PADNOS Boosts Michigan Sustainable Business Forum with $35K Donation
Holland, Mich. – April 22, 2026 – PADNOS, the largest industrial recycler in Michigan, is marking Earth Day 2026 with a $35,000 donation to Michigan Sustainable Business Forum (MiSBF) and a tree-planting initiative.
MiSBF works with businesses and institutions to provide education, sustainable business resources and opportunities for collaboration and civic engagement. The donation, which comes from PADNOS’s donor-advised fund administered by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, will enable the MiSBF board to develop a new five-year strategic plan that will modernize the mission of the organization, establish core pillars and define a durable revenue model.
“Michigan Sustainable Business Forum has been a tremendous partner and resource for PADNOS since its inception, and we’re eager to see the impact our donation will have on its vision and initiatives,” said Kari Bliss, Principal Sustainability at PADNOS and Vice Chair of MiSBF.
Launched in 1994 as the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum – a vital arm of West Michigan Environmental Action Council – the organization evolved into an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2009, updating its mission and name in 2025 to better reflect its statewide footprint.
PADNOS has been a central figure in the organization’s success over the past decade; it is a founding member of the Forum and guided the development of the Forum’s landmark circular economy studies in 2014 and 2024, “Economic Impact Potential and Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in Michigan.” PADNOS staff also chaired the Forum’s scholarship golf outing for more than a decade, helping to distribute more than $100,000 in scholarships to local universities. PADNOS was a Sustainable Business of the Year honoree in 2022, and Shelley Padnos, a third-generation family member who currently serves as Chair of PADNOS’s Executive Committee, was inducted into its Michigan Sustainable Business Hall of Fame in 2023.
“This generous gift from PADNOS comes as our organization approaches a crossroads and a historic opportunity to create a more sustainable Michigan for residents and businesses alike,” said Daniel Schoonmaker, Executive Director of MiSBF. “As Michigan’s environmental and legal landscape evolves, we are eager to meet the moment and define a roadmap that will maximize the benefits to our member organizations and support the creation of a truly circular and low-carbon economy for our state.”
PADNOS also continues its Earth Day tradition of collaborating with One Tree Planted, a non-profit organization dedicated to global reforestation and the restoration of degraded landscapes. PADNOS will plant one tree for every transaction at its 23 customer-facing recycling centers across Michigan and Indiana today. PADNOS and One Tree Planted have planted more than 6,000 trees since the partnership began in 2022.
About PADNOS
Founded in 1905, PADNOS is a fourth-generation, family-owned company with diverse processing capabilities to create real recycling solutions for ferrous and nonferrous metals, end-of-life vehicles, paper, plastics and electronics. PADNOS operates 32 locations with over 1,000 team members. For more information, visit www.padnos.com.
PADNOS Media Contact:
Alli Cooke
PR Manager, LLYC
alli.cooke@llyc.global
616.258.5769
MiSBF Media Contact:
Daniel Schoonmaker
Executive Director
dschoonmaker@misbf.org
616.308.4761