This story appears in the October 2025 issue of Utah Business. Subscribe.
Utah Business is proud to celebrate the Utah companies and individuals making our state a greener place. From revolutionary water treatment systems to advanced recycling technologies, the organizations and leaders honored in this year’s cohort demonstrate how environmental stewardship can drive both economic growth and community well-being.
Airbuild Inc.
Airbuild transforms municipal water treatment with scalable, modular pods that replace expensive centralized plants and outdated lagoons. Each pod combines algae-based treatment, renewable energy and advanced filtration to deliver clean water, reduce carbon emissions and process waste into valuable byproducts like biochar. Cities can expand capacity as needed without decades of debt or inflexible systems. Airbuild works directly with local governments to create immediate community benefits, generating construction, logistics and operations jobs while helping cities meet regulatory compliance, carbon reduction targets and sustainability goals. By aligning wastewater treatment with climate action, Airbuild enables municipalities to turn essential services into engines for environmental and economic progress, building cleaner, more resilient communities.
Altris Energy
Altris — short for “Altruistic Solutions” — is a tech aggregator, R&D and commercialization company developing affordable, sustainable power and water solutions. The company stacks technologies to increase efficiency while reducing costs for utilities, industry and communities. Its portfolio includes advanced clean power generation, low-cost hydrogen production, water treatment, next-generation nuclear applications, and biochar and graphene production. Altris transforms proven technologies into commercial systems and bankable projects by developing, acquiring and licensing breakthrough intellectual property. The Utah-based company has secured contracts, partners and manufacturing pathways for scale. Altris aligns innovation with pragmatic execution to make clean power and water reliable, affordable and abundant, helping lead Utah’s energy transition with solutions designed for impact at utility and human scale.
Amy M. Hansen
Sustainability Program Manager | Swire Water
Amy Hansen leads environmental stewardship and community engagement initiatives as part of Swire Water’s sustainability team. She tracks resource use and greenhouse gas emissions supporting decarbonization goals, develops employee sustainability training and organizes major outreach events, including trail cleanups with the Jordan River Commission and conservation at Tracy Aviary Pia Okwai Preserve. Under her leadership in 2024, Swire Water employees contributed over 2,024 service hours, with 2,025 hours planned for 2025. Hansen’s efforts have helped the company exceed outreach goals tenfold, serving over 7,000 people in South America, Africa and India through the employee-matched Community THRIVE Fund, which provides clean water, food and hygiene care to underserved communities.
Beehive Cheese
In 2005, Tim Welsh and Pat Ford had a vision of opening a creamery in the mountains of Northern Utah. With family support, the two broke from tradition and created their own rules about what artisan cheese could be — building a company grounded in independent thinking, connectedness and authenticity. Now a certified B Corporation, Beehive Cheese continues to produce award-winning cheeses that bring family and friends together.
ECO Green Equipment
ECO Green Equipment designs, manufactures and installs advanced recycling equipment for scrap tires, plastics, e-waste, wood, textiles, municipal solid waste and biomass. The Salt Lake City-based company provides custom-engineered, turnkey recycling systems worldwide, delivering solutions for tire-derived products, alternative fuels and other recycled materials. With installations across the U.S., Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia, each system is tailored to meet diverse operational, environmental and economic needs. ECO Green’s multicultural management team supports customers globally, focusing on providing recycling solutions for customer success.
Fairmat
Fairmat, a French deep-tech company founded in 2020 by Benjamin Saada, specializes in recycling carbon fiber composites. The company uses proprietary robotic and AI-driven technologies to transform carbon fiber waste into high-performance, second-generation material, preventing landfill disposal or incineration. Fairmat recently established its first U.S. facility in Salt Lake City — a 15,000-square-foot recycling plant and office strategically located near Utah’s carbon fiber production hub. The expansion followed collaborations with the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the Utah Advanced Materials Manufacturing Initiative. Fairmat’s 10-year partnership with Hexcel Corporation allows it to recycle carbon fiber composite scrap from Hexcel’s Salt Lake City manufacturing facility. This collaboration strengthens Utah’s advanced manufacturing supply chain while creating high-quality jobs and supporting the state’s environmental and economic development goals.
Fred Bonney
Co-Owner | Great Salt Lake Recycling
Fred Bonney brings diverse expertise to tire recycling. With degrees in education from Brigham Young University and anthropology and development education from Stanford University, plus Peace Corps experience, Bonney has worked as a welder, purchasing agent, diesel mechanic and field engineer. His entrepreneurial background includes founding several recycling businesses, including a successful tire recycling company that processed 1.5 million tires annually. He also co-founded a pipe fabrication company serving the mining industry. Bonney’s commitment to transforming tires into environmentally friendly products drives Great Salt Lake Recycling’s mission to become the region’s premier tire recycling operation.
Hawx Pest Control
Hawx Pest Control implements comprehensive sustainability practices through reforestation, pollinator protection, fleet hybridization and operational efficiency. Through One Tree Planted, Hawx plants a tree for every new customer, with over 45,000 trees planted so far. The company supports the Save Our Bees campaign, recognizing the importance of pollinators for food production and biodiversity. More than half of Hawx’s fleet uses hybrid vehicles, with algorithmic route planning further reducing fuel consumption. Internally, Hawx has consolidated its headquarters into one building, cutting energy use while enhancing collaboration. Remote work options reduce commuting emissions while improving employee well-being.
Kyller Barrus
Materials Manager | WesTech, Swire Water
Kyller Barrus has been with WesTech for over 17 years, where he has consistently been a voice for positive change within warehouse operations. As warehouse operations manager, he has played a key role in helping the operation achieve over 60 percent waste diversion from landfill by supporting the development and implementation of wood pallet recycling, cardboard reuse and metal recycling programs across warehouse and shipping/receiving operations. During WesTech’s recent move to a new warehouse, Kyller ensured sustainability was built into the facility, including motion-activated LED lighting and quality insulation, improving energy efficiency while reducing costs. His efforts reflect a long-term commitment to aligning operational excellence with environmental responsibility, and he has helped set a new standard for sustainable warehouse management at WesTech.
Lovesac
Utah native Shawn Nelson founded Lovesac in 1995, starting with an eight-foot foam-filled sac made in his parents’ basement. Today, the company’s patented modular Sactionals follow a “Designed For Life” philosophy that rejects planned obsolescence, with components that are washable, replaceable and reconfigurable. Sustainability is central, with upholstery fabric made from repurposed plastic bottles. Since 2018, Lovesac has transformed over 180 million bottles into fabric, aiming for one billion by 2040 through its REPREVE partnership. Their packaging also uses recycled cardboard to reduce chemicals.
Nature’s Sunshine
Nature’s Sunshine, a Utah-founded pioneer in herb encapsulation, has led the supplement industry for over 50 years with quality, purity and innovation. In 2024, the company’s U.S. distribution centers earned a “TRUE Zero Waste” gold certification. Since 2021, Nature’s Sunshine has reduced manufacturing waste by 32 percent, targeting 35 percent by late 2025. Its Spanish Fork facility now operates on 100 percent renewable energy, and the company has worked toward cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent since 2021. Beyond environmental initiatives, the company’s Impact Foundation has positively affected more than 1 million people globally through service projects, humanitarian aid and health initiatives, demonstrating that business can benefit people, communities and the planet.
Paleblue
Paleblue leads in high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that outperform wasteful single-use batteries. Charging a Paleblue battery costs 1/2,000th of purchasing a new alkaline battery, helping reduce the million pounds of alkalines incinerated or disposed of daily in landfills. The company’s batteries offer USB-C convenience and modern battery chemistry performance. Paleblue is a member of 1% for The Planet and Call2Recycle, and supports eco-conscious nonprofits including Fish For Garbage, Swaner Preserve and Recycle Utah.
Right On
Salt Lake City-based Right On uncovers the emotion in enterprise sustainability, transforming complex information into compelling stories. Its senior brand strategists, content strategists and creatives help companies rally people around environmental and social programs. Working with local institutions like Huntsman Mental Health Institute, national brands like Tillamook and global enterprises like BD, Right On creates strategic messaging and standout content that changes how people think and act. The company helps clients launch patient-centered environmental programs, secure funding for climate initiatives, showcase ESG commitments and communicate confidently amid political pressures. Beyond client work, Right On provides training and resources to sustainability leaders, including Harvard Business Review articles, leadership summits and workshops. The women-owned and women-led agency is a member of the Utah Sustainable Business Network.
TELLUS Air Quality
TELLUS, a Salt Lake City environmental intelligence company spun from University of Utah research, transforms how communities, businesses and governments understand air quality. Using patented calibration algorithms, modular sensors and its AirView platform, TELLUS delivers real-time, actionable environmental data. The company’s AirU Pro monitors track pollutants including particulate matter, VOCs, ozone and CO₂, while AirView maps visualize this data with engaging dashboards. These tools support both community awareness and regulatory compliance, bridging the gap between public engagement and professional environmental management. Trusted by media, government agencies and industry leaders nationwide, TELLUS has grown from academic roots into a company delivering measurable impact by reducing environmental blind spots, promoting transparency and creating healthier communities.
The Bee Partner
The Bee Partner enables individuals and companies to sponsor beehives, support pollinator habitats and receive fresh, raw honey. Through its Honeyshare program, members own a share of a professionally maintained beehive with honey delivered directly to them. Businesses can sponsor hives and share local honey with customers, clients or employees as unique, meaningful gifts. A portion of every purchase protects native bee habitats, supporting pollinators responsible for over one-third of our food supply. With operations in Utah, California and Idaho, The Bee Partner educates the public and supports biodiversity while providing high-quality, natural honey.
The Green Team
visitsaltlake.com/salt-palace-convention-center
The Green Team was established in 2016 when the Salt Palace Convention Center, Mountain America Expo Center, Visit Salt Lake, Sodexo Live!, and Encore came together to advance sustainability initiatives and foster innovation. This partnership created a united platform for expanding sustainability programs across both venues, creating and growing community partnerships and enhancing education opportunities for staff. The Green Team demonstrates how organizations can work together and successfully achieve sustainability goals while continuing to provide exceptional experiences for guests and event organizers. Through collaboration, education and innovation, the Green Team continues to lead in environmental stewardship in the events industry.
Volition
Volition is revolutionizing data center deployment by eliminating dependence on electrical utilities. While traditional data centers require massive grid power and 2-4 years of utility infrastructure upgrades, Volition’s facilities generate electricity onsite using advanced fuel cell systems, enabling deployment in just 6-9 months. This energy independence creates a unique community benefit: Volition shares surplus clean energy with neighboring homes and businesses at rates up to 50 percent below utility costs, transforming data centers from energy burdens into community assets. The company’s approach addresses critical technology needs for computing power located exactly where applications like artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and smart manufacturing operate. Through its “TOMS for Energy” business model, Volition channels revenue from premium computing services into community benefits through affordable energy access. The company is developing facilities across the United States and the United Arab Emirates, with plans for European expansion.
Wavetronix
Wavetronix manufactures radar vehicle detection devices engineered at its Springville headquarters and installed throughout Utah. The sensors provide critical traffic data to agencies, helping reduce vehicle emissions by keeping traffic moving. Studies show that preventing vehicles from stopping and idling can reduce emissions by 20-40 percent. On I-15, Wavetronix sensors provide real-time speed and volume data, alerting UDOT to congestion as it happens. This information helps drivers adjust commute timing or routes during heavy traffic. At intersections, the sensors monitor vehicle queues and dynamically change lights based on actual conditions, reducing wait times and ensuring green lights efficiently clear waiting vehicles.
Weave
Founded in 2008, Weave provides an all-in-one experience platform for small and medium-sized healthcare businesses, connecting the entire customer journey from first call to final invoice. More than 35,000 healthcare providers across North America use Weave to attract, engage and retain patients while streamlining operations. In 2025, Weave’s Supply Chain Team launched a sustainability initiative to reduce waste, lower emissions and improve efficiency. The program emphasizes refurbishing and redeploying returned VoIP devices, with over 4,000 certified as “like-new” in 2025 alone. The company has cut air-freight shipments by 90 percent and reduced shipping times by 50 percent by restructuring its logistics network, creating a resilient, closed-loop supply chain that aligns environmental responsibility with business performance.
Wild Waters Soapery
Wild Waters Soapery has evolved from small-batch soaps for friends and family into a thriving business serving customers in local markets and zero-waste refilleries nationwide. The company specializes in palm-free, plant-based soaps, shampoo and conditioner bars crafted with mineral clays, botanicals and essential oils. All products come in compostable or refillable packaging. With its Zero Waste Home collection, Wild Waters offers everyday cleaning essentials that help households reduce waste without sacrificing beauty or function. Under new ownership that carries forward the founder’s legacy, the company has expanded its product line, added wholesale partnerships and updated packaging using reclaimed materials. The company’s solid dish soaps now come in reclaimed, vintage and antique ceramics. Wild Waters operates under the principle of “minimum impact on the environment, maximum impact on people,” maintaining artisanal quality while scaling sustainable production.
