Sustainability is meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. From the very beginning, the Missouri Botanical Garden has been a leader in providing knowledge, resources and inspiration to promote conservation and sustainability throughout the world as well as within our region.

The Missouri Botanical Garden invests significant resources in developing and sharing new discoveries in plant science and using that knowledge to help manage those ecosystems here and around the world. The Garden is equally committed to inspiring and educating all members of our local region about the benefits of being good environmental stewards through responsible resource use and establishing sustainable communities.

The Garden's strategies for advancing sustainability includes the implementation of green practices into all Garden operations; offering innovative sustainability educational programs and demonstrations; and providing strong leadership within the St. Louis community on these issues.

Sustainable Operations
Through facility operations the Missouri Botanical Garden strives to be a role model for visitors, employees and the community at large.

Horticulture
Horticulture displays are the number one reason people visit the Garden, providing excellent opportunities to demonstrate sustainable gardening strategies. These strategies include:

• Compost (and reuse on site) nearly 100% Garden "green" waste.
• Washing and reusing plastic and clay pots.
• Piloting mowers are powered by propane.
• Utilizing eco-friendly fertilizers.
• Installing rain sensors on irrigation system.
• Promoting and using native and adapted plants in horticulture displays.
• The William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening provides sustainable gardening educational displays and resources for homeowners and the nursery industry.
• The Garden operates one of the most extensive public garden recycling programs in the nation. The Plastic Pot Recycling Program collected more 130,000 pounds of horticulture waste in 2009. To date, the Garden's Plastic Pot Recycling program has saved more than 800,000 pounds or 400 tons of plastic garden pots, cell packs and trays from landfills.


Energy Efficiency
In 1996, the Missouri Botanical Garden's Board of Trustees established an Energy Policy resolution confirming energy efficiency in its facilities to be a major capital and operating priority. From 2000 to 2005, MBG increased building area by 11% while reducing annual energy usage by 22% by implementing energy efficiency measures. In 2009, solar panels were installed in the Kemper Center to offset the power demand of the floral clock, a temporary display installed in honor of the Garden's sesquicentennial anniversary.

Recycling and Waste Reduction
From office operations to visitor services, over 75% of non-organic solid waste collected at the Garden is recycled. These strategies include:
• Co-mingled container recycling throughout the Garden and at all public events.
• Construction waste recycling including scrap metal, cardboard and ceiling tiles.
• Recycling collection for maps, tickets and box lunches.
• Garden staff is equipped with copy machines capable of two-sided copies.
• Recycling collection within office operations include paper, beverage containers, printer and toner cartridges, batteries, etc.
• "Bring Back the Tap" campaign to reduce bottled water distribution.

Janitorial and Cleaning Supplies
The Garden was an early adopter of green cleaning practices. All cleaning products are Green Seal certified and all janitorial paper products contain post-consumer recycled content. Micro-fiber cleaning cloths have replaced disposable rags, while motorized cleaning equipment is certified by the Carpet & Rug Institute.

Building Construction
The Garden is committed to designing, constructing and operating all Garden facilities in compliance with LEED™ green building standards. Examples of green building at the Garden include:
• The Monsanto Center, the Missouri Botanical Garden's research center located at the corner of Shaw and Vandeventer, is a model of "green architecture." Opened in 1997, the building brings together environmentally-friendly technology and design, from the siting of the structure and the materials used in construction, to the carpeting, paint, and even the furniture. Recycled and recyclable materials are found throughout. An environmentally-sensitive energy system oversees the way offices are illuminated. The structure is also designed to be "earthquake proof," with 41 base isolators placed beneath the building and mounted on footings that reach to bedrock. In February 2010, the Monsanto Center officially earned silver certification under the LEED EB-Operations and Maintenance rating system. Less than 500 buildings have received any type of LEED EB certification. The Monsanto Center is the first in Missouri.
• The Explore Classroom at Shaw Nature Reserve was constructed using 95% reused materials and nearly 90% of deconstruction waste of the SNR facility complex was recycled and/or reused.

Food Service
In 2008, the Garden's Sassafras Café became the first restaurant in the State of Missouri to be certified by the Green Restaurant Association. Highlights of green practices include:
• Reusable plates and utensils.
• Fair Trade Organic Coffee.
• Recycling and waste reduction.
• Daylighting.
• Napkins and cups with recycled content.
• Water saving features.
• Visitor information about green achievements.

Garden Gate Shop
The majority of Garden visitors stop by the Garden Gate Shop to purchase high quality gifts that are also eco-wise. Offering a wide variety of merchandise made from recycled content, all shopping bags and packing tissue used in the shop are 100% recycled content. In addition, the Garden Gate Shop provides incentives to reuse shopping bags and participates in the Eco-Libris program.

Publications
First we ask, "Do we need to use paper to achieve our goal?" Can we fulfill our communication goals electronically?" Therefore:
• All copy paper is 100% post-consumer recycled content.
• 100% of publications printed on 100% post consumer recycled content paper.
• The majority of class catalogues are now only available electronically.

Employee Engagement
MBG's employees are committed to the Garden's environmental mission. On a daily basis, the Garden seeks ways to allow them to fulfill that mission through their own daily choices. The Garden offers incentive programs to encourage employees to utilize alternative transportation. Likewise, the Garden's Sustainable Purchasing policy establishes priorities for environmentally preferred products.

Education and Training
Within the St. Louis region, the Garden is currently a leader in educating and demonstrating sustainable life style choices. Homeowners, businesses, community and schools can access a wide breadth, depth and objective analysis of products and resources related to green living and learning.

Kemper Center for Home Gardening exhibits include a wide range of home gardens including vegetable gardening, drought tolerant plants and grasses, rain catchment systems, rain gardens, and environmentally-friendly pest management. Adult education programs provide education and training for homeowners on all these topics.

EarthWays Center is a renovated century-old Victorian home demonstrating energy efficient and renewable energy systems, a wide range of green products as well as strategies for implementing sustainable life-style choices. Workshops and trainings are available for homeowners, residential building contractors, businesses to support green office operation and education programs for K-12 schools and colleges and universities.

The Missouri Botanical Garden's mission is "to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life."  Today, 151 years after opening, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science and conservation, education and horticultural display.

3/2010