The Sustany Foundation has announced the Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties ReStores as a finalist for the 2020 Sustainable Business Awards.

The Sustany Foundation works to enhance the quality of life in the Tampa Bay community by promoting sustainability. The organization holds their annual event to recognize companies, who fulfill this mission, and have a commitment to social and environmental responsibility. This includes how to organization operates with energy use, recycling, purchasing policies, office products, community programs, employee programs, governance, diversity, etc. Over 100 nominations were made for businesses and organizations around the Tampa Bay region.

Habitat ReStore is a nonprofit retail center where new and gently used building materials and home furnishings are sold at discounted prices. The ReStore is our solution for turning these donations, from generous and environmentally concerned individuals and businesses, into money to build homes for families and individuals. Each year, we keep nearly 800 tons of reusable materials such as furniture, appliances, plumbing, doors, windows and building materials from our landfills.

Each January, the public is invited to nominate local businesses and organizations that are leading the way in sustainable practices. “This is the second year we received over 100 nominations from the open call,” said Andrea Cheney, President of the Sustany Foundation, “we are thrilled to see so many companies in the Tampa Bay area integrating sustainability into their operations.”

Nominees are then asked to complete an application to describe their efforts in the three pillars of the triple bottom line; people (social impact), planet (environmental impact) and profit (economic impact and governance). The application includes questions about energy use, recycling, purchasing policies, office products, community programs, employee programs, governance, diversity, etc.

The Sustainable Business Awards Green Carpet Gala will take place September 16th at the historic Tampa Theatre. Winners will be selected by a third-party panel who will judge based on social impact, environmental impact, and economic impact and governance.

The event is open to the public, and event details and registration can be found at https://12th-anuual-sustainable-business-awards-tickets.eventbrite.com.