NEPA reports surge in green business participation

More Jamaican organisations are embracing environmentally sustainable business practices, with participation in the National Environment and Planning Agency’s (NEPA) Green Business Jamaica (GBJ) programme increasing by 37 per cent since the initiative became a key performance target.

NEPA reported that 11 organisations actively participated in the programme during the 2025-26 financial year, and a further nine entities sought information on enrolment and participation. The agency said the growing interest reflects increased recognition of the operational and reputational benefits of environmental stewardship.

Green Business Jamaica is a voluntary programme that helps organisations identify and implement environmentally responsible practices aimed at reducing costs while promoting the sustainable use of Jamaica’s natural resources.

Participating organisations are assessed across five areas: environmental awareness and training, waste management, water efficiency, chemical management, and energy efficiency. Based on their performance, participants receive gold, silver, or bronze recognition, while organisations that have not yet attained a ranking may receive participatory certification.

During the 2025-26 financial year, four organisations achieved an overall gold ranking, and seven earned overall silver status, enabling the NEPA to exceed its target of having at least six businesses attain silver or gold recognition.

The organisations receiving overall gold rankings were Juici Patties, Shortwood Teachers’ College, PriceSmart Jamaica, and Kingston Properties Limited.

Juici Patties was the only participant to achieve gold-level performance in all five assessment areas.

“The annual assessment keeps us accountable and encourages us to identify new opportunities for improvement,” said Edith Chin, director of Juici Patties and Custos Rotulorum for the parish of Clarendon.

Shortwood Teachers’ College was the only educational institution to secure an overall gold ranking, earning gold-level recognition in four thematic areas and silver in the fifth.

According to Principal Nadine Molloy, “The need to be a certified tertiary institution embracing best practices in environmental conservation and sustainability in all our operations was paramount in our decision to participate in the programme.”

Kingston Properties Limited achieved gold-level performance in four thematic areas and silver in one, and PriceSmart Jamaica earned gold recognition in three areas and silver in two.

The seven organisations receiving overall silver recognition were the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Victoria Mutual Investments Limited (VMIL), TotalEnergies Marketing Jamaica Limited, Lee’s Food Fair, Half Moon, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, and the University of Technology, Jamaica.

Reflecting on VMIL’s participation, Mikhail McLeod, manager of legal and compliance, said, “We believe that creating lasting wealth goes hand in hand with building a sustainable future.”

The NEPA said the benefits of greener business practices extend beyond environmental protection. Improvements in energy and resource efficiency, waste reduction, and water conservation can help lower operating costs while strengthening an organisation’s reputation among customers, employees, investors, and other stakeholders.

Organisations that achieve participatory status or higher are also eligible to use the GBJ eco-label on their websites, products, and corporate materials.

The agency described the programme as a process of continuous improvement, allowing organisations to adopt environmental measures at a pace that reflects their resources and operational priorities. Through technical support, monitoring, and audits, participants can identify both strengths and opportunities for further improvement.

Green Business Jamaica was launched as a pilot programme in 2018 and attracted five public- and private-sector organisations by 2020. Interest has continued to grow since then. During the 2025-26 financial year, nine organisations sought information about joining the programme, a 50 per cent increase over the six entities that made similar enquiries in the previous year.

The NEPA said the programme supports the broader goal of greening business operations across multiple sectors while contributing to Jamaica’s environmental and sustainable-development objectives. As the country grapples with climate change and increasingly frequent extreme weather events, the agency argues that stronger environmental management can help build more resilient organisations and communities.