Launched in May 2024, the Ann Arbor Green Business Challenge (A2 GBC) presents a new framework to recognize, support, and celebrate local businesses working to advance sustainability in the community. Co-created by the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations and Ann Arbor SPARK, this new program will help local businesses:
lower operating costs
create a stronger brand
build a more sustainable culture
enhance employee and customer satisfaction
reduce their environmental impact.
A2 GBC has four certification levels—bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. The certification level that a business can achieve is based on the number of points they accumulate across seven areas of sustainability - energy, water, circular economy, mobility, resilience, education, and supply chain. Some areas have more points possible than others. In addition to the formal certification levels, there are also recognition opportunities for those entities that improve their performance year over year, regardless of their status. Businesses are also able to earn “innovation" points for undertaking novel practices or implementing policies not explicitly included in the framework.
The A2 GBC was designed to offer recognition to local businesses while also helping them lower their operating costs, create a stronger brand, build a more sustainable culture, enhance employee and customer satisfaction, and reduce their environmental footprints.
The A2 GBC Framework and Toolkit
Designed to cover 7 core areas of sustainability, the A2 GBC presents an opportunity for businesses to earn over 350 points. This toolkit outlines the details of the Challenge, including support resources available to help you on your sustainability journey.
Register for the Challenge
Ready to register for the A2 GBC? Fill out this form and we'll be in touch shortly with next steps!
Verification Checklist
Staff will be randomly selecting A2 GBC participant submissions to verify. For a complete list of all the documentation that will be necessary to verify your completion of key criteria and actions, please see this form.
Upcoming Events
Join us at one of the following upcoming A2 GBC events:
- A2 GBC Launch Event: Tuesday, May 7th from 8:30am-10:00am at SPARK offices
- Office Hours on Energy and Water Benchmarking: Tuesday, May 14th from 2:00pm-3:00pm at SPARK offices
- Office Hours on the Circular Economy: Tuesday, May 21st from 2:00pm-3:00pm at SPARK offices
- Office Hours on Commercial Solar opportunities: Tuesday, May 28th from 2:00pm-3:00pm at SPARK offices
Questions?
Still have questions, check out this FAQ? And to learn more about the A2 GBC or to receive updates regarding program launch, sign up for our monthly sustainability newsletter or send a note to [email protected].
