Businesses that CARE
Celebrating Local Leaders in Sustainability
CARE for the Cape & Islands and Love Live Local are celebrating and highlighting local businesses that are leading the way in sustainability, showcasing their innovative practices and contributions to our community’s environmental stewardship so others have the opportunity to learn from your business and gain insights into how responsible practices can drive positive environmental change on Cape Cod.
Spotlight on Local Sustainability Leaders
the knack
Our solar panels have reduced our annual electricity costs by about $5,000 per year. We should recoup our initial investment within 6 years. The compostable containers do cost more than oil based plastics, but we believe the reduction in emissions associated with plant based plastics are worth the extra cost.
Green Road Refill
Green Road Refill is motivated by our mission to reduce Cape Cod’s plastic footprint. Our goal is to give our customers a fun and hopeful way to live more sustainably. The consciousness of plastic waste and the importance of its reduction has truly grown and since 2018 when Green Road Refill first launched we have refilled over 20,000 bottles!
The Glass Jar
We live in a coastal town that is overrun by plastic litter on our beaches. We wanted to provide the community with an option for package free shopping to minimize the added plastics and packaging we receive at the larger grocery stores.
The Impact of Being an Eco-Friendly Business
Choosing local businesses on Cape Cod is not only a great way to support the community but in most cases is the greener option:
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Shopping locally reduces the distance products and customers travel, leading to lower carbon emissions compared to shopping at big box stores or e-commerce sites, which rely on extensive transportation networks.
Support for Responsible Practices
Local businesses are more likely to source products from nearby, reducing the need for long-distance transportation. They may be more amenable to stocking sustainable and eco-friendly products.
Lower Packaging Waste
Local businesses often use minimal packaging, while online purchases typically come with excessive packaging that contributes to environmental pollution.
Less Environmental Degradation
Big box stores and warehouses contribute to urban sprawl and environmental degradation, while local shops fit into existing community spaces, preserving green areas and reducing habitat disruption.
Energy Efficiency
Small, community-focused shops are generally more energy-efficient than the large warehouses and stores required by big retailers and e-commerce companies.
Community Connection
Local business owners are often deeply connected to the community and committed to protecting the environment and natural resources that make Cape Cod unique. Their investment in the community motivates them to adopt and promote sustainable practices.
Get Engaged
Learn about how Provincetown Business Guild made Carnival a little greener this year, and show you CARE for the Cape and Islands by taking part in these upcoming events!
Provincetown Carnival
CARE for the Cape & Islands partnered with the Clean Water Action’s ReThink Disposable Campaign to make Carnival a little greener this year. The two organizations staffed a water station on Commercial Street stocked with reusable cups to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic bottles at the event. Over 300 cups were used, with many taken by parade goers for reuse at home, with others returned and washed for future events!
“CARE is excited to join forces with ReThink Disposable and the Provincetown Business Guild in support of a more sustainable 2024 Carnival,” said Adam Gracia, CARE Deputy Director. “Big changes start with small steps. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Together we can make the shift away from a single-use lifestyle!”
Corona CARES: Take Care of our Beaches Clean Up - Oct 12
Take care of our beaches and show you CARE for the Cape & Islands!
Join us on October 12th, from 10am to 12pm to Take Care of your local beaches. Kalmus and Veteran’s Beaches in Hyannis, Covell’s/Craigville Beach in Centerville.
To protect our beaches Corona Beer and CARE’s Take Care Cape Cod Coalition have joined forces!
Corona Beer aims to remove 1 million pounds of plastic from the beach and their business by 2025. The Take Care Cape Cod Coalition mission is to reduce single-use plastic to limit its impact on marine debris.
The perfect pair, just like Corona and lime.
Pick up Corona Extra at a store near you and don’t forget to share on social to help get this party started!
About Corona Beer Protect our Beaches.
Read A Little CARE Goes A Long Way from the July Edition of Cape Cod LIFE.
2024 Taking Care of Cape Cod Summit - Nov 24
Join us on November 21st at The 204 in Harwich for the 2024 Taking Care of Cape Cod Summit! This year’s theme is Stemming the Tide of Wastefulness: We Can Make it Happen! The program will include a community fair highlighting organizations that can help you Make it Happen, presentations and workshops related to waste reduction from ReThink Disposable, RecyclingWorks MA, Nauset Regional Middle School, a Businesses that CARE sustainable business practices panel facilitated by Love Live Local, the premiere of a Big Tree mini-documentary featuring the Falmouth Plastic Reduction Advisory Committee, and the 2024 Stewardship Awards Cocktail Reception immediately following the Summit.
Click here to register today! Click here to learn about past Summits.
2024 Stewardship Award Nominations
CARE’s annual stewardship award recognizes an organization’s dedication to environmental and cultural sustainability measures, shows a commitment to caring for the Cape and Islands and have adopted day-to-day practices that fit CARE’s mission to preserve and enhance its natural environment, culture, or history. The youth award is presented to an individual or youth group who is age 18 or younger and exhibits the same commitment to caring for Cape Cod and the Islands.
Click here to nominate your favorite organization or student today! Learn more about past recipients here.
Resources for Responsible Practices
A list of links and downloadable PDFs with guides, toolkits, and industry reports.
Share Your Thoughts
Are you a Business that CAREs? Please take a moment to take this brief Case Study Questionnaire so others can have the opportunity to learn from your business and gain insights into how sustainable practices can drive positive environmental change on Cape Cod.