(Fredericksburg, Va.) September 16, 2026 – The City of Fredericksburg Clean & Green Commission is proud to recognize the recipients of the 2026 Sustainability Awards, celebrating downtown businesses and restaurants that are putting sustainability into practice while contributing to a vibrant Fredericksburg community.
Now in its sixth year, the Sustainability Award program highlights the many ways environmental stewardship can become part of everyday business operations. This year’s honorees demonstrate that sustainability does not take a single form: it can mean reducing waste, conserving energy and resources, choosing responsible products and suppliers, supporting local organizations, encouraging reuse, or finding creative ways to make environmentally conscious choices part of doing business.
The 2026 participants also offered a valuable look at what sustainability means within Fredericksburg’s business community. Across different industries and business models, their efforts reflect a shared commitment to thoughtful resource use, strong community connections, and continued improvement.
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2026 Sustainability Award recipients
Fredericksburg Technology
Fredericksburg Technology combines technology services with a strong commitment to community and environmental responsibility. Its sustainability efforts include energy-efficient operations, responsible purchasing, recycling and waste reduction, and a free e-waste recycling service available to clients and, when capacity allows, members of the public. After moving to its Frederick Street office in 2025, the company has also benefited from greater natural light and improved energy efficiency.
Riverby Books
For 30 years, Riverby Books has given books a second life by buying and selling an entirely secondhand inventory sourced from the community. Beyond its inherently circular business model, Riverby uses energy-efficient practices, recycles and monitors waste, encourages reusable items, and supports local artists, writers, schools, nonprofits, and other community organizations throughout Fredericksburg.
Feral Roots Conservatory
Feral Roots Conservatory, formerly Blue Sage Massage Studio, approaches sustainability through what its owner describes as “ritual ecology” — recognizing that business choices exist within a larger living system. Through low-waste creative practices, locally and ethically sourced materials, reusable and refillable products, and nature-centered experiences such as forest therapy walks and sound healing, Feral Roots connects environmental stewardship with individual and community well-being.
Phosphene Studio
Phosphene Studio promotes conscious consumerism through a carefully curated collection of slow-fashion clothing, accessories, and home goods from independent designers and makers. Sustainability informs decisions throughout the business, from selecting brands based on ethical and responsible production practices to reducing packaging waste, using environmentally conscious products, and creating workshops, pop-ups, and other events that strengthen community connections.
Collage Spa
Collage Spa integrates sustainability throughout its personalized approach to wellness and the healing arts. The spa uses energy- and water-efficient practices, digital systems to reduce paper waste, refillable and environmentally conscious products, and local or ethical suppliers while also partnering with other Fredericksburg businesses and supporting local nonprofits.
River Rock Outfitter
River Rock Outfitter views sustainability as an operating philosophy rooted in environmental stewardship, education, and what the business calls “progress over perfection.” Its Re-Boot consignment program keeps outdoor gear and apparel in circulation while making quality equipment more accessible, with unsold items supporting the FXBG Free Closet. River Rock also partners with organizations including Friends of the Rappahannock and Project Healing Waters and provides workshops and programming that connect the community with the outdoors.
Dragonfly Yoga Studio
A locally owned Fredericksburg business since 2013, Dragonfly Yoga Studio pairs accessible wellness programming with a philosophy that small environmental changes can have a significant collective impact. The studio has adopted energy- and water-efficient practices, reusable drinkware, responsible purchasing, and low-waste operations while supporting organizations including Downtown Greens, Friends of the Rappahannock, FXBG Pride, and I Support the Girls Fredericksburg.
Latitudes Fair Trade
Latitudes Fair Trade places social and environmental sustainability at the center of its business model, with approximately 95 percent of its products sourced through fair trade. Its handmade goods emphasize recycled and upcycled materials, environmentally responsible processes, fair wages, and safe working conditions, while the business also recycles shipping materials and supports local nonprofits and schools throughout the year.
Fillagreen
Fillagreen was founded to make lower-waste living practical, approachable, and free from the pressure of perfection. Customers can refill household and personal-care products using their own containers, while Fillagreen also provides specialty recycling collection, hosts free community swaps, works with organizations including the University of Mary Washington and Friends of the Rappahannock, and prioritizes responsible products and closed-loop or reduced-waste packaging.
FOODE
Since opening in downtown Fredericksburg in 2011, FOODE has built its mission around making all-natural and organic food accessible while creating a welcoming place for the community. Its sustainability practices include local and seasonal sourcing, vegetarian and plant-based options, repurposing ingredients, surplus-food donation, waste audits, compostable takeout materials, reusable dine-in service, responsible purchasing, and used cooking oil recycling, alongside partnerships with organizations including No Kid Hungry, Micah Ministries, FAM, and DarPro’s Used Cooking Oil Recycling Program.
Sustainability in Fredericksburg
Together, the 2026 award recipients demonstrate how local businesses can make a meaningful difference through choices both large and small. Their efforts strengthen a culture in which environmental responsibility, community stewardship, and a thriving local economy can reinforce one another.
The Clean & Green Commission congratulates this year’s recipients and thanks them for sharing their work with the community. By recognizing businesses already taking action, the Commission hopes to celebrate their accomplishments and encourage continued progress.
