Environmental
and Social Sustainability

At Syvantis Technologies, we take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously, and our care for the world around us doesn’t stop when we log out for the day.

Proudly headquartered in lake country

We love our home in Northern Minnesota’s beautiful and pristine Brainerd Lakes region.

We're committed to
community sustainability

Our goal is to support, preserve, and conserve local precious natural resources, flora, and fauna—particularly the lakes, which draw tourists from across the country.

We believe businesses should be Community Stewards

And we lead by example with the Fairview Conservancy project, which demonstrates low-impact development practices and provides guided tours of the facility.

Learn more about Low Impact Development

Eco-mindful headquarters

In 2006, Syvantis owners and their families purchased a parcel of land in Baxter, Minnesota to house their growing business. They prioritized conservation design alternatives, green building, and Low Impact Development.

This project was named Fairview Conservancy, and it demonstrates that not only does low impact development help the environment, but it also makes economic sense for small businesses.

Community support

Local organizations showed their support by awarding grants for this project. Grantors included:

  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • Initiative Foundation
  • Crow Wing Power
  • MN Regional Partnership
  • And others

The Fairview Conservancy project focused on commercial properties in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties.

Leading by example

Fairview Conservatory is a 4.5 acre demonstration of Low Impact Development meeting these criteria:

  • Easily applied to communities in rural Minnesota
  • Adopted with a minimum disruption to normal business practices
  • Demonstrates a quick payback of initial project costs
  • Cost is not appreciably more than a traditional comparable alternative
  • Provides a quick, positive, and measurable impact upon the area's natural resources

Environmental Awards & Conferences

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Minnesota Environmental Initiative Award

for Green Building and Development (2008)

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Minnesota Erosion Control Association Environmental Excellence Award

(2009, awarded to Syvantis CEO Janelle Riley)

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Build Smart Summit

Conference

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Green by Design Conference

Sponsored by Minnesota Green Communities

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Minnesota Erosion Control Association

Annual Conference

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Brainerd Lakes Environmental Learning Network

Conference

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Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

Annual Conference

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Renewable Alternative Energy Forum

Conference

Sustainable Building

Low Impact Development strategies use careful site design and decentralized storm water management to reduce the environmental footprint of new growth.

This approach improves water quality, reduces need for an expensive storm water system, preserves and recreates natural landscape features, and promotes natural movement of water within an ecosystem.

The average small businessperson can save money while making positive impacts on our natural landscape, and it only requires small changes to development methods. LID economic and environmental sense.

Learn more about Low Impact Development →