Catalyst Partners is 2018 West Michigan Sustainable Business of the Year

“It’s profoundly meaningful for our team to be recognized by those who know us best, our Sustainable Business Forum friends. When Catalyst Partners was launched 16 years ago we were encouraged and supported by this inspirational forward thinking community,” said Keith Winn, Catalyst Partners founder and president.  “We are grateful to have been provided a safe place to think big, share ideas and take risks.”

Its LEED Platinum office building serves as a prime example of how Catalyst Partners lives its mission “Committed to the creation of places where all species can flourish.­” In renovating the century-old mill that had housed an abandoned tool-and-die shop, Catalyst Partners pushed the envelope on conserving energy, water and materials. The site was brought back to life as a Certified Wildlife Habitat where a seasonal garden provides fresh vegetables for team members and neighbors. On-site showers and lockers encourage team members to bicycle to work.Catalyst Partners assists clients with LEED, WELL, Living Building Challenge, Enterprise Green Communities and BREEAM certification. Examples of its work include:

• Leading Brewery Vivant’s sustainability efforts as it became the first LEED Certified brewery in the US.
• Helping Rockford Construction achieve energy improvements of 45% over code requirements making its headquarters the fourth LEED Platinum building in Grand Rapids.
• Overseeing the first three LEED-NC v4 certifications in the state of Michigan with Consumers Energy.
• Completing Full Living Building Challenge Certification (second in the world) for the Burh Becc at Beacon Springs permaculture farm in Southeast Michigan.

“We aren’t finished yet. Our future goal is to deliver net positive energy, water and materials on all projects by 2030,” Winn said. “We look forward to continuing to make our business and our global community a better place.”

Catalyst Partners was also recognized by B Corp as a 2016 Best For The World company. This award recognizes diversity in the workplace, pay equity, community involvement and other characteristics that make organizations “best for workers, best for communities, and best for the environment.”