PR / Boston, MA (October, 2025) – Boston’s oldest and largest beer manufacturer, Harpoon Brewery, has been acknowledged as a “green beverage producer” by the BetterBev Recognition program. The distinction was awarded by the UMass Amherst BetterBev Grant Project as part of a coalition of New England states receiving support from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Pollution Prevention division. More than 50 of the region’s 600-plus breweries have earned recognition so far.
Among the factors that make Harpoon Brewery an industry leader in sustainability efforts is its innovative on-site electricity generation through the use of 250 kW combined heat and power (CHP) process. In addition to decreasing the load on its own boiler (especially in winter), the CHP system also decreases electrical demand on the city’s grid during peak hours by redirecting otherwise wasted thermal energy back into the brewing process. Installed in 2012, the resulting decrease in energy emissions and costs has been a valuable investment that benefits both the brewery’s bottom line as well as the environment.
Other conservation measures that helped Harpoon Boston achieve recognition include a below-industry average water-to-beer ratio of just 6 to 1, thoughtful standard operating procedures that decrease the strength of process wastewater before its discharged to the local treatment plant, and efficient procurement of resources (grain/malt, cleaning/sanitizing chemicals, aluminum cans) that decreases delivery vehicle emissions and cuts down on packaging waste.
BetterBev was created to help beverage producers fully understand their environmental practices, principles, and impact, with the goal of reducing production inefficiencies, improving health and safety, and conserving natural resources. Recognition is earned after a beverage producer’s regional BetterBev oversight organization works with them to perform an assessment of their environmental practices and impact. The process covers criteria ranging from water use to energy efficiency and conservation to waste reduction and even environmental culture.
For a list of the oversight organizations responsible for managing the green beverage producer program in each New England state visit the BetterBev website.
About the Harpoon Brewery
The Harpoon Brewery was founded in 1986 by beer lovers who wanted more and better beer options. When the Brewery was founded, Harpoon was issued Brewing Permit #001 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since it was the first to brew commercially in Boston after a dormant period of about 25 years. Since then, it has expanded to a second brewery in Windsor, VT. Harpoon’s line of craft beer features its award-winning IPA and seasonal beers, along with special limited releases. In 2014, Harpoon became an employee-owned company.