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. Earning Green Business Certification indicates that you are part of an innovative leadership movement to green your business operations and help transition to a sustainable future. Bethesda Green has partnered with the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and the Green Business Benchmark to deliver this program and promote sustainability in business.

Vision

The intent of the Green Business Certification Program is to help Montgomery County businesses catalyze and prosper in a new green economy.  The program seeks to spur innovation and environmental stewardship so that forward-looking businesses that embed issues of sustainability into their day to day operations and supply chain decisions are not only rewarded for their environmental leadership, but spark the adoption of broader sustainable best practices throughout the County. 

Mission

The mission of the Green Business Certification Program is to:

• Empower businesses to green their operations through the provision of tools, incentives, inspirational ideas, collaboration, and leadership opportunities.
• Encourage local consumers and other businesses to consider Certified Green Businesses when making purchasing decisions. 
• Create a supportive community and strive to provide equitable access to businesses seeking certification

Program Update:

The Green Business Certification has been relaunched with enhanced resources, support, and recognition. To get started, you can access the Preliminary Application here and for FAQ about the program please click here.

The Green Business Certification takes the form of a continuous sustainable journey. As you implement and document your green practices, your business accrues points towards tiers of recognition. Follow the roadmap below to begin your business’ sustainability journey.

Join the movement of responsible businesses making a tangible difference in the world! Embrace the green business certification and pave the way for a prosperous, sustainable future.

Dual Recognition

After reaching key milestones on the sustainability journey, your business can qualify for recognition awards. Through implementing environmentally friendly practices or “green initiatives,” your business can progress and become recognized at the Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels. The Montgomery County Green Business Certification is working together with the Green Business Benchmark to provide businesses with the unique opportunity of dual recognition. Meaning that once your business is verified at a recognition tier, it will receive dual awards. Please note that the physical certificate will only be issued from Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection in the Welcome Packet. The Environmental Excellence Award will also be awarded to businesses who demonstrate significant progress or dedication to sustainability. 

Learn how a Green Certification can help your business:

Click here to read more about the Green Business Advantage.

For more information please also see our: Quick Start Guide and the FAQ

Opportunity for Scholarship

We understand that pursuing our certification program may be financially challenging for some of our applicants. We are committed to ensuring equal access to our program, and we are pleased to announce that we offer need-based scholarships to support individuals who are facing financial constraints or other barriers preventing them from applying. We encourage all eligible organizations to explore this opportunity by completing reaching out to greenbusinesscertification@bethesdagreen.org to learn more about the application process and how we can assist you in becoming a certified green business. 

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Let’s work together toward a sustainable future. Contact us today to discuss how you can get involved.

¿Habla español? No se preocupe, ¡también podemos ayudarle! Preliminary Application en español