This week, we explore three pressing topics that are shaping the future of winter sports: the phasing out of PFAS chemicals in ski gear, the essential strategies ski resorts must adopt to survive and the critical rate of glacier loss, along with current efforts to combat it.

The decisions we make today will determine whether or not future generations can carve fresh lines in real snow or merely watch videos of what once was. The good news? Solutions exist. From eliminating harmful chemicals to protecting glaciers to reinventing ski resorts - positive change is underway. The critical question remains: will the industry transform quickly enough, and what can we do to help?

Read on to learn about the challenges - and solutions - defining the industry's path forward.

The End of "Forever Chemicals" in Ski Gear

Your waterproof ski jacket might keep you dry, but at what cost? PFAS, the so-called "forever chemicals" long used in outdoor gear, are finally being phased out. As new regulations ban PFAS in textiles and ski wax, brands and resorts must adapt or risk obsolescence. Companies like Patagonia and Arc'teryx are already leading the way, proving that high-performance gear can exist without environmental compromise. However, we can’t just leave it to the big guys and solutions that are attainable by all must be put into place.

Why Glaciers Are Disappearing & What Protect Our Winters (POW) Is Doing About It

The Alps lost 10% of their glacier ice in just two summers. This rapid disappearance threatens water supplies, ski seasons and entire communities. As 2025 is the international year of glacier preservation, we reached out to POW to find out which of their initiatives they wanted to spread to the SustainaSki audience.

So, here is a little more on how POW is supporting this UNESCO-backed campaign to spotlight glacial melt. Their mission? Sound the alarm before it's too late.

The FIS Sustainability Guide

The FIS Sustainability Guide for Ski Resorts offers a blueprint outlining 14 key strategies for reducing emissions, optimizing snow management and creating eco-friendly skiing. We explored how resorts like Laax, Aspen Snowmass and Whistler Blackcomb already demonstrate how sustainability and profitability work together.

Stay tuned for more updates and in the meantime, dive deeper into this week's stories by reading the full scoop below:

• Shedding PFAS: The Future of Sustainable Ski Gear

• Glaciers Vanishing: POW's Fight Against Climate Change & Water Crisis

• The FIS Sustainability Guide & The Resorts That Are Paving the Way

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Ski smart. Stay sustainable. See you next time!