Ways Utah businesses are leading the charge toward sustainability

While there are many advantages to doing business in the Beehive State, there have also been some challenges for the business community at large to overcome. One example is the balance between maintaining, or even improving, air quality while still making profits and driving revenue.

The good news is that prominent companies have decided to take a leadership role when it comes to preserving the environment. Recently, Utah Business featured several of these companies in an article with details on how they have worked to improve sustainability.

These companies have done this “green” work in some varied ways. Similarly, First Utah Bank has some varied choices for businesses to meet their checking needs, including one program without fees.

Under the Blue Sky of Utah

One specific way that companies in Utah are helping the environment is to be part of the Blue Sky initiative, which encourages businesses to take specific measures to use renewable energy and do their part.

This year, the Community Blue Sky Legacy award was given to JANS Mountain Outfitters, who use renewable energy, a recycling program, carpool incentives and donations to Summit Land Conversancy to try and alter their own impact.

“We encourage all businesses and individuals to step up their efforts to embrace and support renewable energy. Whether or not you are an outdoor recreation enthusiast, it is important to recognize that renewable energy benefits us all,” Jack Walzer, general manager of JANS, told Utah Business.

Uinta Brewing Co. is another business in the Blue Sky program, and they became the second craft brewery in the U.S. to use solar for all of their energy, including production. They also work with Wastatch Resource Recovery to collect expired beer, brewing byproducts, and unused food for recycling. They even built their own leading-edge brewhouse with efficiency to the core, including all-LED lighting and electric car charges for employee use.

“The ultimate goal is to be an advocate for more businesses to jump on the renewable energy train which will ultimately create a better local environment,” says Jeremy Worrell, Uinta’s director of marketing. “We always work with the future in mind and challenge local community members to do the same.”

Leading the way to a better future

Collaborations are also featured a lot as part of Utah’s continued drive to sustainability. McKinstry, a construction company based in the state, worked with the University of Utah on its replacement of the School of Medicine property. While working on this massive project, it was revealed that the university’s central heating and cooling plant couldn’t handle the needs of the new campus additions.

With McKinstry as the builder, the University came up with design and construction approaches that would address these concerns. McKinstry did its part by adding to the solution and reducing the University’s annual carbon emissions by 16,000 metric tonnes of CO2, which will also lead to $30 million in savings and practically pays for the entire project over a 10-year span.

The Utah company 3form specializes in sustainable materials for construction companies, and they work hard to educate and drum up support for these efforts through its own GreenWeek that takes place throughout the entire company. During the effort, they encourage employees to bring sustainable practices into their own homes and lives.

Mike Johnson, director of sustainability for the company, says that what people buy dictates what products are produced, so they are a crucial link in making the environment better for everyone.

“In other words, every dollar spent is a direct vote for the world we live in now and the future we will create, and we can have incredibly positive influence simply by purchasing products from companies that have strong commitments to sustainability and/or regenerative practices,” Johnson says.

Another extraordinary effort has come from Twin River Renewable and Ace Intermountain Recycling Center. In 2019, they collected 30 million pounds of bakery waste and turned 98% of it into livestock feed. Cortney Madsen, AIRC Operations Manager, said that it’s particularly challenging but worth it in ways beyond helping the environment.

“The recycling market is a hard industry because commodities are mass-produced and produced as cheaply as possible,” Madsen said. “In many cases, it is cheaper to throw something away and buy new rather than repair or repurpose it. To be able to isolate a product, reuse more than 90 percent and make a profit on it is impressive.”

Utah business can benefit from free checking

Companies who go that extra mile to help out an entire state’s green footprint likely also need to find the right types of solutions to managing cash flow and financial positioning. If your business averages fewer than 100 ACH checks and debits per month, First Utah Bank can provide you with free business checking as a method to maximize your time when managing these essentials.

There is no minimum balance required for the free business checking program at First Utah Bank and it includes unlimited debit card transactions and deposits as well as free mobile and internet banking. The program is also insured to the legal maximum by the FDIC.

You may need something different to meet your business checking needs, though, and in that case First Utah Bank also has you covered. These options include a commercial checking account for higher transaction volumes that also gives you an earnings credit allowance based on your balances.

As your hometown bank, First Utah Bank has the knowledge and tools to keep your business thriving in any kind of financial climate. Learn more at our website, or call First Utah Bank at 801-308-2265.