Three cheers for green business certification!

Recently a few member cafes in Green Cafe Network have received their Green Business Certification from their county, and GCN want to give a huge CONGRATS to them!  In Alameda County, both  Local 123 cafe and Awaken Cafe got their certifications and just last week Mission Pie got their certification from San Francisco’s Green Business Program.

So why is this a big deal?  Well, the SF Bay Area has one of the most stringent and comprehensive green business certification programs, and each of those cafes went through a long process that involves completing a lengthy checklist with requirements on reducing waste, conserving energy and water, preventing pollution, minimizing toxics and purchasing environmentally responsible products.

A lot of cafes take steps in each of those areas and show great improvement – but to go the extra mile and make sure they meet the city’s requirements and get several inspections over several months takes an extra commitment that is to be commended.  The certification process is FREE, so these cafes took the bull by the horns and how have a good looking “Certified Green Business” sticker on their door in addition to their “Green Cafe Network Member Cafe” sticker (but the GCN sticker is cuter!).  And don’t forget the GCN member cafes that have had their green biz certifications for awhile now:  Velo Rouge Cafe, Powersource Cafe and Nomad Cafe.  Congrats to those cafes for leading the way!