Time & Materials Beer Company Earns BetterBev Recognition

PR / Reading, MA (June 29, 2026) – Reading’s Time & Materials Beer Company has been recognized as a “green beverage producer” by the BetterBev program.

The distinction was awarded by the Energy Transition Institute at UMass Amherst, which serves as one of the administrators of the BetterBev recognition program through a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Pollution Prevention Program. Time & Materials joins a growing number of beverage producers in Massachusetts and beyond that have earned recognition for their environmentally conscious business practices. While brewing is resource-intensive by nature, there are many opportunities for most businesses to reduce their environmental impact and improve their bottom line.

Among the notable environmental attributes at Time & Materials is a commitment to sourcing local ingredients from Valley Malt and Four Star Farms, both located in Massachusetts. Buying local decreases scope 3 delivery chain greenhouse gas emissions. When the brewing process is complete, spent grains go to local farms that use them to supplement animal feed. Even the distribution model is local, with almost all of its beer sold at nearby farmers markets. That’s a big deal when you consider that packaging format and distribution is responsible for the most significant environmental impact of beer production.

A commitment to thoughtful standard operating procedures also helped Time & Materials earn recognition. Process water is captured and reused, all 4-packs are packaged with rescued and reused can carriers, and an electric brewhouse powered in part by renewable energy decreases emissions notably compared to most other breweries.

The BetterBev program was launched to help beverage producers understand their environmental impact, increase efficiency, improve health and safety, conserve natural resources, and improve their businesses. Recognition is earned after a beverage producer’s local BetterBev administrator works with them to assess their environmental practices and impact. The process covers a range of criteria including water and energy use, waste, and even environmental culture. Learn more at betterbev.org.

About Time & Materials Beer Company

Founded in 2021 by husband-and-wife team Brian Shirley and Liz Leahy, Time & Materials™ is a family-owned nanobrewery based in Reading, Massachusetts that believes in producing unpretentious beer with local ingredients. Starting with direct-to-consumer shipping across the state, the brewery shifted to selling at local farmers markets. The pivot allows them to collaborate with a variety of local breweries and to connect with customers, sharing the stories behind their beers and building lasting relationships.