If you are part of a local government, trade association, Chamber of Commerce or other group that wishes to promote and recognize sustainable practices among its members, consider a partnership with the Maryland Green Registry. There are as many different pathways to partnership as there are types of organizations, so raise your hand and let's talk!
Examples of Partnerships
Sustainable Maryland
Sustainable Maryland is a certification program for municipalities in Maryland that want to go green, save money and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term. The program offers a menu of sustainable actions that municipalities choose from to achieve the certification. Among those actions is joining the Maryland Green Registry and/or promoting the Registry among local businesses where municipalities can earn points for the number of businesses that join.
"Municipalities seeking to highlight the efforts of their local businesses may choose to do that through a partnership with the Maryland Green Registry, their own local green business certification program, or a hybrid of the two. Most important is that we have a connection between all programs to ensure maximum exposure of sustainable practices and success stories across the state."
- Mike Hunninghake, Program Manager, Sustainable Maryland
Maryland Office of Tourism
The Maryland Office of Tourism is proud to support the participation of businesses in the travel sector in the Maryland Green Registry.
"The Maryland travel industry, from the smallest B&Bs to the largest tourist destinations, have been responsive to the growing interest in low-impact travel. We are pleased to partner with the Maryland Green Registry, which serves as a repository for these success stories, and are proud that a number of Maryland's inns, restaurants, and meeting venues have earned special recognition for their environmental stewardship as part of the program's annual Leadership Awards."
- Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director, Dept. of Commerce, Office of Tourism and Film
City of Bowie
When the City of Bowie created the Green Bowie Business program to recognize businesses that help the community by adopting sustainable practices, it used the Maryland Green Registry application process as a foundation for the program. When the business completes the Maryland Green Registry application, it is dual enrolled in both programs, providing both local and statewide recognition.
"The Green Bowie Business program allows residents of the community, including groups like our Green Team volunteers, to develop personal relationships with local businesses while also partnering with the Maryland Green Registry to support the expansion of sustainable practices in Bowie and across the state."
- Ashleigh Diaz, Sustainability Planner, City of Bowie
Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland
The Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland (RMI) has played a key role in promoting the participation of manufacturers in the Maryland Green Registry. More than 50 manufacturers are currently members of the Registry, and many of them joined as part of their participation in RMI's Energy Program, which worked with each company's green teams to complete the Registry application. Several of these Energy Program participants have gone on to win the Maryland Green Registry Leadership Awards.
“As RMI showcases manufacturers that have become members of the Maryland Green Registry, we are also showcasing how these great companies have publicly committed themselves to energy and environmental sustainability policies and practices.”
- Peter Gourlay, Vice President, Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland
Plastic Free QAC
Plastic Free QAC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization raising awareness in Queen Anne's County, Maryland about the hazards of single-use plastics. The organization combines their message about alternatives to single use plastics with promotion of the Maryland Green Registry so that restaurants, shops, schools and other organizations can publicly share the steps they've taken through their online Maryland Green Registry member profile.
"Partnering with the Maryland Green Registry allows us to combine our "boots on the ground" outreach to local businesses and organizations with an opportunity for them to share their best practices and successes in their own words through their Registry profile, and best of all, there is no cost to joining!
- Sara Shelley, Board Member and Outreach Coordinator
Work Green HowardBusinesses play an important role in the success of any community's recycling programs and initiatives. Howard County’s Bureau of Environmental Services is recognizing those businesses who play a valuable part in achieving the County’s goal of a 60% recycling rate by 2020. The program, Work Green Howard, awards participating businesses with a certificate, window cling and eligibility for annual awards and recognition. Because participation in Work Green Howard is an indication of a business's commitment to proactive environmental practices, the County also informs participants about the opportunity to share these practices through membership in the Maryland Green Registry.
"Work Green Howard businesses are committed to making Howard County a greener place to live, work and visit and we are happy to play a part in encouraging them to participate in the Maryland Green Registry where they can share their waste reduction and recycling best practices along with all the other sustainable measures they may implemented including energy and water conservation, environmental procurement, and community environmental projects."
- Alan Wilcom, Chief, Recycling Division
Montgomery Country Green Business Certification Program
The Montgomery County Green Business Certification Program is a voluntary recognition program designed to encourage businesses and other organizations to take steps that reduce their ecological footprint. The program seeks to spur innovation and environmental stewardship so that forward-looking sustainable businesses are not only rewarded for their environmental leadership, but spark the adoption of broader sustainable best practices throughout the County. The program accomplishes this through the provision of tools, incentives, inspirational ideas, collaboration, and leadership opportunities.
"By partnering with the Maryland Green Registry, we can help Montgomery County Certified Green Businesses get maximum exposure by having their video profiles appear on the Maryland Green Registry website and by encouraging our certified businesses to apply for both local awards and the statewide Maryland Green Registry awards. This not only helps to promote green business practices throughout the state, but also aids our efforts to encourage consumers to consider certified green businesses when making purchasing decisions."
- Doug Weisburger, Green Business Certification Program Manager
Maryland Department of General Services
The DGS Office of Energy and Sustainability plays an important role in the energy and environmental performance of state facilities. It manages energy purchasing, energy performance contracts, EV purchasing, and the Maryland Green Purchasing Committee.
"State agencies are making great strides in energy efficiency, green procurement, and fleet management. The Maryland Green Registry provides a forum for agencies to share these efforts through their member profiles and to receive recognition for superior performance through the annual Maryland Green Registry State Energy Awards."
-David St. Jean, Director, DGS Office of Energy and Sustainability
Event Partners
Each year, the Maryland Green Registry
Leadership Awards are presented at a membership event held in partnership with various environmental organizations across the state. These have included
Annapolis Green, Bethesda Green, National Association of Environmental Professionals, One Montgomery Green, and the U.S. Green Building Council - Maryland. Let us know if you'd like to team up on an event that brings together both environmental professionals and interested businesses to learn more about cost-saving sustainable practices.
