posted Jan 03, 2025

Sustainable Businesses in Lancaster, PA

Lancaster County's cherished rolling farmland and vital natural resources demand our utmost respect. Sustainability is not merely a goal, but an absolute necessity for safeguarding the landscapes we deeply treasure.

Check out a few small businesses that are making big moves towards sustainable and green practices. However, for those looking for businesses that are not only selling a great product but also making a big impact check out this list.

Find a full list of things to do, places to eat and where to stay while traveling green in Lancaster County, PA

Fun Activities

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Organizations

Events

Fun Sustainable Activities in Lancaster, PA

Lancaster Creative Factory
Turn clay into delicate pottery or melt glass to create a unique shape of your own at Lancaster Creative Factory. They offer 6-week classes, date night classes and advanced workshops. No matter what you choose, whether beginner or advance, you can mess up as many times as you'd like without creating any waste! Did you know that clay is infinitely recyclable before it’s fired? The folks at Lancaster Creative Factory do and they’re using this fact to their advantage in their pottery programs. Glass is also infinitely recyclable making it another sustainable medium to create and craft unique works of art. That's because clay is infinitely recyclable, as long as it's before it's fired and glass is infinitely recyclable whether it gets too hot or too cold!

River Discovery Boat Tours
The Chief Uncas will welcome you aboard for Susquehanna National Heritage Area’s River Discovery Boat Tours are made possible by Chief Unacas. A electric-powered boat built in 1912. This boat has cruised the water of the Susquehanna, for over a century. Take a staff guided tour of the Susquehanna, sharing its natural beauty and cultural heritage. Experience the joy of being on the water, hear stories of the river, and view scenic landscapes and abundant wildlife aboard this elegant treasure from the past!

Lancaster Creative Reuse
Lancaster Creative Reuse’s mission is to connect with the community through creativity. They do this by offering low-cost craft options, open craft tables and educational programs. They are able to take items that would have otherwise been thrown out and create a space for those looking to gather supplies and make fantastic creations. Lancaster Creative Reuse is the perfect spot to shop when looking for your next crafting idea.

Lancaster Science Factory
The Mueller Family Outdoor Courtyard at the Lancaster Science Factory makes it easy for kids to learn why it is important to take care of our plant, while having fun! The Courtyard also holds a Stormwater Cistern, Rain Garden, Solar Power Flower, a mural by Katie Trainer and so much more. The courtyard will be open as weather allows April – November.

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm
Bring the kids to Cherry Crest Adventure Farm to have a fun-filled day at an agri-tainment farm! Not only is it a farm wonderland for kids, but it is also a working farm for raising cows and chickens alongside a 300 acre crop field. All of their farm operations are sustainably powered by solar energy

Horst Arts
Horst Arts has lots of fun crafty class events to choose from, Say it with Paper, The Great Create, to Funky Junk, and Junk Journal. Their Junk Journal class offers a way to reuse materials from other classes, as well as utilizing the household like old magazines, books, and greeting cards. So, bring your own paper and non-paper materials to their next Junk Journal event to create something out of gently over scraps.

One With Nature Forest Therapy
Eco-tours of woodlands and meadows restorations right here in Lancaster County. Walk and talk with a wildlife habitat landscape designer and conservationist. See the farmland transformed. Ideal for nature lovers, bird watchers and those passionate about the Earth and sustainability.

More Things To Do

Sustainable Food Spots in Lancaster, PA

Lancaster Central Market
Located in the heart of Lancaster City, the Lancaster Central Market is the oldest continuously operated public farmers' market in the country! You can find lots of local makers, vendors, and farmers with local produce, meats, and more throughout. Central Market is the perfect place to stock up on farm fresh foods.

Passenger Coffee
Passenger Coffee is a B-Corp Certified Brand and aims to actively support an equitable supply chain, employee welfare, ethical sourcing, and environmental awareness. Voted Best Coffee Shop in PA and Best Coffee Roaster in PA for 2022.

Did you know? Coffee grounds can be composted, used as a deodorizer, and for scrubbing dishes. Give them a “second-life”!

LUCA
LUCA is a chic Italian restaurant in Lancaster City. With a farm-driven kitchen, locally sourced vegetables and meats, and homemade pasta they focus on the traditions of Italy.

Plough
New Chef at Plough, Ryan McQuillan , joined with the intention of sources the most local and fresh produce to use in his dishes. Dishes on Plough's menu change with the season to showcase what delicious produce is ripe for the eating.

Cherry Hill Orchards
Perfect place to pick some seasonally fruit, grab gardening items and pick up canned and baked goods at their market. In addition to their wonderful produce, they have been solar powered since 2011.

Lemon Street Market
Lemon Street Market aligns with a traditional grocery store but the main difference is that it offers local produce, packaged food, and products from various vendors. In addition to their local products, they also sell eco-friendly household, cleaning, kitchen, and personal care products. It is really a one-stop shop for your eco-household needs. In addition to being eco-friendly, they are also community-focused focused giving back to the Lancaster community through monthly donations to different local non-profit organizations.

Farmers Markets & Roadside Stands
Supporting your local farmers is one way to make a big impact. Most local farmers use traditional practices to allow their soils to be reintegrated during the off-season. Many also allow their wildlife to roam free, creating a humane lifestyle, which also limits the amount of methane emitted into our atmosphere.

Silantra Asian Street Kitchen
Silantra offers custom bings (scallion pancakes) and bowls with your choices of rice, noodles, proteins, and a variety of toppings. They use fresh ingredients and produce from Lancaster's local farms and companies wherever they can. Silantra also donates 1% of each month's sales to the Power Packs Project which provides low-cost recipes and ingredients to families.

Lancaster Brewing Co.
Lancaster Brewing Co. has delicious food items like wings, pretzels, pierogis and more to serve alongside their thematic brews. They also have a focus on green infrastructure, using rainwater for their garden and wind to power the company.

John J. Jeffries
John J. Jeffries offers fine dining in Lancaster City with seasonal menus designed around local and organic foods. They work with local farms to provide free-range, grass fed meats and are able to provide sustainable seafood offerings to shift away from unhealthy fishing practices.

Find the Perfect Restaurant

Shopping Sustainably in Lancaster, PA

Prussian Street Arcade
Prussian Street Arcade is home to over a hundred vendors selling a wide range of products, from vintage clothes, antiques, home decor, hand-made pottery, or woodwork to comic books. Prussian Street has everything for anyone.

BUiLDiNG CHARACTER
Another small business that plays host to a slew of other smaller businesses. Building Character has over 100 “shops,” like Prussian Street Arcade ranging from vintage clothing, home decor, soaps, gemstones and so much more!

Foxduck
Foxduck focuses on small-batch printing and sustainably sourced apparel inspired by the local Lancaster community. These high-quality designs are great pieces for everyday wear or even as a gift.

Ten Thousand Villages
Discover the world of ethically sourced, handmade treasures at Ten Thousand Villages. From unique homeware and artisanal jewelry to wellness essentials and holiday delights, every item has a meaningful story behind it.

Earth to Lititz
Earth to Lititz is a shop that delivers forward-thinking style for earth-conscious living. They are a sustainable shop focused on apparel, footwear, accessories, and skincare that tread lightly on the planet.

Independent Retailers

Places To Stay

Courtyard Lancaster by Marriott
The Courtyard Lancaster by Marriott is Marriott's first completely solar powered hotel in the United States. The hotel is only minutes away from area attractions like Lancaster City, the Route 30 corridor, the Discover Lancaster Visitor Center, and more. The hotel offers modern amenities such as high-speed wifi, a fitness center, hot tub and indoor pool, and is dog friendly.

Historic Smithton Inn
The Historic Smithton Inn is one of those bed and breakfasts that offers a solution to an ever-growing need for travelers - electric car charging stations. Located in Ephrata, this historic inn offers charm with the convenience modern amenities.

The Warehouse Hotel at Spooky Nook Sports
Within Spooky Nook Sports’ large complex, lives their Warehouse Hotel which makes it a perfect place to stay for the visiting athlete and their family. Not only is it a convenient place to stay it is also a place where you can rest easy knowing they are doing their part to make their facilities as "green" as possible. Spooky Nook Sports is focusing their efforts on 6 main goals: cardboard recycling, reclaimed decor, laundry practices, TMS systems, rain water collection and geothermal heating and cooling.

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Sustainable Organizations

Not only can supporting small sustainable businesses provide you with a way to support the local community, but it also is imperative to sustainable travel.

Lancaster Compost Co-op
In April 2021, Lancaster Composting Co-Ops launched a volunteer-led community initiative that enables Lancaster residents to participate in reducing landfill waste by creating high quality compost. Composting is the act of turning organic materials into dirt! This dirt is nutrient rich which then can be used for plants and crops. Lots of farmers add compost to their soil to help their crops grow by soaking up the nutrients. Composting has many benefits, some of which are rejuvenating soils, reducing climate change, cleaning waterways, creating jobs and fostering a stronger community.

Lancaster Conservancy
Lancaster Conservancy has revived over 10,000 acres of land in Lancaster & York County. They have worked to protect these ecosystems and landscapes which are vital "for food, clean water, clean air, economic and public health, and the restoration of the soul and spirit." Currently the conservancy manages 50 nature preserves and over 70 conservation easements, totaling over 8,000 acres.

Lancaster Farm Sanctuary
Lancaster Farm Sanctuary is on a mission to rescue farmed animals and provide them with a sanctuary; inspiring humans to live with compassion and respect. While not for everyone, reducing or eliminating the amount of animal products that you consume can greatly reduce its impact on our earth. You can read about the farm animals that they have saved and why on their Instagram page.

Lancaster Farmland Trust
Founded in 1988, the goal was to united farmers, plain and not, in preserving our agriculture. Since then, Lancaster Farmland Trust has been able to preserve 565 farms and 34,692 acres of farmland. Today Lancaster Farmland Trust is working towards the preservation and conversation of the agriculture and the water shed in Lancaster County and the Chesapeake Bay, to continue to preserve more farmland and acres.

Community Supported Agriculture

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is a great way to join the sustainable movement because of its reduced carbon footprint. Not only is it reducing your carbon footprint by not having to deliver produce miles away, it is also a great way to connect with your community. And really what’s better than eating fresh produce that was grown right in your backyard, or even a few miles down the street?

Homefield Farms
Homefield Farms is a great example of a CSA farm that also gives those of varying abilities a home. Located on a 19-acre farm, Homefield Farms has welcomed hundreds of people with a disability or other barriers to traditional employment, to engage with their Care Farm which grows organic produce for community shareholders.

Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op
Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op set out with a goal "to support local farms in an industry eclipsed by large agribusiness" and has reached that goal by today working alongside over 100 Farmers. In addition to working with local farmers, Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op also makes sure that these Farmers are giving their small herds and flocks the space and safety to roam free and forge in Lancaster County grasses; as well as being certified USDA Organic.

Events

Lancaster VegFest
June 7 & 8, 2025
Celebrate the plant-based lifestyle at Lancaster VegFest! Join the vegan community to support Lancaster Farm Sanctuary and enjoy live music and speakers, shop vegan vendors, and more.