By Lookout Staff

April 15, 2019 -- A popular beach cafe and a local online peer-to-peer resale marketplace are the winners of the 24th annual Sustainable Quality Awards grand prizes this year.

The awards, which will be presented at an annual awards ceremony and lunchtime event April 30, recognize local businesses that "demonstrate excellence in helping Santa Monica continue to move toward a more sustainable future."

Back on the Beach Café -- an indoor and outdoor venue that features "local and seasonal cuisine with breathtaking views" -- is one of this year's grand prize winners.

The other winner, Tradesy, Inc., offers an online platform "for buying and selling women’s luxury and designer contemporary fashion," organizers said.

The Grand Prizes are given to businesses that "excel in the areas of sustainable economic development, social responsibility, and stewardship of the natural environment," organizers said.

Excellence in Economic Development Awards will be given to the Arthur Murray Dance Center and Bezian Bakery.

Arthur Murray provides instruction in "all styles of social and competitive ballroom dancing through personal sessions, group classes and practice sessions," organizers said.

Bezian Bakery is "highly acclaimed (for) wild yeast breads available exclusively at the Santa Monica Farmers Market."

Stewardship of the Environment Awards will be given to the consulting firm Global Green and to Salon Tru.

Global Green "creates catalytic projects to serve as models for helping create sustainable communities and identifies policy and financial solutions to bring them to scale," organizers said.

Salon Tru offers a "full line of plant derived Aveda, Davines and Comfort Zone products and relaxing décor along with a service-oriented staff embrace pure, natural, beauty in every way."

This year's winner of the Excellence in Social Responsibility Awards is Santa Monica Motel, which recently completed comprehensive greening remodel and "offers very affordable Westside accommodations."

Since the awards were created in 1995, a total of 157 businesses have been presented with 198 awards in recognition of their outstanding leadership in sustainability.

“The Sustainable Quality Awards inspire us to further balance business practices with caring for the environment," said Julia Ladd, assistant vice president of property management for Santa Monica Place/Macerich, a Grand Prize Winner in 2017.

"The recognition highlights the importance of social responsibility in order to create a healthy environment not only for customers and visitors, but for our employees, tenants, and the community.”

In addition to being recognized at the ceremony, the winning businesses are noted regularly on Green Business Tours and in presentations, in the Sustainable Santa Monica newsletter and in media, organizers said.

This years SQA’s take place April 30 at Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica Hotel in the Penthouse Ballroom.

The event begins at 11 a.m. with an active networking and exhibitor hour (Sustainable Power Hour).

SQA winners will be formally recognized during an award presentation starting at 12 p.m., followed by a sustainably plated lunch.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.smsqa.com or by calling (310) 393-9825. Pre-paid tickets are $60 for Chamber members and $70 for non-members.