Top Sustainable Philadelphia Experiences
July 12, 2022
Reduce your impact on the environment and support local businesses, restaurants and purveyors with responsible experiences perfect for adding onto any Philadelphia itinerary.
Caffeinate with care
Start with a cup of coffee from La Colombe’s flagship Fishtown café. The Philadelphia-founded and community-focused coffee company has a strong emphasis on environmentally friendly practices, including direct sourcing and sustainable packaging. Support other independent roasters and cafés throughout the city, such as Càphê Roasters in Kensington, the first and only Vietnamese specialty coffee roastery in the city. Other local roasters with neighborhood coffeshops include Reanimator, Herman’s, Ultimo, and Elixr.
Stroll through Philadelphia’s distinct neighborhoods
Explore one of the most walkable downtowns in the nation on your own two feet, instead of using rideshare or hailing a cab, with a self-guided adventure through our city’s multicultural communities. To learn more about the history of each neighborhood, join one of WeVenture’s many different walking tours, including one that guides you through the mosaic-lined streets of South Philadelphia and into the Italian Market, where you can shop from a mix of independent vendors representing a variety of global cuisines and cultures. WeVenture uses electric vehicles with small groups for their tours and intentionally connects guests to small local businesses in order to promote strong communities and local consumption.
Bike your way through the city
Rent a bike from one of over 170 Indego bike share stations around the city and pedal through neighborhoods or along the Schuylkill River Trail, stopping for a choose-your-own adventure of open-air photo ops along the way. TIP: Consult our guide to biking in Philadelphia for tips and tricks for exploring the city on two wheels, including suggested bike trails and routes.
Leave no trace as you explore Philadelphia’s parks
The preservation of natural resources is a priority in Philadelphia, which is home to over 10,000 acres of parks, squares, and recreation sites that establishes our urban park system as one of the world’s largest. This large assemblage of green space includes the 2,000+ acre Fairmount Park, which lines the banks of the Schuylkill River and features miles of biking, walking, and hiking trails and dozens of picnic-perfect lawns. Continue to northwest Philadelphia to navigate over 50 miles (80 km) of rustic trails by foot or by bike in the 1,800-acre Wissahickon Valley Park. Refuel at the historic Valley Green Inn, whose seasonal menu can be enjoyed within the heart of the park along Wissahickon Creek.
Refuel with plant-based plates
Those who prefer a vegetarian, vegan or plant-based diet will find no shortage of options around Philadelphia, such as the 100% plant-based eateries owned by woman restaurateur Nicole Marquis, including HipCityVeg, Bar Bombón and Charlie Was a Sinner. Other plant-based options include the vegan versions of breakfast staples served at the intimate South Philadelphia diner, The Tasty, or the falafel sandwiches, salads and tahini shakes at Goldie. Enjoy a more elevated dining experience at Vedge – ranked as one of Thrillist’s 33 Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in America – whose menu changes seasonally but always features items made with fresh, locally sourced vegetables. For dessert, order 100% dairy-free soft serve from Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, which recently opened along 13th Street in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood. TIP: To savor a vegan version of Philadelphia’s iconic cheesesteak, seek out Blackbird Pizzeria in Northern Liberties or Campo’s Philly Cheesesteaks in Old City.
Shop tax-free clothes, for the good of the planet and local communities
Home to tax-free shopping on clothes and shoes, Philadelphia is a shopper’s delight, and choosing to buy from locally owned businesses helps support our city’s diverse communities. Shop everyday styles and outdoor essentials made with ethically sourced materials from United By Blue in Old City or University City. For every product sold, the Philadelphia-based apparel company removes one pound of trash from the earth’s waterways. Venture to Philadelphia’s Garden District, Chestnut Hill, where you will find over 30 independent boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and other independent businesses that were approved as green businesses in 2020. Other shopping hotspots filled with independent businesses include Old City, Northern Liberties, Fishtown, and Manayunk. TIP: Find other local businesses, artisans, farmers and other vendors at one of Philadelphia’s markets, most of which operate throughout the year in different neighborhoods like Rittenhouse Square and Society Hill.
Sip sustainable suds at craft breweries
Enjoy craft beer from Pennsylvania’s first Certified B Corporation brewery, Triple Bottom Brewing Company. The Spring Arts brewery is powered by renewable energy and is a fair chance employer, providing job opportunities to those who have overcome incarceration or homelessness. Triple Bottom also sends spent grain from their brews to local composters and cows. For more craft beer with a sustainable spin, visit Yards Brewing Company, also found along Spring Garden Street. Philadelphia’s original craft brewery was also the first brewery in Pennsylvania to be 100% wind-powered, and now also features solar panels placed on the roof of their 70,000-square-foot brewery and taproom. Coming to West Philadelphia in fall 2022, Carbon Copy – Philadelphia’s first combined brewery and winery – is set to take over the previous Dock Street Brewery location at 701 S 50th Street. Owners Brendon Boudwin and Kyle Wolak are striving to create a true “neighborhood bar” feel with Philadelphia-made beer, wine, and snacks. The duo says the name “Carbon Copy” is symbolic of their commitment to minimize their carbon footprint through mindful waste management, utilizing renewable resources in production, and investing carbon offsets as the company grows.
Enjoy a farm-to-table feast
Many local restaurants, such as Talula’s Garden near Washington Square, prioritize farm-to-table menus, sourcing responsibly from regional farms and purveyors to deliver unforgettable, only-in-Philadelphia meals. Restaurateur Ellen Yin was an early adopter of local and responsible sourcing for her restaurants, which include Fork and High Street Philly, and she also utilizes a bio-digester that transforms food scraps into potable water. One of the earliest restaurants to pursue a farm-to-table menu in Philadelphia was White Dog Café in University City. Here, enjoy seasonal menus with ingredients sourced from farms and purveyors within 50 miles (80 km) of Philadelphia, all inside a cozy café setting that has no shortage of dog-themed décor. Other restaurants that feature farm-to-table menus include Martha, Vetri Cucina which ranked as one of Thrillist’s 34 Best Italian Restaurants in America, and Elwood — a Fishtown restaurant led by Chef Adam Diltz, who uses local ingredients and classic cooking techniques to showcase the culinary history of the Philadelphia region.
Catch a sports event or concert at an eco-friendly arena
Home of the Philadelphia Flyers, 76ers, and Wings, Wells Fargo Center has been awarded for its sustainability efforts, including its use of renewable energy. The Green Sports Alliance named the South Philadelphia arena its first-ever Net Zero Energy Champion at the Play to Zero Awards – given to facilities that lead the industry in sustainability. Wells Fargo Center isn’t the only Philadelphia sports arena doing its part to reduce its carbon footprint. Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, is currently operating on 100% clean energy. The facility has also been commended for its composting and recycling programs, which help to divert waste from reaching landfills. The Philadelphia Eagles had the first Go Green program in the NFL, including the installation of solar panels and windmills at their practice facilities and stadium. To learn more about the Eagles’ Go Green initiative, click here.
Cover photo: Triple Bottom Brewery, along Spring Garden Street in the Spring Arts District. Photo courtesy of Triple Bottom Brewing.
