Two Cambridge Breweries Earn BetterBev Recognition as Green Beverage Producers

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-- Cambridge breweries Lamplighter Brewing and Cambridge Brewing Company (CBC) have been recognized as “green beverage producers” by the recently launched BetterBev Recognition program. The distinctions are being awarded by the UMass Boston Green Brewery Project as part of a coalition of New England states receiving support from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pollution Prevention (P2) Grants. About 50 or so of the region’s more than 600 breweries have earned recognition so far.  

Lamplighter has long been a leader in sourcing local ingredients, with a significant amount of its hops coming from Four Star Farms in Northfield, MA and nearly half of its malt from Valley Malt in Holyoke, MA or Blue Ox Malthouse in Maine. In addition to supporting local agriculture, much of which uses regenerative techniques rather than industrial farming methods, it decreases the brewery’s scope 3 (supply chain) greenhouse gas emissions. Lamplighter also excels in waste reduction, with three-stream waste collection (trash, recycling, compost) in the taproom, a consumer take-back program for its can carriers, and a unique can label liner recycling program. It’s recent community partnership with Climable supported the nonprofit’s mission to make climate science and clean energy understandable and actionable for everyone.  

Cambridge’s original brewery, CBC, has been thinking about sustainability for longer than most breweries have been in business. They’ve sourced renewable wind power from Constellation Energy for more than a decade, and recently contracted with a community solar farm to lower their energy footprint even further. Additional measures include a highly efficient heat pump for temperature controls in the taproom and restaurant, LED lighting practically everywhere, and food scrap collection that sends all organic waste to an anaerobic digester. CBC beer is always served in proper reusable glassware, even on its outdoor patio, and it is one of the few breweries that still offers refillable growlers for takeaway.  

BetterBev was created to help beverage producers fully understand their environmental practices, principles, and impact, with the goal of reducing production inefficiencies, improving health and safety, and conserving natural resources. Recognition is earned after a beverage producer’s state oversight organization works with them to perform an audit and assessment of their environmental practices and impact. The process covers criteria ranging from water use to energy efficiency and conservation to waste reduction and even environmental culture.   

For a list of the oversight organizations responsible for managing the green beverage producer program in each New England state visit the BetterBev website.  

About Lamplighter Brewing 

Lamplighter Brewing is a Cambridge-based brewery with two taproom locations just over the river from Boston. Its focus is on aroma-packed and flavor-driven beers, with an emphasis on New England IPAs, barrel-aged sours, and special seasonals. It brews a variety of one-off batches that allows the brew team to pursue various whims, and they don’t shy away from funk, twists on tradition, and unique ingredients.   

About Cambridge Brewing Company  

Founded in 1989, CBC is the oldest brewery-restaurant in the Boston area and one of the nation’s first. As pioneers of new American beer styles, they offer a wide array of hand-crafted original beers as well as interpretations of classic world styles and experimental beers. CBC’s in-house artisan ales are paired with fresh and local ingredients on the menu, providing choices not found anywhere else in the local dining arena.