Dependable Cleaners Wins Greenovate Award

Dependable Cleaners Wins Mayor Menino and the City of Boston’s Greenovate Award

Dependable Cleaners was awarded with the City of Boston’s Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s Greenovate Business Award for its commitment to sustainability. The company was recognized this past Tuesday, May 14, along with 18 additional businesses, at Boston University’s new Center for Student Services, a LEED-Gold building.

Dependable Cleaners has spent over $1 million to eliminate its use of perchloroethylene (Perc), which is hazardous to human health and the environment. The company has switched twice to new solvents, first to Eco-Solv and now they are in the process of switching to GreenEarth. This effort is in order to ensure they are using the most eco-friendly cleaning solutions. Dependable Cleaners also wet cleans garments, which uses no hazardous chemicals. They also has have an outside trainer that comes in regularly to develop its team’s ability to consistently increase the amount and types of garments that are wet cleaned. Lastly, for every wedding dress cleaned, Dependable Cleaners donates $3 to Carbonfund.org, which more than offsets any carbon created through the cleaning and preservation process.

“At Dependable Cleaners we take pride in providing our customers with the highest quality of dry cleaning care. Part of that quality is making sure the solutions we are using are environmentally friendly,” said Dependable Cleaners’ president and CEO, Christa Hagearty. “As a mother of three children, it is very important to me that this world is going to be safe for them and their children. With the many innovations there have been in dry cleaning and dry cleaning solutions over the years, it’s a no brainer for us to instill those ‘green practices’ in our facilities.”

Greenovate Boston Awards recognize achievements in the City’s residential, business, and sustainable food sectors. The Greenovate Residential Awards honor residents and residential organizations in Boston that are committed to sustainable living. Winners in this category demonstrate exemplary sustainable practices in their homes and communities. Greenovate Business Awards recognize extraordinary performance related to sustainable environmental practices. The Greenovate Sustainable Food Leadership Awards recognize efforts by businesses that work to provide the fresh, health and local food in the most sustainable manner.

Formerly known as the Mayor’s Green Awards, this year’s awards will reflect the adoption of Greenovate Boston, a collective movement and innovative solution to connect and motivate residents and businesses to help reach Mayor Menino’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020. While the awards are in their seventh year, the Mayor will present them this spring at the Greenovate Boston Forum, which will bring together residents and stakeholders to establish a shared vision for the future of the Greenovate Boston movement. For more information about Greenovate Boston, please visit www.GreenovateBoston.org.