Top Sustainable Companies in Maine
Tucked neatly in the North East of the United States, Maine is blessed with bountiful lakes, wilderness activities and easygoing folks. As they say, it’s the way things should be. Today, we are proud to present you L’Autre Couleur’s Top Sustainable Companies in Maine, in hopes that some of these companies will inspire others to follow in their footsteps towards keeping our planet healthy, vibrant and progressive.
There are many more sustainable initiatives that we may have missed, so if you believe you should be in the Top Sustainable Companies in Maine, feel free to contact us and we will evaluate your sustainable initiative.
Top Sustainable Companies in Maine
1) Ecocor
Ecocor is dedicated to the construction of environmentally responsible Passive Houses. They use panelized building components for better control and better quality. This allows them to deliver in much shorter time frames, while utilizing locally sourced materials whenever possible. They build their own designs and also work with architects and owner-builders to build the healthiest, most energy efficient, resilient homes available.
Ecocor’s ground-breaking approach has been promoted in multiple publications including Treehugger and Inhabitat. They are the first certified Passive House component manufacturer outside Europe, which is no small feat when you look into how complex the materials need to be more energy efficient.
What is a Passive House?
Here is a great info graphic by the New York Times showing what a passive house looks like.
The term “Passive house” refers to today’s most energy efficient building standards. Rather than using conventional heating technologies, the house passively leverages all the heat emitted from household items, as well as the people living in the house. Buildings that meet the Passive House building standards utilize 80% less energy on heating and cooling. These make for healthier, comfier, and more energy efficient houses. Please refer to Treehugger’s article for a more in-depth explanation on how Passive Houses work.
2) Pika Energy
Founded in 2010 by MIT engineers, Pika Energy manufactures high-efficiency, bidirectional inverters and charge controllers, small wind turbines, and substring solar optimizers.
All Pika Energy products are designed, tested, and manufactured in the United States, using domestic materials. Their nanogrid technology is installed throughout the United States and Canada and in several overseas markets.
What’s awesome about this company is that they are based out of Westbrook, Maine!
3) Rambler’s Way
Launched by the founders of Tom’s of Maine, Rambler’s Way sells worsted wool garments using wool from its 75-acre sheep farm in Kennebunk, Maine. Rambler’s Way Farm uses sustainable, organic and humane farming techniques, including bringing the farm’s 50 ewes in every night and housing them in the barn to protect them from predators. The company also uses green energy including geothermal heating systems and solar energy.
Here is a great example of a local and ethically sourced clothing company that gives back to it’s community. Their designs are both comfortable and classy, allowing you to wear them in all circumstances. As if this weren’t enough, you will know that you are wearing fabrics that are american-made, quality-centric, and sustainable.
4) Alaina Marie
Combining sustainability with creativity, Alaina Marie designs an utilitarian line of fashion-forward clutches inspired by lobstermen’s bait bags and are constructed from marine-grade material.
Every bag is hand-made, using locally sourced materials and crafting techniques. This is a perfect example of optimizing and reusing materials we have to give it a new life!
5) GrandyOats
GrandyOats is a homegrown enterprise with a firm belief that business is more about having fun than making money. Their bakery runs 100% on solar power, being New England’s first net zero production facility. How awesome is that! How did they do it? By partnering up with ReVision Energy.
Their granola products are for people who are committed to living a natural, healthy and intentional lifestyle. From gluten free to grain free granola, they make all sorts of 100% organic granola products that are certain to leave you wanting more.
Can’t wait to try next time we are in Maine!
You can you run 100% on Solar Energy like GrandyOats
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2aw6nsoZW8
6) Atayne
Atayne makes high performing outdoor and athletic apparel for activities such as running, cycling, and cross-country skiing. However, they do things much differently than others in the industry. Not only does Atayne make products with exceptional performance, they make them in a way that is safe for people and the planet. They call it Performance with a Point of View.
From a performance standpoint, their products are second to none. Atayne have been selected as the performance apparel provider by some great events and organizations such as: The Dempsey Challenge, Freedom’s Run, the Vermont 100, and the Army National Guard Running Team.
7) Wicked Joe
Wicked Joe is a family-owned company committed to producing exceptional coffees using sustainable business practices from crop to cup. Their organic certified roastery is a state-of-the-art and energy-efficient facility.
They work directly with farmers and cooperatives to build lasting, collaborative partnerships. The purchase of their Fair Trade™ and Organic Certified coffees ensures that farmers get better prices, directly supporting farming communities, and protecting the environment.
Next Up: Top 15 Sustainable Initiatives in Ontario
8) Edible Island Culinary and Ecological Center (EICEC)
The Edible Island Culinary and Ecological Center (EICEC) offers unique culinary experiences, as well as educational opportunities for local students, community members, farmers, chefs, and other food professionals.
Some of their upcoming events include learning how to make holiday appetizers, and baking a Bûche de Noël.
If you appreciate food or you want to learn how to cook locally, this is a great place to connect with!
9) Sweetgrass Winery
Based in Union, Maine, Sweetgrass Winery is a family run business preserving the regions rich farming tradition.
They are firmly rooted in the community, supporting local sustainable agriculture, local business, and donating 10% of profits to organizations which support families, children, and rural life.
They offer a wide range of wines, ciders, liqueurs, and spirits. Most of these are made from various fruits, as well as maple and other more exotic natural flavours.
10) Peak Organic
Peak Organic is a craft brewing company is dedicated to making delicious beer using local, artisan and organic ingredients.
With a background in home brewing dating back to the 90s, brewer Jon Cadoux set about combining his love for beer with an ethic for sustainability. Whenever possible, he would go out and find ingredients from local organic farmers for his home-brews. It was a defining day when Jon discovered that you don’t need to sacrifice flavor for sustainability, but that better ingredients actually made the beer more delicious. Such an incredible story to finish off with!
11) Coffee By Design
With 22 years of experience under it’s belt, Coffee By Design (CBD) is an amazing example of a sustainable company that gives back to its community.
Based in Portland, Maine, they employ over 45 people in their four coffeehouses and micro roastery. In addition to give back, they also believe in sharing knowledge. Learn how the entire coffee selection and roasting process works through their detailed guides.
Rebel Blend
CBD started an amazing initiative that funds grants for artists throughout Maine. They fund this initiative through Rebel Blend, their best selling coffee. Many local artists have received grants of well over $1,000 due to this successful initiative. To learn more about applications visit their initiative here.
And there you have it! L’Autre Couleur’s Top Sustainable Companies in Maine
L’Autre Couleur is a socially conscious content marketing & design agency that represents companies making a difference in social good & sustainability. We offer end-to-end full service in digital marketing services, ranging from content writing & web design, to social media and campaign management. To work with us on content writing or digital marketing projects, feel free to contact us.
This was the 1st post in the Top Sustainable Initiatives series; one for every state in the United States. By the end of 2016 you can expect a Top Sustainable Initiatives article for every state in the United States! To stay updated on the up and coming initiatives, subscribe to our monthly newsletter and like us on Facebook. Also please comment if we have left out any important sustainable initiatives in Maine that you believe should be part of the top sustainable initiatives, or if you have any thoughts/ comments on the article.
Check out some of the sustainable initiatives happening in your neighbouring country:
- Top 10 Sustainable Initiatives in PEI
- Top 15 Sustainable Initiatives in Nova Scotia
- Sustainable Initiatives in Newfounland
- New Brunswick’s Top 15 Sustainable Initiatives
- Top 15 Sustainable Initiatives in Ontario
Sincerely,
L’Autre Couleur
