The recently concluded Ski Industry Climate Summit, hosted by Atomic, can be considered a significant milestone in the ski industry’s commitment to addressing climate challenges. The international congress, held Sept. 13-14, 2023, in Salzburg, Austria, gathered key stakeholders and witnessed remarkable progress towards a more sustainable future for winter sports.
Supported by the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI) and Protect Our Winters (POW), the summit brought together some 140 participants, including leading ski brands such as Rossignol Group, Head, Salomon, Elevate Outdoor Collective and Burton, dedicated suppliers and retailers, and relevant organizations. The event received positive feedback, underscoring its importance in promoting climate action in the industry.
“At FESI, we firmly believe that by coming together, sharing knowledge, and embracing innovation, we can pave the way for a more environmentally responsible and sustainable future for winter sports. The Ski Industry Climate Summit is the perfect forum to embody this commitment,” commented Jérome Pero, Secretary General of FESI.
Jonas Schneider, European Coordinator at POW added: “Together, we can achieve success on our shared journey towards a more sustainable future. This summit, bringing together 140 individuals from leading companies and organizations, is not merely a first step; it illuminates the path forward.”
The European Outdoor Group (EOG) represented the outdoor industry at the event. “We were impressed by the attitude of the industry and a clear desire to collaboratively tackle the climate crisis head-on,“ commented Dr. Katy Stevens, Head of CSR and Sustainability at EOG. “A huge amount of knowledge was shared during the event, pushing the industry even further and we are excited to see the next steps for this sector.”
Key accomplishments of the Ski Industry Climate Summit included:
- Collaborative discussions: the event fostered meaningful interaction among industry representatives and promoted dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders.
- Industry-wide commitment: major ski and snowboard brands such as Rossignol, Head, Salomon, Völkl, Burton, and Nidecker, retailers such as Decathlon, Sport Conrad and Bründl, and organizations such as the EOG and the Snowsports Industry Association (SIA) came together to address climate challenges.
- Growing awareness: the summit contributed to a growing awareness of data-driven climate action within the ski and snowboard industry and provided attendees with valuable insights and strategies.
- Education and preparedness: attendees received important information on upcoming legislation and policies related to products and business practices so that the industry is prepared for regulatory changes.
- Focus on sustainability: key action areas such as material requirements, information sharing and recycling systems received increased industry attention and laid the groundwork for sustainable practices.
- Alignment of standards: Participants found common ground on working groups and projects, including efforts to establish industry standards such as the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rule and Data Exchange Harmonization.
The results of the summit underscore the ski industry’s commitment to meaningful change and reducing its climate impact. It is a testament to the power of collaboration and knowledge sharing and lays the foundation for a more sustainable and climate-smart future for winter sports. For this reason, Atomic, FESI and POW will carefully select a joint commitment aimed at uniting the entire industry under a common goal. The companies will then present this joint statement to industry members for signature.
