Sustainable Travel

Plan a Greener Getaway

Discover a community of businesses making a positive impact on people and the planet.

In Hamilton County, more and more businesses are embracing sustainable practices that prioritize the health of the planet while supporting the well-being of our community.

Whether you're looking to shop, dine, or explore our beautiful county, you’ll find businesses here that are actively working to reduce, reuse, recycle and generally be good stewards of our land and water.

These businesses are doing something extra for the planet, and celebrating their sustainability wins is a key part of Hamilton County Tourism’s destination stewardship work.

As you explore, remember that sustainability is about more than just supporting green businesses. It’s about making mindful choices every day to protect the environment, respect local cultures, and contribute to the well-being of the community. Simple actions like bringing your own water bottle, not littering, and turning off the tap while you brush your teeth protect our local natural resources. Protecting Hamilton County’s environment is a shared responsibility, and we can do it together.

We know that just saying a business is “sustainable” can be too vague or confusing, so we've created a set of icons to identify and celebrate the eco-friendly practices at each business.

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Food
Attractions
Accomodations
Retail
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📦 Food Donation - These businesses have a dedicated program to donate excess food to local organizations, thus avoiding waste and helping those who are hungry.
🧑‍🌾 Local Sourcing – A dedicated portion of the products sold at this business were grown or produced within 250 miles. Buying locally reduces transportation-related emissions and strengthens our local economy.
🪴 Compost - These businesses are keeping food scraps out of landfills by composting them on-site or through a local partner.
🌾 Plant-based Food - These restaurants maintain plant-based options on their menu, whether they are vegan or vegetarian. Producing plant-based foods generally requires less emissions than meat and dairy products.
❤️‍🩹 Reuse – Whether upcycling leftovers into a new product or selling secondhand clothing, these businesses creatively avoid waste through reuse.
♻️ Comprehensive Recycling – These businesses recycle all materials that their vendor accepts. You can check out the offerings of local recycling vendors here: Republic and Waste Management.
🏞️ Land + Water Stewardship – These businesses are making a concerted effort to care for our common home. In terms of landscaping that could include installing rain gardens, planting natives, removing invasives, etc. Inside that could include reducing energy and water consumption and avoiding polluting local waterways.
✅ Green Certification – These businesses have earned an external sustainability certification such as one from Green Key Global or Green Restaurant Association or elsewhere.
🔌 EV Charger - These businesses have an electric vehicle charger on their property. Check out PlugShare for an extensive map of local charging sites.
👣 Low Emission Activity - These activities are often people-powered rather than gas-powered, so they require less emissions than many other activities.