Sustainable Quality Award Winners
Presented in alphabetical order. Click on a letter below for a listing of winners.
SQA Grand Prize, 2009; Excellence in Stewardship of the Environment and Economic Development, 2008
Taxi! Taxi! is the largest, oldest, locally-owned and operated taxicab company in Santa Monica, serving the city's finest hotels, restaurants, businesses, residents and visitors for over eighteen years. In 2007, Taxi! Taxi! was the first cab company in LA County to debut Hybrid cabs and remains the leader in the LA market with the largest fleet, now 10 strong. Taxi! Taxi's Hybrids save over 700 tons of toxic GHGs from polluting our planet and over 60,000 gallons of gasoline annually. The brilliant and efficient paperless dispatching system saves close to one million pieces of paper annually. Taxi! Taxi! demonstrates its commitment to Santa Monica's Sustainable City Plan by maintaining local headquarters in Santa Monica, shopping locally, actively participating in community events, and supporting many local non-profits, namely its title charity the Westside Food Bank. Each Taxi! Taxi! employee is currently enrolled in University course(s) to improve skill sets which ultimately strengthens business operations. Employees also enjoy flex time schedules, health benefits, paid vacation, and work from home options when feasible.
Excellence in Social Responsibility and Stewardship of the Environment, 2022; Excellence in Stewardship of the Natural Environment, 2013
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Three Squares Inc. is an award-winning sustainability consulting firm and the first in the nation to achieve certification for hosting sustainable events. Working on all seven continents (including Antarctica), Three Squares is a global leader in developing and implementing sustainability plans for governments, corporations, investors, and industry groups. Three Squares carries a robust client roster and has worked with organizations who embrace sustainable practices, such as Nike, ESPN, Honda, Disney, and United Airlines. Three Squares is a certified as a small business, women-owned business, Green Business, and Carbon Neutral business. Their company name echoes the 3 pillars of sustainability; social, environmental, and economic. This small business is able to offer their employees competitive benefits. Three Squares employees enjoy flexible schedules and flexible PTO, giving the employees work-life balance. Employee training includes certificates for professional development, continuing education and profit-sharing. Three Squares Inc. supports several diverse and charitable initiatives that support their commitment to combating climate change.
SQA Grand Prize, 2013
Tiato & An Catering offers eco-chic dining, a retail market and catering services. They hire locally and procure sustainable goods. The company promotes employee wellness and professional development by providing tuition assistance, wellness discounts, team building and internal training opportunities. Tiato is located in a LEED certified building and is a Santa Monica Certified Green Business. The restaurant hosts biodynamic and organically grown wine tasting, recycles used kitchen oil into hand soap, and integrates environmental practices through training. Tiato partners with Carbonfund.org – by connecting tree planting with restaurant promotions.
Excellence Award, 2000; Excellence Award in Sustainable Economic Development and Social Responsibility, 2001
Trader Joe’s Store #6 opened its doors at 3215 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica in October 1998. Trader Joe’s provides a variety of premium foods and household products, including organic foods and a selection of environmentally friendly products such as personal care items and recycled paper products. Over 90% of shoppers come from Santa Monica or zip codes immediately adjacent, keeping local dollars in the local economy. The store attracts over 2000 customers per day and has generated spillover business for nearby enterprises on the Pico corridor. Trader Joe’s is an active participant in the Pico Improvement Organization, a business/resident organization working to resolve problems facing residents and businesses along Pico, and has taken a leading role in creating the Pico Boulevard Business Improvement District. The store donates food to the Second Harvest Food Bank and donates product and staff time to a variety of local events and charities. Employees receive competitive wages and benefits and work in an enjoyable team atmosphere. Visit Trader Joe’s Store #6 at 3215 Pico Boulevard. For more information contact Jim Stebbinger at 310 445-9062.
Grand Prize 2019
Tradesy, established in 2012, is an online peer-to-peer resale marketplace where women buy and sell luxury fashion from their closets. Headquartered in Santa Monica, female owned and operated, their mission is to create job opportunities for women by closing the recycling loop. Tradesy demonstrates a commitment to employees work-life balance through established policies around remote working, flexible schedules, providing training/ education, and being dog-friendly. All full-time employees own stock in the company. Allowing staff to volunteer each quarter to ‘give back’ is an expectation – not an option. Employees receive healthy catered zero waste lunches, and can participate in a “Thanks a latte” program for positive feedback. Leftover food is donated to the Westside Food Bank. In line with their business model of ‘reusing’ items, Tradesy's strong commitment to sustainability is lead by management. In the last year, the Tradesy Green Team, reduced water consumption by 22%, increased waste diversion by 30% after implementing composting, and performed lighting retrofits.
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