Our sustainability committee seeks to strengthen environmental stewardship and sustainability practices companywide by implementing relevant programs and policies across the Witham Family Hotels portfolio. Through education, collaboration, and support we strive to make impactful changes towards an environmentally sound future for our local and global community.
The volume of single-use coffee creamers, plastic stirrers, and other individual serving size packets has been reduced by moving to insulated creamer carafes, bamboo stirrers, bulk packages of ketchup and other condiments. While space and licensing regulations prevent us from offering reusable dishware, we have switched all of our single use plasticware to compostable items. Reduction of single-use items will continue as we provide the utmost care for our guests and our environment. We use Tayst in room coffee pods–a 100% compostable pod that actually gives back to the earth as it breaks down without sacrificing flavor. Tayst coffee is sourced from Certified Rainforest Alliance farms that meet rigourous environmental, social and economic sustainability standards.
We use World Centric® single-use tableware —compostable and recyclable, made from renewable plant-based or recycled materials—so every cup, plate, and utensil helps reduce waste and support a healthier planet.
World Centric® is also making an impact by annually committing at least 25% of our net profits to support grassroots global organizations and non-profits dedicated to reducing human suffering, through product and monetary donations, encouraging fair wages, ensuring proper working conditions in our manufacturing facilities, and powering our office using renewable energy.
We partner with Agricyle a food waste collection service. All food scraps and compostable items are collected weekly and converted into renewable energy, soil amendment, and animal feed. This helps keep organic waste out of the region’s landfills, prolonging their lifespan and preventing the release of potent greenhouse gases.
Reduced waste of over 18,000 single-use food service items through the use of reusable and bulk service items annually.
We offer our guests convenient refillable soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner and body wash, no single use toiletries. We chose a product that is not only good for you but also for the environment.
BeeKind® amenities are a naturally nourishing collection that’s gentel on your skin and kind to the planet. Infused with honey and certified organic botanicals, BeeKind® products are thoughtfully formulated and sustainably packaged- using 93% less plastic. To thank the honey bees for their happy vibes, earnest labor, and overall importance to a healthy planet, a portion of BeeKind® profits is donated to support bee health and sustainable pollination research.
Elimination of over 40,000 single-use plastic containers being sent to the landfill each year.
It is our standard to provide linen service in all our guest rooms, with linens being changed every 3rd day a guest joins us for an extended stay. By not changing sheets daily and encouraging guests to hang their towels between uses, we are able to reduce the volume of wastewater needing to be processed within our island community and energy consumed. This cleaning schedule also extends the life of our linens, allowing us to be better stewards of our resources. Our housekeeping team, in turn, has more time to deep clean rooms and engage with our guests.
Washing is reduced by 17% on average in hotels that adopt linen reuse programs, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
Acadia National Park offers a large swath of untouched dark sky and while not yet certified by the International Dark Sky Association, we support the beauty of the night sky by using the bare minimum of exterior lighting with low lux fixtures.
While still a work in progress, we strive to reduce our light pollution each time we install new lighting and are actively working to replace bright light fixtures.
At the Acadia Inn, we make it easy for guests to sort their waste responsibly. Each room features clearly labeled receptacles–without plastic bags–for returnables, compost, and trash, while the property offers additional recycling, compost, and waste stations throughout. By providing these convenient options, and removing the bags, we empower our guests to join us in reducing landfill waste and supporting a more sustainable stay.
While still a work in progress, we strive to reduce our light pollution each time we install new lighting and are actively working to replace bright light fixtures.
Single-use plastic water bottles are one of the largest sources of plastic pollution in the world. To reduce reliance on these single-use items, we offer a filtered water bottle refill location in our Continental Breakfast area. This makes filling up your water bottle convenient before a hike or when arriving back to the hotel from adventure.
Please utilize our recycling containers throughout the property.
The Acadia Inn is a certified Maine Environmental Leader inch 2024.
Curious about our water quality? Read Bar Harbor’s Annual Water Quality Report.
Elimination of over 30,000 single-use water bottles being sent to the landfill each year.
As a company, we understand that we are only a portion of the larger community where we live, work, and conduct business. Each year our team volunteers their time for local programs including Witham Family Hotels Charitable Christmas and the Friends of Acadia Annual Roadside Cleanup Day.
We also engage in continued learning for our team members and sharing information about our efforts with our guests. Our hope is this impact being felt far beyond our island.
Hundreds of hours of service invested in our community each year.
