Sustainable Quality Awards

Hello Everyone,
If you know of any company that you think should be recognized for being an awesome, sustainable organization, please take a few minutes to fax in your nominations for the upcoming 2010 Sustainable Quality Awards by completing the form here:

http://www.smsqa.com/smsqa/pdf/2010_SQA_Nomination_Form.pdf

Deadline Monday, December 21st

Since 1995, the Chamber of Commerce, City of Santa Monica, and Sustainable Works have honored local businesses and organizations that make extraordinary contributions by enhancing our economy, community and environment with the Sustainable Quality Award (SQA).

* 42 Business Greening Program participants have won an SQA or Excellence award in the last 8 years!

You can nominate any business or organization (including your own or even your favorite grocery store)! Requirements:
- Located in Santa Monica
- Santa Monica Chamber member if outside Santa Monica
- In operation for minimum 2 years

Fax in your SQA nominations to the Chamber of Commerce to 310-394-1868. For more information see www.smsqa.com

Alternative Holiday Ideas

This year instead of getting caught in the retail juggernaut, consider alternative gifts for the special people in your life.

Animal Acres
One of our favorite local organizations is offering the opportunity to sponsor an animal at their sanctuary. Your gift recipient will receive a beautiful holiday card from you, adoption certificate and photo with educational rescue story, and an annual membership to Animal Acres which includes FREE Sunday tours for a year. You can adopt online at: www.animalacres.org or call: 661-269-5404.

Buy Fair Trade gifts and decorations, not only does it support the producer, but many times they are more environmentally sustainable, such as fair trade coffee, chocolates and teas.

Consider gifting a present that will promote sustainability, such as a reusable lunch container with a utensil set.

Make, bake or assemble the ingredients for one of your culinary specialties. If you can, use a reusable container and include the recipe, so if they love it they can make it again.


Other Holiday Ideas to Consider

RENT a Living Tree For The Holidays This Year
Where: Sunday Farmer's Market at 2640 Main St, Santa Monica
Time: 9:30am-1pm
When: Every Sunday through December 20, 2009
The trees come live, in a pot with their roots, and growing. This means they can deliver the tree to you and pick-up after the holidays. The tree then goes back to their nursery, where it continues growing until next year. Check out their website for more info www.livingchristmas.com.

Try to avoid regular wrapping paper and ribbons which are not recyclable, instead use a Japanese trick and wrap your present in a bit of cloth, or use a cute dishtowel.

Agree with a friend to take each other off the gift list. Friends don't want to add to each others holiday stress, so agree NOT to exchange gifts but schedule a relaxing afternoon together instead.


What about you, have you got any holiday tips to share?