminating food waste.
BUILDINGS & FURNITURE
All for Reuse – A reuse ecosystem map built to connect the dots across the design and construction industry towards an inclusive circular economy.
ReCaptureIt – An online marketplace of recovered building materials and furnishings. Find physical storefronts that offer second-life materials through their featured seller stores.
Rheaply Materials Marketplace – Buy and sell recovered building materials and furnishings. In their paid features, businesses can access analytics to support emissions-reduction and waste diversion data associated with their marketplace use.
Furniture Repair Bank – This SODO based furniture repair nonprofit donates refurbished furnishings to families in need across Seattle. Furniture and funds can be donated to support the effort and volunteer groups or individuals can join in the refurbishment process.
Help Support Our Mission
By supporting Seattle Good Business Network, you help support our work to build a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive local economy, and to help our local businesses when they need it the most. Learn about all the work we do here.
