Reviewed by: Sharron Swain
Solar-powered sweetness made at Milo’s Tea plant in Bessemer, Alabama
Reading time: 4 minutes
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The next time you pour yourself a tall glass of Milo’s Famous Sweet Tea, you might want to thank our local sunshine.
This fall, the Bessemer-based company installed 800+ solar panels on its factory rooftop. In November, it turned on its new sun-powered system.
Solar power in Alabama continues to be a novelty. That attitude is changing, though, thanks in part to Milo’s Tea.
In this series, we look at why businesses, nonprofits and individuals are “going solar” and how everyday Alabamians can become part of the movement.
Our first story features Milo’s Tea Company, Inc.—the fast-growing, family-owned local business that sells tea nationwide.
Milo’s Tea’s CEO: Proud of the company’s investment
Tricia Wallwork, Chair and CEO of Milo’s Tea, and granddaughter of the company’s co-founders Milo and Bea Carlton, is very proud of her company’s investment in solar power.
“Giving back to the community fuels me; it’s why I come to work. It makes me proud that we have been able to make this investment.
This is the community where I live, work and play. It’s imperative to me, as a mother, a wife and a community member to use the opportunities I’ve been given to leave this world a little sweeter for generations to come.”
Tricia Wallwork
Saves money + prevents pollution
Milo’s Tea began its solar journey about 18 months ago, according to Chris Droney, the company’s COO.
The rooftop installation is expected to have the following impact:
- Reduce electrical costs by $50K per year—it’s expected to pay for itself in four years.
- Offset 5% of the facility’s annual power consumption—enough energy to power about 50 homes.
- Save 336 metric tons of carbon emissions each year—it would take 5500 trees 10 years to absorb that much carbon.
“I think it speaks a lot to Milo’s Tea Company as a total business. We’re family-held and like to say we’re a 77-year-old startup. Tricia Wallwork is our third-generation CEO, and she’s been the engine behind doing the right thing.
We talk a lot about purposeful profit for people and the planet. It’s not just about running a successful business and taking care of the associates. It’s about taking care of the planet and the communities where we operate.”
Chris Droney, Chief Operating Officer, Milo’s Tea Company
Multiple sustainability initiatives
Both Wallwork and Droney are quick to note that Milo’s is implementing several other sustainability initiatives.
“Solar is only one pillar of our sustainability strategy. Milo’s is one of only two companies in Alabama that is certified Zero Waste, which means we reuse or recycle over 97% of the waste produced here.”
Tricia Wallwork
Milo’s sustainability initiatives have accomplished the following results in the first nine months of 2023:
- Reclaimed and reused just under 11.5M gallons of water.
- Diverted 97% of all waste from its plant operations—that’s over 31K tons.
- Sent 7.7K tons of spent tea to composting facilities.
A national sustainability leader
Through its solar project in Bessemer and company-wide sustainability measures, Milo’s wants to set the pace, serving as an example to local and regional manufacturers as well as other businesses.
The company’s leaders eagerly want to evangelize their sustainability practices and principles. Now that Milo’s Tea has expanded its footprint with new factories in Oklahoma, and one under construction in South Carolina, they can do this nationally.
“We know that if companies don’t step up to be part of the solution, we’re not going to have a business to give to future generations. So our moment to act is now—that is why we invested in solar.”
Tricia Wallwork
Next up in the series
The Cahaba River is one of the most biodiverse rivers in North America and happens to grace us here in Alabama. In our second story of this series, we’ll look at how a local Presbyterian Church camp is helping to care for the land through solar power.
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