Sustainable Business awards.

• Author: Business, Utah

From finding unique ways to reduce waste and increase cycling to constructing beautiful buildings that are both energy efficient and functional, Utah businesses across the state are working daily to improve the local environment. Through these green business practices, these companies and individuals are taking big strides toward a more sustainable community. Join Utah Business as we celebrate more than a dozen Utah companies that work tirelessly to improve sustainability through our 2014 Sustainable Business Awards program.

Vicki Bennett Sustainability Director, Salt Lake City Corporation

Vicki Bennett has led Salt Lake City's award-winning Salt Lake City Green program for 13 years, spearheading initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and divert waste from the landfill. "What we are trying to achieve is the healthiest possible place to live," Bennett says. "That's what the breadth of sustainability is all about."

The scope of her work is reflected in the Sustainable Salt Lake Plan 2015, a plan that has been described as one of the most ambitious and broad-reaching sustainability agendas in the country. Some of the plan's "targets" include increasing the number of CNG fueling stations and electric-vehicle charging stations in the city, increasing renewable energy generation for city buildings, increasing the residential recycling rate to 50 percent, increasing on-road bikeways by 50 percent--and many, many more.

The Sustainable City Dashboard (dashboard.slcgov.com) provides details of the plan and its goals, and enables residents to track the city's progress toward meeting those goals. Going forward, Bennett says the city will focus on climate issues and adapting to the changes that are already happening.

Community outreach is a major component of her work. She says, "It's important to help people understand they are paying for the pollution they create," whether that's through health impacts, ecological degradation, or waste cleanup and storage.

Prior to joining the city, Bennett implemented environmental management systems for PacifiCorp and offered international environmental consulting for a variety of industries.

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Jonathan Johnson Chairman, Overstock.com

Jonathan Johnson has not only led Overstock.com to implement sustainable practices, but he has also played a major role in helping other businesses recognize the need for change and finding ways to reduce their environmental impacts.

In 2009, Overstock.com stepped up its efforts in recycling and eliminating e-waste. It also began to offset its carbon footprint by purchasing carbon credits. The company didn't leave its employees out of the effort: It began offering a stipend for employees who carpooled or used public or alternative forms of transportation. In 2011, Overstock held its first annual Bike to Work day--and Johnson agreed to match the farthest commute, up to 75 miles. He held true to his word and has repeated the offer every year since then. "People are encouraged to participate when they see executives really participating," he says.

Outside the office, Johnson chaired the Salt Lake Chamber Clean Air Task Force for four years, with his term recently coming to an end. While he was chair, the task force developed the Clear Air Champions designation for companies that implement best practices to reduce emissions. 'The task force also took over the annual Clear the Air Challenge from Salt Lake City, which lost its federal funding for the program. Johnson notes that participation in the challenge has grown each year--along with its impact. In 2014, the Clear the Air Challenge reduced CO2 emissions by 651 tons in one month.

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Maura Olivos Sustainability Coordinator and Ecologist, Alta Environmental Center

In her role at the Alta Environmental Center, Maura Olivos has become the face of Alta Ski Area's environmental efforts. Through her leadership, the ski area, which is situated on U.S. National Forest land that includes protected watershed, has stepped up its efforts to protect, maintain and restore the sensitive ecosystem it relies upon.

"We've really come leaps and bounds in the past five years in trying to improve our restoration efforts," says Olivos. "We really are committed to maintaining Alta as a natural resource, to maintaining the natural physical environment" so it can support a healthy watershed and diverse ecosystem.

Olivos says the Alta Environmental Center serves as a "guiding light" for the ski area as it works to mitigate its environmental impacts. It has also formed valuable partnerships with organizations such as Friends of Alta, Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, Hawk Watch and Tracy Aviary. Olivos, in concert with these partners, has helped develop annual stewardship programs and environmental tours, which enables the wider public to get involved with restoration efforts. Some of these annual programs include the Alta...