Georgia’s Sustainable Businesses
Café Campesino and Cooperative Coffees (Americus) is Georgia’s first and only
100% fair trade coffee, shade grown coffee company. They supply individuals, coffee
houses, markets, co-ops, and fundraising groups throughout the country with some of
the best roasted-to-order coffee available. Café Campesino is a founding member of the
Georgia-based Cooperative Coffees and is a member of the Fair Trade Federation.
Coca-Cola Recycling LLC (Atlanta) is part of an overall corporate-wide effort to stem
waste and reduce materials costs by recovering and recycling packaging materials,
including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, aluminum, cardboard and plastic film.
The company is tasked to develop cost-efficient solutions for reclaiming used beverage
containers and establishing centralized recycling centers throughout North America.
Recycling plastic and aluminum for reuse is cheaper, requires less energy than
producing bottles with new materials and reduces waste and greenhouse gases.
Citizens for Progressive Transit (Atlanta) is a grassroots transit advocacy
organization working to help bring about comprehensive, long-term improvements to
public transportation.
Climate Neutral (Duluth) provides solutions to reduce businesses’ climate impacts
through water efficient products and other resource saving technologies.
Commonwealth Research Associates/Maglev - The Atlanta-Chattanooga Maglev
Project is a potential project to connect Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport to a downtown
Atlanta multimodal terminal, north to Town Center/Cumberland/Galleria, Cartersville,
Dalton and Chattanooga's Lovell Field Airport. Georgia DOT is studying both highspeed rail and very-high-speed maglev technologies for this corridor. High-speed
maglev, as envisioned in Senate Resolution 117 will travel at speeds up to 300 mph
without friction or contact, in a safe, energy-efficient and environmentally-clean design.
Earthscapes (Atlanta/Chattanooga) installs Filtrexx products that utilize compost for
erosion control. Filtrexx International has reduced and sequestered greenhouse gases
by diverting over 1 million cubic yards organic waste from landfills, and returning nearly
200,000 tons of carbon to native soils.
Ecolink (Tucker) is the world's leading producer of environmentally-preferred solvents.
Ecolink has helped a long list of leading manufacturers, aerospace companies, utilities,
the military and government organizations implement effective alternatives to hazardous
chemicals and ozone depleting solvents.
Enviro-Log (Fitzgerald) turns previously un-recyclable waxed cardboard boxes into
firelogs. By recycling they helped one company alone keep 3 million waxed covered
cardboard boxes out of the landfills. Enviro-Log provides 25 jobs in a Tier 3 county.
Farmer D Organics (Atlanta) is the creator of farms and products for the Earth and its
people. Farmer D specializes in organic compost, raised bed gardens, school gardens
and consulting.
Georgia’s Paper People The Georgia Recycling Coalition Paper Council includes:
American Recycling of GA, Caraustar, GreenStar NA, Harmon GA Pacific, International
Paper, Interstate Paper, Moore & Associates, Pratt Industries, Rock Tenn Co, Smurfit
Stone, Sonoco Recycling, SP Newsprint, US Green Fiber. The paper industry in Georgia
has an annual payroll of over $25 million and recycles almost 8% of all the paper
consumed in the United States. Georgia is the 2nd largest pulp & paper state in the
nation.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources – Sweetwater Creek is a 2500 acre state
park west of downtown Atlanta. The park's visitor center is one of the most
environmentally friendly buildings anywhere. It has received the highest LEED
certification (Platinum) from the U.S. Green Building Council. By visiting the center, one
can learn about sustainability, green buildings and what makes this one so special.
GreenCo Environmental LLC (Barnesville) is the leading organic recycling company
servicing the Southeast Region of the United States. By combining large quantities of
food residuals, yard trimmings and wood by-products, the company creates high quality
organic compost with zero landfill contribution. Greenco is the first commercial food
residuals composting operation to garner a permit and endorsement from the
Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of Georgia.
Intelligent Energy Optimizers, LLC (Norcross) provides electrical energy
consumption savings solutions for corporate, industrial and governmental facilities.
Macon Iron (Macon) is a 90-year-old scrap metal recycling company that includes
paper, plastic and municipal single stream recovery programs. The company also
provides service of document destruction.
MCX Distribution LLC (Atlanta) is a marketer of environmentally friendly products for
consumers and businesses. Their products include the all natural, waterless car wash
and polishing formula, Eco-Vehicle “WASH-n-POLISH”. MCX also markets a line of
natural enzyme based products including a natural fertilizer and MCX 3000 an enzyme
to build roads.
Melaver Inc. (Savannah) is a third generation family owned business committed to
sustainable real estate development – with every project achieving LEED certification.
Melaver also provides sustainability consulting, construction management, brokerage
and property management services.
Metropolitan Design & Construction (Roswell) has designed commercial solar
carports to be installed at local shopping areas, airport parking and top levels of parking
garages. The carports will have thin film photovoltaic panels installed and will provide
for solar plug-in stations for electric vehicles or reduce power generation needs for
facilities.
MOLAM Int’l (Marietta) is an electronics recycler converting end-of-life scrap electronics
into reusable parts, components and raw materials such as copper, steel, plastics and
aluminum. They are the top electronic scrap processor (by volume) for the U.S. EPA and
can handle multi-site customers nationwide and internationally.
Newell Recycling (East Point) operates 2 mega shredders in the Metro Atlanta area
and has a total of 9 locations in Georgia and South Carolina with over 500 employees.
One World Sustainable Energy Corp. (Athens and Savannah) builds and installs
photovoltaic systems, solar pool heating systems, and solar water heating systems
helping to reduce the energy demand and pollution from utilities.
Packer Industries/Patterson Services (Mableton) builds grinding equipment that
enables a variety of industries to turn waste into compost and other reusable materials.
They also provide recycling services to builders and recycle 1000 tons of concrete a day.
Pull-A-Part LLC (Atlanta) is a Do-It-Yourself used auto parts recycler and retail
company. They help reduce waste and promote reuse of resources by finding use for
old car parts. Removing each part yourself, you avoid expensive labor costs and markups. They have been recognized with multiple awards for efforts in recovering used
mercury switches thereby reducing potential pollution.
Raincatchers (McDonough) Designs and installs rainwater harvesting systems. This is
the process of collecting rainwater (typically from rooftops), filtering the water, and then
storing it for use in residential and commercial applications. This process saves energy,
conserves water, and significantly reduces stormwater runoff and the pollution carried
with it, along with reducing the burden on infrastructure.
Radiance Energies (Atlanta) provides development, design and installation of turn-key
solar thermal hot water and heating and solar electric (Photovoltaic PV) systems.
Shaw Industries Group Inc. (Dalton) a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. is the
world’s largest carpet manufacturer and a leading floor covering provider. Shaw
manufactures and distributes carpeting, rugs, hardwood, laminate and ceramic tiles for
residential and commercial product applications worldwide.
Sterling Planet (Norcross) develops renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction
projects. They provide supply-side and demand side solutions, including Green eEnergy certified renewable energy certificates, innovative White Tags energy efficient
certificates and verified emission reductions.
Strategic Materials, inc. (College Park) is the largest glass recycler in the world. With
two locations in Georgia, Strategic Materials is the single-source solution to glass
recycling needs with capabilities to accept more varieties of glass.
Toto USA Inc. (Morrow) manufactures plumbing fixtures, fittings and accessories.
TRANE Commercial & Residential Air Solutions (Atlanta)
Winter Construction (Atlanta) is a privately owned Atlanta based construction
company. Their clients include hospitality, retail industrial, education, corporate/office
healthcare and multifamily markets throughout the Southeast.
Zipcar (Atlanta) is Atlanta’s first and only car-sharing service with nearly 100 vehicles in
Atlanta and thousands across the country. Its wheels when you want them.
Zoo Atlanta, with the guidance of their Green Team has reduced its waste, water use
and energy use throughout the park. Their new waste reduction strategies have resulted
in 40 cubic yards per week (1040 cubic yards annually) being recycled/composted
versus being taken to landfill. They are developing entrepreneurial opportunities using
elephant waste.
Supporting Organizations
Georgia Building Authority is responsible for all services associated with the
management of 48 buildings and facilities located in the Capitol Hill Complex including
the Georgia State Capitol building and the Governor's Mansion. GBA provides
maintenance, renovations, housekeeping, landscaping, food service, event catering,
recycling, parking, and building access services to state employees housed in GBAmanaged facilities.
Georgia Department of Community Affairs promotes sustainability, environmental
protection, and enhanced quality of life by encouraging local implementation of generally
accepted best growth and development practices.
Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority provides financial assistance and
administers programs that encourage stewardship of the environment and promote
economic development statewide.
Georgia Recycling Coalition (GRC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. GRC’s
mission is to compliment and coordinate activities relative to recycling, to foster
communications among professionals, organizations, government agencies and
individuals, and to promote and enhance reduction and recycling programs throughout
the state.
Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit. GCVEF’s
mission is to preserve and enhance Georgia’s water, air, wildlife and land for the benefit
of all Georgians. GCVEF accomplishes this by educating citizens, partner organizations
and elected officials on the impact our state and local policies have on the environment
and our quality of life.
Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) is a non-regulatory division of the
Department of Natural Resources with the mission of reducing pollution at its source.
P2AD provides free, confidential environmental technical assistance to companies
interested in pollution prevention, resource conservation, waste reduction, by-product
reuse and recycling. P2AD’s clients include the manufacturing industry, commercial
businesses, agriculture, institutions, the military, government and the citizens of Georgia
.
Sustainable Business Partners promotes and supports companies that create a profit
while providing new products and services that not only use our natural resources
creatively and efficiently but in some cases help to restore the environment. Sustainable
Business Partners offers marketing, strategic planning and policy.
The Turner Foundation is a private, independent family foundation committed to
preventing damage to the natural systems - water, air, and land - on which all life
depends. The Foundation makes grants in the areas of the environment and population
US Green Building Council – Georgia Chapter was formed in November 2008 to
advance and promote sustainable and environmentally responsible planning, design,
construction and operation of the Georgia's buildings, landscapes, cities and
communities.