Our sustainability committee seeks to strengthen environmental stewardship and sustainability practices company-wide 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.
At the Villager, your morning coffee just got an upgrade. Every guest room features TAYST Coffee—single-serve pods that are 100% compostable and plastic-free, filled with Rainforest Alliance Certified, ethically sourced coffee in both medium roast and decaf. It’s a win-win: enjoy a richer coffee experience while supporting sustainable practices that reduce waste and protect the planet.
By switching to reusable and bulk service options, we’ve cut back on over 120,000 single-use food service items each year, keeping our footprint smaller and our hospitality greener.
We’ve reimagined the way we serve breakfast at the Villager. By swapping single-use coffee creamers for insulated creamer carafes, plastic stirrers for bamboo alternatives, and individual condiment packets for bulk Grab-&-Go options, we’ve dramatically reduced waste. Even our utensils are compostable, keeping single-use plastics out of landfills. This is just one way we care—for our guests and the environment.
Through these changes, we’ve eliminated over 120,000 single-use food service items annually, making every meal at the Villager a little greener.
We’ve upgraded your in-room experience while reducing waste. Gone are single-use shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash bottles—now each room features sleek, refillable dispensers filled with Zero% brand products, delivering premium quality without the environmental cost.
This change keeps over 60,000 single-use plastic containers out of landfills each year, proving that luxury and sustainability can go hand in hand.
Bar Harbor is lucky to share the breathtaking night skies of Acadia National Park, and we’re doing our part to keep them stunning. While the park is not yet certified by the International Dark Sky Association, the Villager minimizes light pollution with low-lux, carefully placed exterior lighting, letting the stars shine as nature intended.
We’re continually reducing light pollution with every new fixture and replacement, keeping our skies dark and our community—and guests—enchanted by the night.
SSingle-use plastic water bottles are a major source of pollution—and we’re taking action. The Villager now offers a convenient refill station in our breakfast building, perfect for topping off your bottle before a hike or after a day exploring Bar Harbor. And if you’re curious about what’s inside, check out Bar Harbor’s Annual Water Quality Report for the details.
With these stations, we keep over 45,000 single-use water bottles out of landfills each year, helping guests stay hydrated and sustainable.
Since 2023, the Villager has offered EV charging made simple. Our EV Passport station lets you plug in and start charging in under 15 seconds—no app, account, or ongoing balance required. Simply scan the QR code and pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or your card, then hit the road knowing your vehicle and the planet are getting a boost.
At the Villager, we’re turning waste into wellness. Through our partnership with Clean The World, used shampoo, conditioner, and soap containers are collected by our Housekeeping Team after check-out and transformed into hygiene kits for those in need around the globe. While bulk amenities have reduced overall waste, this program continues to make a meaningful impact.
Over 558 pounds of soap donated, supporting health and hygiene worldwide—proof that small changes can make a big difference.
At the Villager, leftover breakfast never goes to waste. Through our partnership with Agri-Cycle, New England’s leading food-waste collection service, scraps from our continental breakfast are collected weekly and transformed into renewable energy and nutrient-rich compost using anaerobic digesters.
n the past year alone, we’ve turned over 5 tons of food waste into energy and compost, proving that sustainability can be deliciously simple.
Sustainability extends to even the smallest details at the Villager. All guest rooms now feature eco-friendly bamboo toilet paper from the B Corp–certified brand Who Gives a Crap, while all printer paper on property is recycled, keeping our operations greener from top to bottom.
At the Villager, we know that being part of our community goes beyond hospitality. Each year, our team volunteers for local initiatives, including the Witham Family Hotels Charitable Christmas and the Friends of Acadia Annual Roadside Cleanup Day. Beyond volunteering, we provide monthly sustainability education for all employees, along with in-person trainings at the start of every season, keeping our team informed, engaged, and empowered to make a difference.
Hundreds of hours of volunteer service invested in our community every year, helping make Bar Harbor a better place for everyone.
At the Villager, we make it easy for guests to sort their waste responsibly. Each room features clearly labeled receptacles for returnables, compost, and trash, while the property offers additional recycling, compost, and waste stations throughout. By providing these convenient options, we empower our guests to join us in reducing landfill waste and supporting a more sustainable stay.
Sunshine meets sustainability at the Villager! Our solar panels on top of the breakfast building help provide supporting heat for our outdoor swimming pool, reducing energy use while you enjoy a warm dip. While they don’t supply all the heat, they’re an important part of our eco-friendly approach to keeping the pool comfortable and our footprint smaller.
A more energy-efficient pool and a smaller environmental footprint—because even a little solar power goes a long way.
