Go Green with Berkeley Bucks

With crisis, comes opportunity. As the economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, California businesses have an opportunity to reinvent towards resiliency. Sustainable practices can spark efficiency, self-reliance, creative marketing, customer satisfaction and employee engagement.

On a global level, economic sustainability is a tangled knot that some of our best minds, including local ones like UC Berkeley's Robert Reich, tirelessly try to unravel. There are macro forces at play! But in many ways, the first step is about making positive personal choices that support local business, and extra credit if it's a local business that operates with environmental sustainability as a goal.

Keeping cash in the community is the driving force behind Berkeley Bucks, the new citywide eGift Card available online and valid at more than 75 participating Berkeley businesses. When one of those business is also a member of the Alameda County Green Business Program, the statement amplifies to another level.

Shopping locally reduces transportation emissions of goods and people while supporting local economic recovery. Currently, there are nine Berkeley Bucks participating merchants that are also California Green Business certified by the California Green Business Network. Using Berkeley Bucks at any of these shops, restaurants and services is a positive pro-local consumer statement:

• Gaumenkitzel
• East Bay Cohousing
• Hotel Shattuck Plaza
• Jupiter
• Metro Lighting
• Minuteman Press
• Riva Cucina
• Victory Point Cafe
• Zachary's Pizza Solano

The City of Berkeley's Office of Economic Development helps local businesses that want to improve their environmental practices. Berkeley’s long-standing support of the Alameda County Green Business Program has facilitated over 100 businesses to become green certified, including Chez Panisse, Angeline’s Louisiana Restaurant, Triple Rock Brewery, Picante, Metro Lighting, Berkeley City Club and many more. Discover a list of Berkeley certified businesses here.