Last Updated on January 3, 2026

Lower your environmental impact and maximize your snow satisfaction with these straightforward tips.

Guest Post by Kimberley Button

If you’re a fan of carving up well-groomed pistes, seeking out powder and filling your lungs with crisp mountain air; it’s likely that you have an eye on climate change and the effect global warming is having on our snow-covered playgrounds. Europe has been warming faster than any other continent in recent decades, with temperatures increasing at twice the global average. The consequences are clearly evident in mountainous areas where snow lines are rising, glaciers are shrinking and snow cover is less consistent.

It’s a glum reality, but one that is sparking much positive change and cohesion. From sports technology and clothing to environmental schemes and responsible travel companies, every ingredient of snow sports travel is looking a lot greener.

From what you wear, to maximizing gear life, and where you rest your head, these environmentally savvy switches and decisions will help you lower the impact of your holiday and protect our mountains for years to come.

Dress for the mountains

High production emissions, pollution, water wastage and unfair social practices; it’s no news flash the fashion and textile industry comes at a cost to the planet, and winter sports clothing is no exception. What’s scary is 85% of clothing ends up in landfills or gets incinerated. So when it comes to skiwear, one key thing skiers can do is to reduce consumption and help keep gear in circulation for longer.

If buying new, go for durable, high-performance kit from responsible brands such as Patagonia, Picture, Icebreaker and Protest, and you’ll be safe in the knowledge it has been produced with people and the planet in mind. High-quality kit should last you longer than cheaper, poorly made alternatives, plus careful cleaning and repairing of this kit will keep it in use for longer.

In recent years, renting ski clothing has become a thing. EcoSki, a leading ski clothing rental platform, allows skiers to rent a high-quality ski jacket and pants for a week’s holiday starting from just £45.50. When you consider the expense of quality skiwear, which often comes out of the wardrobe just once or twice a year, this becomes a smart choice for your wallet and the planet.

As well as renting ski clothing, EcoSki covers all bases to make it easy for skiers to purchase ‘kit with a conscience’, find pre-owned kit and repair their items via their online shop.

Research your resort

Skiing in one of the more environmentally sound resorts doesn’t need to cost you the earth, it also doesn’t necessarily mean heading to one of the higher resorts where there is less reliance on snowmaking.

SkiWelt in Austria sits between the elevations of 620 and 1,869m, yet thanks to the lack of rocks and high winds associated with higher resorts, snow cover often takes just tens of centimetres of snow, and GPS systems on snow groomers reduce this by a further 20 per cent. When a snow top-up is needed, snow cannons are fed from local reservoirs, filled with natural snow-melt water.

Ruka in Finland is a carbon-neutral ski resort, powered by hydroelectric and wind energy with buildings heated by biomass heat. In an ingenious way to reduce snowmaking, the ski area stores 150,000 cubic metres of snow from May to September under sawdust and geotextiles (losing just 15 per cent to melting) so it can open from October. The nearby resort of Pyhä uses fences to make sure snow is not blown away and has a ‘hot beds’ scheme to ensure all central beds—whether in cabins or hotels—are in use. Located on the edge of the Arctic Circle in an area of dramatic scenery, this resort claims to be 100 per cent sustainable in terms of ensuring no net emissions. Ski pass prices in both resorts are some of the lowest in Europe, and skiers are awarded with that bucket-list chance to see the Northern Lights.

In the French Alps, Morzine Avoriaz recently gained the Flocon Vert, a green label awarded by the environmental association Mountain Riders for cutting-edge sustainable development policy. Perched on a mountaintop at 1,800m, Avoriaz is fully pedestrianised with sustainable architecture throughout and offers horse-drawn carts and electric snowmobiles as a regular means of transport. With areas reserved for nature and mountain species to thrive, plus environmentally friendly grooming machines (creating less air and sound pollution) Morzine Avoriaz is showing its dedication to the protection of its mountain territories.

Meanwhile, Montagne Verte, a non-profit association founded by business owners and locals, is making an impact with its creative solutions to environmental issues. The AlpinExpress qualifies skiers who opt to travel to Morzine by train for a number of discounts on local services; while a bicycle-powered biowaste collection scheme is reducing greenhouse gas emissions by diverting waste from incinerators to the more climate-friendly method of methanisation.

Consider a greener mode of transport

No matter how you travel it is predicted that travel to your ski resort will account for at least half the emissions caused by your ski holiday. The good news is that choosing train or road over air travel will significantly reduce emissions. Journalist Daniel ElKan founded SnowCarbon, a travel planning website, to inspire and help British skiers reach ski resorts by train. It shares train journey details, travel booking options and an independent guide to 31 resorts in Europe. Daniel points out that train travel can be as fast as flying, door to door; and has the added benefit of enjoyable blocks of time that you can use, instead of moving from airport queue to airport queue to road transfer when you fly.

In terms of road travel; the French resorts of Flaine, Morzine, La Clusaz and Chamonix are around 8 hours from Calais, you should also factor in the 35-minute Eurotunnel or 2-hour ferry crossing.

If flying is the only option, booking economy seats on large commercial airliners, which tend to seat more people, and therefore have lower carbon emissions per person, and choosing a direct flight, are two ideas for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Another option, check out Skyscanner, the travel comparison site now has a green leaf labelling system to indicate lower-emitting, greener flight options, which takes into account the aircraft’s age, capacity, weight, fuel efficiency, and the number of stopovers among other factors. Airline passengers can also offset their emissions by supporting carbon removal schemes that deliver long-term benefits.

Support sustainable accommodations

If you’re looking to have a net positive impact on the place and people you are visiting, where you choose to sleep on your ski holiday should be a key consideration. AliKats Mountain Holidays, a niche chalet company in Morzine, offers low-impact catered chalet holidays, which are carbon and waste-neutral (and completely zero food waste). Chalets operate on renewable energy; food is locally sourced and homemade; and staff move around the resort in electric vehicles. A green reward scheme encourages skiers to save pounds through further eco-friendly choices, including taking the train, eating a plant-based menu and opting out of hot tub use. As founding members of the environmental association Montagne Verte, owners (Al and Kat Judge) help mobilize climate-smart initiatives in their region of the French Alps, including the move towards a 4-season Alpine resort. This long-term vision of mountain tourism, which trades the reliance on snow for a more year-round view of mountain experiences, sports and wellness, is seen as fundamental in the sustainable future of our mountain communities.

Switch to eco-friendly wax

Wax is essential for our skis and boards to glide effortlessly on the snow, and waxing also helps to protect and prolong the life of our snow equipment. There are many options on the market, but some use harsh chemicals, particularly PFCs. These toxins creep into waterways and are harmful to vegetation and wildlife, they’re also bad for people, with links to liver and cardiovascular damage.

So although it may seem like a small switch, opting for a wax made from environmentally kind ingredients can make a world of difference. MountainFlow produces a range of plant-based ski wax that works just as well as conventional, petroleum-based wax, is easy to apply and non-hazardous to the environment.

These green switches and habits may feel like tiny snowflakes in a bigger storm, but as skiers and snowboarders our choices represent a powerful lever enabling responsible companies and ski resorts to continue valuable work to combat climate change and preserve our mountain environments.