Skiing comes with a lot of gear, travel, and other holiday ‘stuff’ and it can be hard to have an environmentally sustainable ski holiday. We all want to have a good time on holiday, and there are ways in which we can holiday whilst reducing our carbon footprint. We especially want to look after the planet if we want the snow to keep falling on the mountains! Here are some top tips on how to look after the planet one small step at a time on your ski holiday.

Buy second hand ski gear

You can reduce your carbon footprint by buying second hand clothing. The fashion industry is the second largest polluter, with energy required for the making of the clothes, transportation, and packaging. When you buy second hand from somewhere like Ebay, Depop, or Vinted, you’re significantly reducing your carbon footprint. Plus, you’ll save some money and help another person out in the process.

Don’t fly, take the train!

Consider taking the train to your ski resort. It uses less C02 per person than flying, or driving the long distance! You also won’t have the weight restrictions that flights do. However, if you travel lighter this is always better for C02 emissions. There are also many other benefits for winter holidaymakers who travel by train. For example, there is no need to search for a parking space in the resort and no need to install snow chains in the higher regions of the Alps. You can also enjoy the beautiful scenery, without needing to focus on the road.

If you do decide to fly, try and pack a little less (which we know can be hard when going skiing!). Similarly, if you drive, try and get the maximum number of people in the car, so you don’t need to drive two cars.

Choose sustainable ski resorts

Many more ski resorts are improving their eco-credentials and decreasing the carbon footprint of their operations. Projects include upgrading to renewable energy sources, low carbon in-resort transport, reducing cars in resort with park and rides, moving to more environmentally friendly piste groomers, ski lifts and more. Les Arcs, Morzine and Val Thorens are among some of the resorts who have the Flocon Vert (Green Snowflake) label, which shows they are dedicated to being more sustainable.

Use reusable bottles

Holidays result in quite a lot of plastic waste; from travel bottles, to food bought and not finished in a week. Take shampoo and conditioner in reusable bottles, rather than buying large bottles out there, and throwing half a bottle away at the end of the week. If you take a train, you won’t have bottle restrictions either! So you can take as much or as little as you like. Consider using reusable water bottles and coffee cups too.

The little things

Just like you might do at home to save on the bills, turn off the lights if you’re not in the room. Similarly, don’t litter, and always recycle where you can. If we all do the small things, the result is great!