On Sept. 17, 2025, the Business Environmental Resource Center (BERC), a division of the Sacramento County Office of Economic Development, in partnership with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) hosted the 19th Annual Sustainable Business Awards and Resource Expo honoring eight local businesses for their leadership in environmental sustainability.
The awards program, part of Sacramento County’s Sustainable Business Program, recognizes businesses and organizations whose practices set the standard for eco-friendly innovation and community impact. This year’s event brought together over 120 business leaders, sustainability advocates, local elected officials, environmental regulatory agencies and community stakeholders to celebrate achievements that advance environmental responsibility across all five County supervisorial districts.
2025 Sustainable Business Award Categories and Recipients
- Air Quality – SAVA Charter (District 1)
- Energy Conservation – Simply Recycle (Districts 3 & 4)
- Green Design – CEAR (District 5)
- Pollution Prevention – Sacramento Laundry Co. (District 1)
- SMUD Clean Power City: Carbon Free Transportation – Bridgeway Towers (District 1)
- SMUD Clean Power City: Sustainable Building – Lil Joe's (District 1)
- Solid Waste Reduction – KC Kombucha (District 3)
- Water Conservation – Mother Natives (District 2)
The event also featured a Resource Expo, with 12 exhibitors showcasing practical solutions and support in areas such as green technology and renewable energy innovations, waste reduction and recycling strategies, water conservation tools, and funding and incentive programs for sustainable operations. Attendees had the opportunity to connect directly with experts, explore emerging technologies and learn how businesses of all sizes can strengthen their sustainability practices.
“Businesses that embrace sustainability are also positioning themselves for long-term success. By reducing costs, conserving resources and tapping into clean energy opportunities, these leaders are proving that smart environmental choices fuel economic competitiveness,” said Crystal Bethke, Director of Economic Development for Sacramento County. “We are proud to celebrate them as models for where business growth is headed in our region.”
Since 1993, BERC has served as Sacramento County’s one-stop resource for businesses on environmental compliance and sustainability, providing free assistance to help businesses navigate complex regulations and adopt best practices.
Beyond compliance, BERC actively promotes efficiency and innovation, helping businesses reduce waste, prevent pollution, conserve energy and access programs that improve both environmental performance and economic competitiveness.
Through its Sustainable Business Program, BERC has certified more than 800 businesses and honored over 200 award recipients, making it the region’s benchmark for sustainable business practices.
To learn more, visit BERC’s Sustainable Business Program webpage.