PPRC provides on-the-ground technical assistance for the Oregon EcoBiz program. EcoBiz is a business certification program that recognizes businesses for adopting exceptional environmental business practices. Currently EcoBiz certifications are available for two sectors: automotive services and landscaping. The program was developed by Portland’s Pollution Prevention team in 1996. Currently more than 100 auto body shops and 13 landscaping businesses are certified.

Certified shops receive publicity through printed advertising and other media coverage. EcoBiz certification allows a business to market its sustainable practices to its clientele. Since many Oregon consumers are going “green”, certification helps businesses attract new clients.

EcoBiz certification for auto body shops not only promotes many multi-media ecological business practices, it helps body shops go above and beyond compliance with the new EPA air toxics rule and often saves them money on top of that!

Oregon’s Senate Bill 737, which was passed in 2007 required  the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality  (DEQ) to list the State’s most prominent water pollutants.  Municipalities will be asked to create pollution prevention plans for sectors implicated as sources of the identified water toxics. Approximately 40 percent of the identified toxics were in the pesticide and herbicide categories.

The EcoBiz Program serves as a practical model for municipalities seeking to meet the SB737 requirement in target sectors, such as landscaping, auto repair and auto body, while obtaining additional environmental results. New sectors will be added to the program in the future. 

PPRC’s dedicated staff currently perform the outreach and technical support for EcoBiz in partnership with Clean Water Services in Washington County. PPRC plans to partner with other local governments to extend EcoBiz outreach across Oregon and into additional sectors.

Latest EcoBiz News

• Down To Earth Irrigation was awarded Ecobiz Landscape certification and helps customers reduce water usage by up to 30 percent. Read the full press release.
• Kadel's Nu Way Auto Body certifies it's 12th shop and final shop. Read the press release here.
• Kaady Car Wash is the first car wash to receive certification in the EcoBiz program and received certification for all 12 Oregon locations. Read the press release here.
• Beaverton School District transportation shop and support center received certification as the first multi-media operation. Read about it on page two of the district newsletter.
• Everett Street Autoworks of Portland is the most recent automotive business to be certified and they go well above and beyond the requirements of the program.
• Enviromax Landscape & Design became the first carbon-neutral landscape company in Oregon in May 2010. Read more about it here.
• Kadel's Auto Body of Oregon certified their Hillsboro location in February 2010. This is their 10th and final location to be certified. Read the full press release here.
• Washington County (OR) Fleet Services earns EcoBiz certification for the 500+ vehicles and equipment in their department. Read the full press release here.

Other EcoBiz Resources

• EcoBiz Homepage

PPRC
1402 Third Avenue, Suite 1420
Seattle Washington
98101-2195
Main: 206-352-2050
Fax: 206-352-2049
office@pprc.org
www.pprc.org