Notable Sustainable Companies
in Florida

We are wrapping up the East Coast with our next post focusing on Notable Sustainable Companies in Florida! With the State subject to climate change, including but not limited to various hurricanes that have passed through, sustainable development seems to be a rising value to many Southeastern communities. We think we selected a good mix of companies that you will enjoy discovering, showcasing various sectors. From energy efficiency to living in harmony with nature, to utilizing local resources in creative ways.

There are many more sustainable companies that we may have missed, so if you believe you should be in the Notable Sustainable Companies in Florida, feel free to contact us and we will evaluate your sustainable initiative. We did not receive any funding or incentives to feature these companies. Our goal is to create awareness of sustainable development and encourage others to participate. Companies listed here are also welcome to add our eco-badge to their website, located at the bottom of this article. 

Notable Sustainable Companies in Florida   

Tampa Maid Foods, LLC 

Let’s kick off our list of Notable Sustainable Companies in Florida with a company that works with the sea. Traceability in seafood is becoming a critical part of sustainability. It’s very difficult to rectify the global state of the seafood industry.

Tampa Maid Foods is in the business of sourcing, processing and marketing high-quality value-added food products from around the world to the foodservice and retail markets, with an expertise is in coated products. All of their seafood ingredients and product-contact packaging can be traced one-up/one-down. Oysters can be traced to state and harvest area.

We discovered Tampa Maid through Ocean Trust, an organization that performs the necessary tasks of habitat restoration and marine conservation with the funds it receives.

Tampa Maid is a member of the National Fisheries Institute and has supported the Institute’s efforts to aid in marine conservation, as it partners with Ocean Trust and other initiatives. The company procures a large and growing portion of its raw material, breaded shrimp material and other products from BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices)-certified facilities.

In addition, Tampa Maid is committed to sustainable palm oil production and fully supports the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Palm oil is commonly used in coated products, such as Tampa Maid’s Margaritaville glazed shrimp.

Tampa Maid also practices the following to ensure their products are a part of the sustainable story.

• Recycle all corrugated and paper goods—In 4 years, over 1,700 tons were recycled, saving 30,124 trees.
• Reduced packaging to reduce waste — In 4 years over 58 tons of bleached cardboard was eliminated, saving an additional 994 trees and preventing bleaching chemicals from entering water sources.
• The only corrugated cardboard used by Tampa Maid is in unbleached, recyclable shippers, reducing chemical use and protecting water sources.
• Run a state-of-the-art thawing system to lower the demand for water and sewage capacity by 100,000 gallons/day.
• Use energy-efficient air handlers in the freezers.
• Energy-efficient lighting throughout the facility—Annually saves about 96 tons of coal and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by about 404 pounds per year.
• Waste from manufacturing is converted to animal feeds.
• Used frying oil is recycled into other products.
• Pre-treat all wastewater returned to the city, reducing biological oxygen demand and total suspended solids.
• An improved water treatment system has further reduced suspended solids by 80%.
• Broken wood pallets are rendered into mulch.

OnPeak

OnPeak Energy is a Florida-based Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) company that works with building owners to evaluate, install, and finance investments in energy saving equipment.

With every new prospect, they provide a step by step approach that mitigates the most common challenges in the implementation of energy efficiency upgrades which are:

• Lack of trust;
• lack of understanding of both saving and how to achieve them;
• and the lack of resources which usually are not included in the company’s budget.

One example of this is when OnPeak approached Vanessa Vielma, Hotel Complex General Manager, with a proposal to install a combination of LED lighting and smart thermostats in both hotels. Vielma saw the technologies’ potential to improve both guest experience and sustainability. However, she needed a solid financial argument to justify the expense.

To prove the value of the smart thermostats solution, OnPeak implemented a demo in select rooms in both hotels. The thermostats are equipped with occupancy sensors and Energy Management Settings (EMS) which automatically set back temperature when rooms are unoccupied and recover temperature when guests return.

Over the course of 30 days, the thermostats generated a 40% reduction in HVAC runtime in the participating rooms. Impressed by the savings, Vielma approved the installation of the thermostats for all of the guest rooms in both hotels

To supplement the HVAC savings, OnPeak designed a comprehensive LED lighting retrofit for the hotels, including the lobbies, stairways, service corridors, parking lots, guest rooms, bathrooms, gym, pool, and accent lighting.

The comprehensive LED upgrade has reduced lighting loads by 58%. The smart thermostats, by optimizing HVAC runtime, have generated savings of $172 per room per year. The thermostats have also created additional maintenance savings by lowering humidity in the guest rooms and preventing subsequent damage to wallpaper.

 

Fleet Farming  

In Orlando, Florida, Fleet Farming is a non-profit urban agriculture program whose mission is to empower all generations to grow food to increase local food accessibility.

Their vision is to create localized food systems that bring communities together towards a healthier, more connected world in harmony with people and planet. Fleet Farming converts underutilized lawn space into edible gardens or micro-farms. Their program works to provide edible landscaping to schools, community centers, affordable housing units, businesses and individuals through our community farming initiative and Edible Landscapes garden installation service.

Fleet Farming has many completed projects that have totaled a positive impact of:

They currently have 5 projects open to sponsor, which include:

1. Remington Inn & Suites Garden: Remington Inn & Suites Garden is a motel unit that is mostly occupied by homeless families and individuals who require immediate access to affordable housing. Fleet Farming has created a video and proposal with their dedicated Facility Managers to develop a community garden for current residents. The hope is that the garden will help to serve therapeutic and educational opportunities for families while providing 100% of the harvests to these residents.
2. Carver Middle School Garden: Carver Middle School is a title one school which provides financial assistance to schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. Fleet Farming’s team of growers and educators created a proposal with leaders of Carver Middle to build a school garden to help improve test scores and teach children vital skills through this garden.
3. Coalition For The Homeless Garden: Coalition of the Homeless of Central Florida is a non-profit organization that helps families and individuals find their way home with a focus on shelter, stability and housing. As the largest provider of homeless services in the community, the Coalition offers crucial programs and resources to more than 500 men, women, and children each day. By installing multiple gardens on the Coalition’s campus, Fleet Farming will create a learning and growing experience for their guests of all ages. The gardens will also provide a sustainable source of fresh herbs and produce to be used in their kitchens, which served over 250,000 meals last year.
4. Quest, Inc. Garden: Quest, Inc is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build communities where people with disabilities achieve their goals. An idea that their dedicated team had dreamed up was to create an edible garden to expand the skills of this community. Fleet Farming’s goal for this project is to add raised beds to their location and to create a seasonal curriculum for a gardening program. Through developing a skill set such as this, individuals with developmental disabilities can learn how to grow their own food.
5. Evan’s High School Garden: Evans High School is a public school that works to build a strong, academic foundation based on state and national standards. After touring their campus, it was clear that a partnership with Fleet Farming would be an opportunity for every student in their ‘Rise Up’ Garden Club to participate in. Their goal is to help demonstrate multifaceted systems for growing food for high school students. Fleet Farming plans to fix-up their current garden beds, add new garden beds, and to renovate their greenhouse irrigation system to support a fully sustainable gardening program.

 

Cress

Located in the historic downtown of Deland, Florida, Cress is a critically acclaimed restaurant that serves globally inspired food with a determined emphasis on quality local & sustainable ingredients. In particular, Cress tackles food waste. The staff makes sure that all of their food scraps are completely recycled back to the ground — or an animal’s belly.

The mastermind behind this sustainable company in Florida is professional chef Hari Pulapaka. Pulapaka was raised in a family of five kids, in working-class Bombay, India. They ate modestly and didn’t throw much away — just banana peels and the occasional potato skin. But in American culinary school, almost half the food was tossed.

In the last four years, he and his wife have cut down a huge amount of food waste: about 16,000 pounds. They’ve done it by engaging their community. Every week, a local farmer swings by to pick up Cress’s food scraps for pig and chicken feed, as well as compost. That same farmer then sells vegetables at the local farmer’s market, grown in — yup, you guessed it — Pulapaka’s compost.

Cress also recycles cooking oil and uses every part of their vegetables and fish. Stuff that other restaurants throw out, like veggie tops, pop up in Cress’s pestos, chutneys, salsa verdes, sauces, and soups.

To top this fantastic track record, Pulapaka is a member of the Blue Ribbon Task Force. Since 2012, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has invited leading chefs and culinarians from across the United States to Monterey, California, to share their challenges and ideas about seafood sustainability, the work of the Seafood Watch program and their role in ensuring a future with a healthy ocean. Members were selected for their leadership roles in their culinary fields—some are new acquaintances to the Seafood Watch program, while others are active spokespeople.

 Indigenous Restaurant

Indigenous Restaurant is another restaurant led by a Blue Ribbon Task Force chef & owner Stephen Phelps. Located in Sarasota, Indigenous’ menu is conceptualized with conscientious sourcing, changing with America’s four seasons and peak ingredient availability.

The restaurant has also partnered with Niman Ranch, and its network of U.S. family farmers and ranchers raise livestock, humanely and sustainably to deliver the finest tasting meat in the world.

• Niman Ranch works with one of the largest networks of small, independent U.S. family farmers and ranchers – over 720 and growing.
• All their animals have raised outdoors or in deeply bedded pens. We lead the industry in sustainable and humane agricultural practices.
• Their raising protocols were developed with the help of animal welfare expert Dr. Temple Grandin, and are the strictest in the industry.
• They offer a complete line of Certified Humane® fresh beef, pork, lamb and a variety of smoked and uncured meats.

 

 

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Salt Palm Development

Salt Plam Development designs and constructs high-end residential, sustainable and responsible developments for the Tampa Bay region. This is really taken to heart by the team, and reflected in the elements they use and practices they implement to reduce their carbon footprint.

Salt Palm is also a certified B Corporation, an active member with 1% For The Planet, Solar United Neighbors (which we listed in our Notable Sustainable Companies in West Virginia), American Sustainable Business Council, and a CSR Member of IDEAS. That’s leadership.

Salt Palm is committed to solar on 100% of our new developments. Take a look at their latest development, the Sabal Smart Homes: completely solar-ready.

These smart homes will eliminate carbon dioxide equal to:

• Planting 3,285 trees.
• 282,000 auto miles or 14,382 gallons of gas.
• Recycling 446 tons of waste instead of sending it to a landfill.
• 137,393 pounds (68.7 tons) of coal burned.
• Help avoid the use of 3,434,500 gallons of water by thermoelectric power plants.

Sons & Daughters Farm, Inc

Sons & Daughters Farm works hard to nurture the next generation of organic farmers. They grow subtropical crops in the right regions and compost their waste products to create fertile soil in South Florida. Their efforts were noticed by us and made their way on our list of Notable Sustainable Companies in Florida. This organic farm is modeling a viable transition path for conventional farmers.

The team uses a polyculture system which allows them to grow diverse crops with virtually no inputs. This introduces lesser-known crops to the marketplace that resist climate change. For example, they harvest:

• hibiscus
• tulsi
• cassava
• plantain
• moringa
• sugar cane

Next Up: Top 15 Sustainable Initiatives in Georgia

Clean the World

With headquarters in Orlando, Florida, Clean the World (CTW) provides:

• Business management;
• organizational development;
• supportive professional and technical services.

They offer their mentoring and training to private corporations and nonprofit organizations to foster a sustainable future and achieve social, economic and environmental impacts for the common good.

For their mission, the key is to develop a replicable, best-practice business structure that serves to create a more sustainable world. Creating a successful pathway for businesses with an environmental and/or a social purpose at their core will take a new way of thinking, a new set of tools, and a new community of collaborators. CTW is there to try and test new frameworks, methods, tools and partnerships that drive sector growth in global social enterprising and corporate social responsibility.

Some of their remarkable programs include, but is not limited to:

• Hotel Recycling Program
• Build Hygiene Kits
• Textile Upcycling Program

 

 

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Amavida Coffee and Tea

Amavida Coffee and Tea is an importer, roaster, and purveyor of Organic and Fair Trade specialty coffees. They operate many cafes in the Florida Panhandle. The team behind Amavida Cofee maintains the following certifications: Organic, Fair Trade, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and B Corp Certification.

Lastly, Amavida is member of Cooperative Coffees, a green coffee-importing cooperative comprised of 23 community-based roasters throughout the United States and Canada. Fair Trade movement goes beyond the importation of fairly traded coffee and products. Working together, Amavida and Coop Coffees promote fair buying practices and work to ensure that partnering farming communities are being properly cared for and educated.

SEQUIL Systems, Inc.

SEQUIL Systems, Inc. is an award-winning professional services firm which provides:

• highly technical building commissioning;
• LEED program management;
• energy modeling and sustainability consulting services.

Their team consults the architecture, engineering and construction industries. SEQUIL services help project teams reduce the environmental impact of buildings and create exceptional indoor environments. Founded in 2002, SEQUIL is now celebrating its 10th year as a provider of comprehensive energy strategies for the built environment.

Located in Delray Beach, SEQUIL principals have been practicing architecture and engineering since the 1970s, when energy conservation was a core element of design.

Solar Direct 

Solar Direct is an excellent resource for solar and renewable systems, professional installation, DIY kits, and other energy-efficient products. With links to a variety of helpful information, eco-conscious consumers are able to learn all about renewable energy solutions.

Solar Direct specializes in designing, installing, and servicing solar products. Though the business is based in Florida, services can be provided in most parts of the continental US. Most products come with free shipping, too!

Orlando Lakefront at College Park

The next one on our list of notable sustainable companies in Florida is no small player! Orlando Lakefront at College Park is very much a growing tiny house community (THC). They have revitalized a 1950’s RV park that welcomes tiny housers to park legally and enjoy the tiny life.

Reflective of the spirit of the tiny house social movement, Orlando Lakefront is a real grassroots effort to organically grow a tiny house community from the ground up. Sunny, sustainable, and community-focused, this property is dedicated to maintaining the original spirit that first started the tiny house movement: simple living.

Currently, they have 21 THOWs (Tiny Houses On Wheels) and 2 tiny houses on foundations. 23 tiny houses in all- and counting! THers (tiny housers) are welcome to join their THC and help us build big community as we live tiny.

Their tiny house community models a sustainable and ethical lifestyle. Rather than ask our awesome RV neighbors to leave (or astronomically increase lot leases as some have done), we are growing organically. As RVs leave, they offer available lots to tiny housers who wish to legally park, live on the shores of a beautiful lake, and take advantage of all that a nearby metropolitan area has to offer.

The Spillover

More sea-to-table than farm-to-table, The Spillover is one of three sister restaurants by Lokal, the first restaurant in Miami to use 100% clean, renewable energy sourced from wind and solar power.

Located in the Coconut Grove neighborhood, owner Matt Kuchar challenges the status quo by sourcing local ingredients – all the seafood is caught daily in Florida waters. Other sustainable elements include repurposed and recycled materials in the restaurant decor, as well as wall murals and paintings by local Miami artists.

Everglades National Park

This might be the first time we include a national park in our list, but you won’t be disappointed as to why!

Founded in 1947, Everglades National Park covers 1.5 million acres of South Florida and is America’s largest subtropical wilderness. Among other recognitions, the park has been named a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve; it is home to some of North America’s most unique and endangered wildlife species.

Historically, it has also been a settlement to Native tribes and village communities. While once at risk to drainage and development, conservation efforts have helped these wetlands to thrive and remain a wild and wonderful habitat.

Koru Swimwear: Laura Wells Collection

What’s something that comes to mind when you picture Florida? Beaches of course!

For an inclusive, environmentally-friendly swimsuit, Laura Well’s Collection is the latest line offered by Koru Swimwear, based in Cocoa Beach.

Partner of 1% for the Planet and Healthy Seas, this conscious company boasts smart swimsuit fabrics (100% recycled materials) and supportive construction. As its name implies, Healthy Seas is a joint venture of non-governmental organizations and businesses that share a common mission: joining forces to clean the oceans and seas of marine litter such as derelict fishnets responsible for the needless death of marine animals.

That litter is then recycled into high-quality raw material for brand new products such as socks, swimwear, carpets and other textiles.

 

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We hope you enjoyed L’Autre Couleur’s Notable Sustainable Companies in Florida!

L’Autre Couleur is a responsible content marketing & design agency that represents companies making a difference in positive impact & sustainability. We offer end-to-end full service in digital marketing services, ranging from content writing & web design to social media and public relations campaign management.

To work with us on content writing or digital marketing projects, feel free to contact us.

This was the 17th post in the Notable Sustainable Companies series; one for every State in the United States. You can expect a Notable Sustainable Companies article for every State in the United States! To stay updated on the up and coming initiatives, subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow us on Facebook. Also please comment if we have left out any important sustainable companies in Florida that you believe should be part of our list of top sustainable companies, or if you have any thoughts/comments on the article.

Check out some of the sustainable companies happening in your neighbouring country.

• Top Sustainable Companies in Washington, DC
• Top Sustainable Companies in Pennsylvania
• Top Sustainable Companies in West Virginia
• Notable Sustainable Companies in North Carolina

 

 

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