Sustainable Business Certification

2020-10-PW-GreenLeafOutline1.pngBecome a Certified Sustainable Business Today!

Do you want to join a growing network of sustainable businesses in Culver City who demonstrate environmental stewardshipcommunity engagement, and social responsibility?

REGISTER

Group at Culver City Sustainable Business Certification Awards Ceremony 09-12-2023, Justin Han Photography
Photograph of Mayor Daniel Lee and representatives from Schmidli Backdrops receiving Sustainable Business Certificate at event June 2022
Mayor Thomas Aujero Small celebrating with Envoy, 2018
Council Member Alex Fisch presenting Sustainable Certificate to Rainbow Acres, 2018
Mayor Albert Vera with All That & More Boutique at Culver City Sustainable Business Certification Awards Ceremony 09-12-2023, Justin Han Photography
Vice Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells with Michael Harriel from So Cal Gas and Shea Cunningham from Balanced Approach, 2018
  

Why Certify?

  • Save money on energy, water, and waste bills
  • Receive rebates valued at up to $1,000* for improvements associated with achieving certification
  • Receive public recognition 
  • Use Culver City’s “Certified” sustainable logo for marketing to attract customers who appreciate green businesses
  • Improve employee well-being and productivity
  • Engage with a growing community of local sustainable businesses
  • Help Culver City achieve its goals to reduce climate change impacts
  • Prevent pollution, reduce waste, lower resource consumption, and improve the environment for the benefit of all

There are two certification tiers: Certification & Certified Innovator. Ask your sustainability expert for more information.

*In recognition that a more resilient and sustainable community is diverse, equitable, and inclusive (DEI), the Program is stepping up its efforts to seek out Black, Hispanic/Latinx, LGBTQ, and/or Certified Minority-Owned businesses to participate and receive a rebate up to $1,000 upon achieving the core criteria. All other businesses can receive up to $500.

What Are Certification Benefits?

As a certified business you will:

  • Receive a "certified" seal and framed certificate for you to display at your business
  • Receive a digital "certified" logo to display on your website and include in social media and print materials
  • Gain membership in the California Green Business Network, a statewide searchable registry of certified sustainable businesses
  • Receive local recognition on the City's website and at the annual awards ceremony event
  • Receive recognition and a City Council Commendation at a City Council meeting

Certification is valid for 3 years. You will be notified when it is time to renew.

Are You Eligible?

  • Is your business type in the office, retail, school, theatre, or food service sectors?
  • Do you have a current Culver City Business License?
  • Do you employ 2 or more employees?
  • Have you been in operation for at least 6 months?
  • Are you in compliance with all city and county regulations and permits and not involved in a legal action involving the City?

If you answered YES, then YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY!

We Will Assist You To Get Certified!

Sustainability experts will provide step-by-step guidance throughout the certification process.

Experts will:

  • Perform a comprehensive on-site assessment 
  • Prepare a customized action plan based on the assessment
  • Provide access to free or low costs energy and water saving tools and resources
If you are one of the first 10 businesses to apply each year,
then enrollment is FREE!

PREPARE

GET CERTIFIED

Follow these steps to get certified:
(The entire process usually takes between 3 to 6 months)

Step 1.Register on the California Green Business Network website

(Registration takes just a few minutes)

REGISTER

Step 2.A sustainability expert will contact you to review the certification process

 

Step 3.A sustainability expert will visit your business and complete an assessment

 

Step 4.A sustainability expert will prepare a customized action plan for your business based on the assessment

 

Step 5.A sustainability expert will provide hands-on assistance and recommend resources to implement the measures in the action plan

 

Step 6.A sustainability expert will verify measures from the action plan have been implemented

 

Step 7.We will issue the certification, promote, and celebrate your success!

JOIN THESE BUSINESSES

Join these Culver City Businesses in achieving Sustainable Certification:

*Certified Innovator

  • Actors’ Gang, Inc*
  • Akasha (recertified in 2023)
  • A La Carte Thai Bistro 
  • All That & MORE Boutique 
  • Appliances Plumbing Design (APD)
  • Blankspaces 
  • Blue Water Photo and Travel 
  • Boschan Corp
  • Branches Atelier 
  • Coolhaus Awesome Ice Cream 
  • Co-opportunity Market 
  • Criteo*
  • Cuningham Group*
  • Echo Horizon School
  • Eco-Dive Center
  • EcoSmart Fire
  • Empowered Yoga Studio*
  • Enervee
  • Envoy Technologies, Inc* (recertified in 2023)
  • Fresh Paint Art Advisors
  • Green Dinosaur, Inc*
  • Happyland Preschool*
  • Harajuku Taproom 
  • Hi-Lo Liquor Market* (recertified in 2022)
  • Jag Gym
  • KFA, LLP*
  • Kirk Douglas Theatre*
  • La Visual*
  • Law Offices of Elsa Martinez*
  • Letter Four, Inc*
  • Marina Martial Arts (recertified in 2023)
  • Mithun | Hodgetts + Fung*
  • Motive LA
  • Moving Picture Company (MPC)*
  • Novecento Pasta & Grill
  • NRG Marketing*
  • OsteoStrong
  • OsteoStrong Mar Vista (recertified in 2022)
  • Poon Design, Inc* (recertified in 2023)
  • Popsugar*
  • Rainbow Acres
  • Rediscover Center
  • Reformation HQ* (recertified in 2022)
  • Reformation Culver City* (recertified in 2022)
  • ReKon Productions* (recertified in 2023)
  • Röckenwagner Bakery Café (recertified in 2023)
  • Rush Street
  • Sage Bistro
  • Schmidli Backdrops, Inc.
  • Servicon Systems* (recertified in 2022)
  • Simple DCP
  • Sole Society*
  • Temple Akiba
  • Treehouse Design Partnership*
  • TruLove Post
  • Village Well Books & Coffee
  • Woodshop Studios Inc
  • Zambezi
  • Zooga Yoga

Learn more about Culver City's Sustainable Business Certification Recipients

What do I do if I am placed on the waitlist?

We accept up to 15 applications each year beginning in January.

If you miss the cutoff or if registration is full, you are automatically added to the wait list for the next cycle.

A sustainability expert will contact you when the window reopens.

If waitlisted, you can get started watching the Informational Videos and reviewing the Key Measures Self-Checklists listed under the tab Prepare.

What is the cost?

The first 10 applications are free and the remaining 5 are charged a nominal fee for participating in the program.
 
Investment costs are unique for each business.
 
A sustainability expert will discuss costs with you.