SWCA’s Green Team: Leading Local Efforts, Driving Big Change

At SWCA, sustainability is more than just a buzzword — it’s a core part of who we are and what we do. As a 100% employee-owned company committed to protecting natural and cultural resources, we take pride in building a culture that prioritizes sustainability in our daily operations, local offices, and communities.

Driving this effort is SWCA’s Green Team Network, a passionate group of employees dedicated to reducing our environmental footprint, inspiring positive change, and embedding sustainability in the field and offices of SWCA.

Meet the Green Team

The Green Team Network is a collective of employees across 45 offices and various disciplines who share a common goal: to make SWCA a leader in sustainable practices. Working in conjunction with SWCA’s Environmental Sustainability Committee and key leaders like Sustainability Director, Eileen Fagan, they promote sustainable changes at the office level through education, engagement, and implementation of corporate initiatives.

What Does the Green Team Do?

The Green Team’s initiatives span a wide range of efforts, all aimed at creating a more sustainable workplace and community. Most SWCA offices have a dedicated Green Team Representative who plans and executes local events like local river and trail cleanups, educational events, and upcycling activities.

Some of their focus areas include:

• Reducing Waste: Promoting recycling programs, composting, and eliminating single-use plastics across SWCA offices.
• Energy Efficiency: Identifying ways to conserve energy and reduce emissions, such as encouraging employees to adopt energy-saving practices.
• Sustainable Purchasing: Supporting green procurement policies and sourcing eco-friendly office supplies like bamboo alternatives and buying in bulk.
• Employee Education: Hosting webinars, lunch-and-learns, and sharing tips to help employees live more sustainably.

The Amherst Office received the Daring to Be Greener award in 2023 earning 21 badges.

The San Antonio Office received the Daring to Be Greener award in 2024 

Check Out Green Team Events in Action

To support these efforts and drive engagement, SWCA launched the Sustainability Badge Program and has since expanded the program as part of a long-term commitment to embedding sustainability across the organization. The program empowers offices to set and achieve sustainability goals locally and provides a way to track progress towards goals. It also inspires friendly competition amongst offices competing for SWCA’s annual Daring to Be Greener Award, which is awarded to the office that best embodies the SWCA environmental sustainability mindset.

Taking a Local-First Approach

At SWCA, we believe that good is never good enough (#NeverSettle). The Green Team embodies this value by striving to make a tangible impact on the environment and aligning local office efforts with SWCA’s companywide commitment to sustainability. Their work not only supports SWCA’s organizational goals but empowers local Green Team Representatives to choose efforts that best resonate with their office and community. Small local efforts ultimately add up to big impact.

Earth Day: An Opportunity for the Green Team to Amplify Their Mission

Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22, is a time to reflect on our relationship with the planet and take action to protect it. For the Green Team, Earth Day is also an opportunity to amplify their mission and engage employees in meaningful ways that inspire action.

This year, SWCA is proud to support several Earth Day initiatives, including:

• Volunteer Activities: SWCA is joining local organizations to participate in river and trail cleanups, removing invasive species, making seed bombs, and many other sustainability-focused volunteer opportunities to give back to the environment.
• Sharing Best Practices: Employees submit their go-to green tips on MySWCA, our internal communications platform, to share easy steps to make a positive environmental impact.

“Even basic reminders—such as recycling properly and following the ‘leave no trace’ principle—can have a significant impact. When introducing sustainability to beginners, I always suggest starting with personal waste reduction, such as understanding what can and cannot be recycled and minimizing single-use items.” – Abby H., Green Team Representative, Phoenix Office.

“Turn off lights when leaving a room and turn off water faucet when not using. Small actions can make a big change.” – Joseph Z., Green Team Representative, Fort Collins Office

“It is easier to think before you buy than to figure out how to handle excess after!” – Jules K., Green Team Representative, Honolulu Office

Why SWCA’s Green Team Enhances our Workplace

For those who value working in an environment where sustainability is more than just a concept, the Green Team illustrates how SWCA integrates environmental stewardship into its everyday operations. It’s a reminder that small actions can make a big difference — and at SWCA, every employee can contribute to that impact. Whether you’re a member of the Green Team, one of our 16 Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), or you get involved with SWCA’s Gives Back program, there are many ways to get involved in the things that matter most to you at SWCA.

Sound like something you’d be interested in being a part of? Visit SWCA.com/Careers to learn more.