Portico Brewing Shares 2024 Environmental Handprint Results

Continued progress, bike advocacy, and our most environmentally conscious beer yet

PR / Somerville-Cambridge, MA (January, 2025) – Portico Brewing has published its second annual Environmental Handprint Report, documenting continued progress on decreasing overall emissions, reducing taproom waste, bike advocacy, and charitable support for local environmental non-profits. Summarized in a three-page infographic available on its website, the results highlight a successful second year at the microbrewery and taproom in Camberville (literally located on the Cambridge-Somerville line). 

Portico’s all-electric brewhouse and kitchen, a design feature that eliminates Scope 1 (on-site) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improves air quality in the facility, combined with its enrollment in Somerville’s Community Choice Electricity “100% Local Green” option decreased its Scope 2 (purchased electricity) GHG emissions by 38% (compared to Eversource’s basic service). Its voluntary participation in the municipal program prevented 21.2 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2e) emissions in 2024, which according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, equates to preserving 21.3 acres of US forest for a year.

Portico also supported and advocated for bicycling as part of its effort to become a certified bike-friendly business in 2025. The taproom hosted Cambridge Bicycle Safety for a member meeting in February, a pair of staff members took on the Bike Month challenge in May, the Bicycle Benefits program was implemented in July, and the brewery’s social media accounts continued to promote the importance of protected bike lanes throughout the year. Fingers are crossed for the bike-friendly certified business application which was completed and submitted in October.  

In celebration of Earth Hour in March, Portico debuted its most eco-conscious beer to date, Earth Hour Hazy Pale Ale. Brewed with 100% local ingredients (Valley Malt (MA), Blue Ox Malthouse (ME), Four Star Farms (MA)) and 100% renewable energy, it boasts a notably lower carbon footprint than a typical beer. Initially intended only for on-premises draft consumption, patrons loved the recipe so much that it's now a year-round flagship. 

To further decrease taproom and brewery waste, a consumer-facing, three-stream (recycling and composting in addition to trash) disposal set up was implemented, and two more materials - grain bags along with stretch-wrap - were added to recycling efforts. The additions moved Portico several steps closer to its goal of zero-waste by the end of 2025. 

A key component of an environmental handprint is it’s net-positive approach to sustainability which acknowledges material, energy and waste impacts (commonly referred to as footprints) by countering them with positive actions that benefit the community and the planet. Along with existing actions including quarterly litter pickups and ongoing care for dozens of newly-planted neighborhood trees, Portico added native pollinator plants to the patio and rescued a local tree in distress, which was subsequently named “Birch Reynolds.” There was also a  special River Trivia night to raise awareness for nonprofit Mass Rivers and its river restoration advocacy, along with adoption and support for the NRDC Brewers for Clean Water campaign.

In addition to building on its existing environmental initiatives, Portico hopes to make further strides in 2025 by eliminating all single-use food service ware, taking a closer look at its overall energy consumption, piloting safer cleaning chemicals in the brewhouse, and renewing its Green Brewery recognition from the EPA’s BetterBev program. 

About Portico Brewing

Portico Brewing is inspired by architecture and design of all kinds, and its approachable beers are made for everyone to enjoy. Its focus is to rethink traditional styles and create beers with classic ingredients and careful technique. Formerly a contract brand, Portico debuted its own brewery and community focused taproom near the Somerville-Cambridge line in Massachusetts in spring of 2023. Committed to environmental values, it’s part of the movement that believes in business for good.