The Chattanooga Zoo was awarded a new certification in environmental sustainability late last year.
Local nonprofit organization green|spaces awarded the zoo its green|light certification for meeting certain conditions in order to increase its sustainability and environmental stewardship.
The green|light certification is an initiative for Chattanooga organizations that helps with employee attraction, public image, cost savings, and environmental stewardship.
The conditions for the certification are provided in a personal eco policy manual including a check-list covering a variety of categories including recycling, energy, purchasing, and more.
The zoo formed a "green team" 2016 to help steer the institution toward sustainability. While already committed to several different green practices, such as lighting retrofits, recycling, and water bottle refill stations, members of the green team were tasked with finding even more green opportunities and implementing more sustainable initiatives across the zoo.
Since beginning the green|light certification process, the Chattanooga Zoo has expanded its green practices through providing reusable water bottles for volunteers, establishing new recycling programs for nitrile gloves and portable electronics recycling.
It also expanded its Earth Day Celebration to add an Eco Fair with vendors from the community to help educate guests on the importance of preserving our resources and protecting the planet. That event will take place on April 21-22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"It has been a privilege to be able to implement a variety of sustainable measures in order to receive the green|light certification," Emma DuBose, zookeeper and Green Team coordinator, said in a statement. "We are committed to continuing to implement even more sustainable practices. ..."