September 22, 2023
North Florida Green Chamber makes going green easy for members

Sustainability

North Florida Green Chamber makes going green easy for members

Laura Hampton | 5/27/2020

Operational for just over a year, the North Florida Green Chamber has a mission to make it “cool and convenient” to be green, says Christina W. Kelcourse, founder and executive director.

The chapter focuses on educating business owners about sustainability issues and making it easier for businesses to use sustainable practices.

“A restaurant owner who makes pizzas supports his family by making the best pizza sauce,” Kelcourse says. “He’s not looking at low-flush toilets or adding solar.”

In January, the chamber began a program to make it easy for businesses to shop for sustainable products. The Buyers Club includes 30 to 40 eco-friendly products available to chamber members.

To determine which products to offer, the chamber worked with restaurants, catering services and other businesses.

Many of the products are geared toward reducing the number of single-use plastics in restaurants, such as soup containers, coffee cups, coffee stirrers and gloves.

Some products, however, can be used in any office environment. Trash can liners, cleaning supplies, paper towels, napkins and water bottles for customers are big sellers.

To find the right distributor, the North Florida Green Chamber vetted applicants from around the country. “Research was done to make sure the products were actually eco-friendly,” Kelcourse says. In the end, the chamber chose Auburn Supply Group in Tampa.

Kelcourse says she’s glad the chamber could “keep it local” by using a Florida distributor because it adds an extra layer of local to a concept that was born in North Florida. Now, Kelcourse is working with the U.S. Green Chamber to roll the program out to other cities.

Says Kelcourse: “It’s very cool that Jacksonville and North Florida are leading the way on this.”

 

Read more in Florida Trend's June issue.
Select from the following options:

Tags: Environment, Economic Backbone, Feature

Florida Business News

Florida News Releases

Florida Trend Video Pick

Gator with missing jaw finds home in Florida park
Gator with missing jaw finds home in Florida park

A Florida reptile park has taken in an alligator that lost its nose and upper jaw to a fight or boat propeller. Gatorland Orlando said over the weekend that the injured alligator came from a lake in nearby Sanford, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Orlando. “She had basically no chance of surviving in the wild with such a severe injury,” the park said in a social media post.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

Ballot Box

Why do you believe Florida's teacher shortage is at an all time high?

  • New legislative restrictions
  • Parent/guardian involvement
  • Student disciplinary issues
  • Compensation
  • Curriculum

See Results

Florida Trend Media Company
490 1st Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727.821.5800

© Copyright 2023 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.