This season we have partnered with ski clothing rental company, EcoSki, to help raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on skiing and how, as skiers, we can help combat this with sustainable practices.
We are incredibly lucky to be able to experience the thrills of a ski trip and work in this incredible industry, but the sport and the landscapes that enable it are at risk. In recent years, we have seen the increasing impacts of climate change on the ski industry with global warming causing retreating glaciers and snow unpredictability, resulting in affected ski resorts facing permanent closure.
For our instructors, skiing is not only their passion but also their livelihood. The effects of climate change on the ski industry are very real and living in the mountains they witness it firsthand. So, what can we do to protect our mountain landscapes and the future of skiing?
Our Maison Sport x EcoSki Eco Ambassador Freddy W., a BASI Level 4 ski instructor based in Courchevel, shares his advice on how to make your ski holiday more sustainable and protect the environment that we can so often take for granted. It is now more important than ever to be eco-conscious when it comes to skiing. From making sustainable choices to reducing waste, with these small changes, you can make a big difference!
How to Be a More Sustainable Skier:
Reduce Transport Emissions
One of the biggest actions you can take to reduce your carbon footprint when planning a ski holiday is to choose a more sustainable transport option to get to the slopes. Taking the train rather than a plane reduces your carbon footprint by more than 80%. From London, you can take the Eurostar snow train all the way to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the gateway to the Haute Savoie region of France.
Driving to the Alps is another way to reduce your carbon footprint compared to flying, especially if you car-share with multiple people. To offset your impact from transport, which accounts for around one-quarter of global CO2 emissions from energy, you can support projects that reduce or remove an equivalent amount of carbon from the atmosphere such as re-forestation efforts and renewable energy farms.
Reduce Consumption
Every man-made item that we consume has a carbon footprint attached to it. When it comes to ski clothing and equipment, it’s crucial to invest in high-quality gear that will last longer to slow the cycle of consumption. If your gear does break, try to fix it before buying something new. A small tear can be easily repaired and doesn’t warrant the need to purchase a brand-new item. You can buy products like Nikwax to keep your ski clothing waterproof and extend its longevity. Another way to extend the life of your ski gear is to choose brands that offer a lifetime guarantee, allowing for unlimited free repairs.
A far more sustainable option than purchasing new ski clothing is renting it, especially if you only ski once or twice a year. EcoSki is a UK-based sustainability-focused ski clothing company that encourages rental, re-wear and repair. On EcoSki you can rent high-quality gear and return it after your ski holiday, providing a more responsible and circular approach to skiwear retailing. Skiwear rental is especially great for children who are growing and require new ski clothing each season.
Reduce Waste, Reuse & Recycle
Reducing waste whilst on your ski holiday is crucial in order to minimise your environmental impact. Leave only ski tracks and say no to single-use plastics. When packing for your ski trip, make sure to bring a reusable water bottle so you can stay hydrated on the slopes whilst avoiding the use of plastic bottles. Many resorts use plastic cutlery in mountain restaurants so bringing your own cutlery can also be a great way to reduce waste. If you are staying in self-catered accommodation, make yourself aware of the recycling facilities in the resort and if you do create rubbish, make sure to dispose of it properly.
Take Fewer Trips & Choose Green Resorts
Instead of going on multiple ski holidays each season, taking one longer ski trip can greatly decrease your CO2 impact thanks to reduced travel emissions. When choosing a ski resort, consider how you can get there in a more sustainable way, whether this is by train, bus or car. You can access many resorts directly by train including La Plagne, Zermatt, Zell am See, Sauze d’Oulx, St. Moritz and St. Anton am Arlberg. You can also choose to ski in resorts that are implementing sustainable practices and doing their bit to protect the environment.
With their futures at risk, many ski resorts are pushing to be more sustainable. These eco-conscious resorts are employing green initiatives to minimise their environmental impact, from going car-free to building solar-powered snow canons. In France, the Flocon Vert is a certification that recognises ski resorts that adopt environmentally friendly practices. Eleven ski resorts have been awarded the Flocon Vert 2, including Chamonix, Saint Gervais, Les Arcs, Chatel, Meribel and Megeve. Famous for their glaciers, Zell am See–Kaprun and Stubai Gletscher in Austria power their lifts with 100% renewable energy sources. In Switzerland, Saas Fee, Gstaad, Arosa Lenzerheide and Laax also use renewable energy to power lifts.
Support Sustainable Brands
Choosing eco-friendly ski products and services will make a large difference in reducing your environmental impact as a skier. When selecting skiwear, choose brands that employ ethical and sustainable practices in their manufacturing and support eco-initiatives. There are several ski gear brands that have made a conscious effort to be environmentally friendly, including Halti, Peak Performance, Picture Organic Clothing and Patagonia.
Alongside ski clothing rental, EcoSki offers quality new skiwear, ex-rental stock and pre-owned ski wear for purchase. To ensure only the best quality and most sustainable products are on offer, EcoSki has formulated a unique selection criteria that considers ethical and sustainable credentials, technical and safety performance, style, design, comfort and durability.
Ski Uphill
If you want to reduce your impact on the environment even further when on a ski holiday, you could give cross-country skiing or ski touring a try, as this avoids the use of ski lifts and the associated carbon emissions, allowing you to enjoy the breathtaking landscape of the mountains whilst minimising negative impact.
Ski touring involves hiking uphill using skins and skiing off-piste whereas cross-country skiing is practiced on assigned tracks around ski resorts that are typically flat and wind across mountain meadows and forests. Whether you are keen to try cross-country skiing or ski touring, an instructor can give you insight into how to use your equipment properly, teach you the correct technique and ensure you are as safe as possible. Please note that you should always be accompanied by a guide and have the correct safety equipment when skiing off-piste. You can find your perfect cross-country skiing instructor or ski touring guide on Maison Sport.
Educate Others!
Be like our Eco Ambassador, Freddy! Educating others on how to be a more sustainable skier can impact their decisions and, in turn, reduce our collective carbon footprint. So spread the word on how to have a sustainable ski holiday and challenge your friends and family to think about their environmental impact when booking a ski trip. Every small effort makes a difference!
Watch the Full Video on How to Be a More Sustainable Skier with Freddy on Our YouTube Channel
By adopting sustainable ski practices, we can collectively make a meaningful impact to protect and preserve our mountain landscapes, ensuring future generations can continue to experience the joys of skiing and snowboarding.
