Sustainable skiing gear
1. Sustainable ski touring skins
2. Sustainable ski poles
3. Sustainable ski boots
4. Sustainable ski clothing
5. Sustainable ski helmets
1. Sustainable ski touring skins
What is the problem with using touring skins?
Skins wear out and produce microplastics and synthetic fibres that remain on the mountain. Ski touring skins consist of a climbing layer made of polyamide, a synthetic material, or mohair, goat hair. Unfortunately, goat hair is chemically treated so that it is no longer biodegradable. This layer is woven into a fabric at an angle so that the hairs or fibres are all facing in the same direction. The fabric is laminated onto a carrier material, i.e. glued, e.g. with a synthetic material. There is usually a protective layer between the adhesive, which adheres to the ski base, and the carrier material. There are fastening elements at the tip and tail of the ski, usually made of plastic or rubber.
How should sustainable ski touring skins be designed?
All components of the ski touring skin generate abrasion during the ascent and should be biodegradable. The fastening elements should be made of either metal or biodegradable plastic.
What were ski touring skins like in the past?
In the past, the performance of ski touring skins was definitely worse. Historical ski touring skins consisted of animal skins that were attached to the ski mechanically, i.e. not glued. The advantage was that they did not produce microplastics and could be composted at the end of their life. Perhaps we can learn something from the past and design the ski touring skins of the future!
Where can you buy sustainable ski touring skins?
Unfortunately, you can't buy sustainable ski touring skins anywhere on the market at the moment. Colltex once had an EcoSkin on offer. It wasn't perfect, but it was much more sustainable than all the other skins. Unfortunately, the skin was taken out of the range again due to low demand.
We are currently developing a ski touring skin. If you are interested in sustainable touring skins, sign up for our newsletter now and send us a message!
2. Sustainable ski poles
What is the problem with using ski poles?
Let's start by explaining the structure of ski poles. From top to bottom, they consist of Strap (usually polyester), grip (hard plastic or foam), shaft (painted with plastic), sometimes a locking clamp on telescopic poles (plastic or aluminium painted with plastic), a plate (plastic) and a tip (steel tip, overmoulded with plastic). All parts are subject to abrasion over time, in the event of falls or when the steel edge of the ski scrapes over them. This creates microplastics that initially remain on the snow.
What is the problem with ski pole recycling?
The components are either pressed together or additionally fixed with glue. The parts can only be separated using special machines or shredders. This, of course, makes it difficult to recycle them by type.
Carbon vs aluminium poles
We would always opt for aluminium poles. They are a bit heavier, but if an aluminium pole is bent, you can carefully bend it back into shape. This doesn't work with carbon poles. If they are bent too much, they simply break. Aluminium is thermoplastic, so it can be melted down again and made into new components. Carbon cannot be incinerated and must be disposed of in landfill.
How should sustainable ski poles be designed?
All components of the ski pole that are subject to abrasion should be biodegradable. For example, the strap can be made of cotton or leather instead of plastic fibres. Biodegradable plastics can be used for the grip, the basket and the tip. Metal parts do not need to be painted.
My stick is broken. Do I have to dispose of it now?
No. Many manufacturers offer repairs. It would also be possible to ride with the second pole, which is still intact, and another one. As long as the length of the poles is the same, it doesn't really make any difference.
Where can you buy sustainable ski poles?
We are currently developing ski poles. If you are interested in sustainable ski poles, sign up for our newsletter now and send us a message!
3. Sustainable ski boots
What is the problem with using ski boots?
The shell of the ski boots and the sole are made of different plastics, which wear off over time. The shell is usually made of polyamide, as this is very abrasion-resistant. The sole is usually Vibram, a type of rubber. The inner shoes are made of another type of plastic, usually polyurethane. As a rule, none of this material is released into the environment. In the event of falls or impacts, the steel edge hits the ski boot and breaks off larger pieces. As these plastic parts are not biodegradable, they remain in the environment as microplastics.
What is the problem with disposing of ski boots?
How can ski boots be recycled? As long as the ski boots are not glued together, they can be unscrewed and broken down into their individual components such as metal parts, buckles, screws and various plastics. The hard shell and the metal parts can be recycled by melting them down and producing new parts from them. Some manufacturers already offer this. The polyurethanes in the inner shoes are not thermoplastics and therefore cannot be melted down again. Some manufacturers shred the inner shoes and turn them into other products. However, in this case the plastic is not recycled but only downcycled. If the plastics are already old and brittle, they are usually incinerated. If glass fibre reinforced plastics or even carbon fibres are used in the ski boots, recycling becomes more difficult. If the ski boots are shredded, the fibres are very abrasive, so they act like sandpaper on the shredders and they wear out much faster. If they contain carbon fibres, the plastics cannot be incinerated as they damage the electronic filter systems of the waste incineration plant. Shoes with carbon fibres must then be disposed of directly.
How should sustainable ski boots be designed?
Ski boots should have a modular design so that all wear parts such as the sole, currently mostly made of Vibram, can be easily replaced at the end of their life. All parts that cause abrasion, such as the hard shell, should be biodegradable. A plastic from Kuori, for example, could be used for the sole. If possible, metal parts should not be coated with plastic, anodised, but should only be oxidised or galvanised, as the anodised layer also rubs off over time and ends up as microplastics in the environment.
Where can you buy sustainable ski boots?
That's a good question! Unfortunately, we don't have an answer yet. If you know of a sustainable ski boot that doesn't produce microplastics, please send us a message so we can share the information with everyone.
4. Sustainable ski clothing
What is the problem with using ski clothing?
Ski clothing such as jackets, trousers, fleece jumpers, ski underwear, socks and gloves are made of different materials, usually including plastic fibres that wear off over time. As the plastic fibres are not biodegradable, they remain in the environment as microplastics or are even distributed worldwide by the wind. Outdoor products are also often treated with C6, a hydrofluorocarbon, i.e. impregnated. The same substances have now been banned in racing waxes, but unfortunately they are still permitted in clothing.
What is the problem with washing?
During washing, plastic fibres get into the waste water and thus into the environment due to the mechanical stress.
What is the problem with recycling?
Both the disposal and recycling of clothing containing synthetic fibres pose problems. The garment is usually sewn together from several fabrics, e.g. inner jacket and outer jacket, or the fabric and sewing thread are made of different materials. If the garment is made of only one material, such as thermoplastic, it can be shredded and melted down, or if it is only made of biodegradable material such as wool, it can be composted. However, if there is a mix of materials, e.g. zip (metal), outer jacket (polyamide) and inner fleece (polyester), recycling becomes difficult.
How and where can ski clothing be repaired?
Trew and Patagonia have a few instructions for care and repair on their website, including for hardshells and zips.
Patagonia also has a repair truck that tours Europe where you can repair items.
Repair cafés in your neighbourhood or an alteration shop can also be a good place to go to get things repaired.
Where can you buy used ski clothing?
Buying or borrowing something second-hand is definitely better than buying new. Before your next tour, simply ask friends or relatives if you can borrow something. Platforms such as classified ads, next door or the DAV service centres can also be good places to borrow something. Tip: Simply post on social media or in your Messenger status that you are looking for something to borrow. Vaude offers used clothing instead of new through its online shop, but you can also rent a few items of clothing there.
Where can I find more information on sustainable clothing?
Greenpace Aachen has published a good guide on the subject. Pages 9 and 10 deal with outdoor clothing and good alternatives to PFC-free (PFC = perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals) impregnations.
Stadtreinigung Hamburg has published a purchasing and disposal guide for textiles. This evaluates, for example, the different types of fibres, such as chemical, plant or animal fibres, and gives tips on how to repair them.
What should sustainable ski clothing look like?
Ski clothing should not contain any synthetic fibres, only biodegradable fibres.
Wool, cotton or linen can be used for jumpers, ski underwear and socks. For all items that need to be waterproof or water-repellent, such as gloves, jackets and trousers, it becomes more difficult. There are ski touring trousers made from wool or loden. Although these are not waterproof, they are at least water-repellent for a while.
We would be delighted to hear any tips on sustainable products in this area!
5. Sustainable ski helmets
What is the problem with using ski helmets?
Ski helmets are made from different types of plastic in the form of hard plastic and foam. The material ages over time and due to UV radiation. The abrasion from helmets remains as microplastic in the ski area. Tip: To avoid abrasion, simply don't fall down so often ;)
How should sustainable ski helmets be designed?
Ski helmets should not cause microplastic abrasion. Biodegradable plastics could be used for the hard shell of the helmet, for example. In order to be able to separate the individual components by type afterwards, they should not be glued together, but only plugged or screwed.
Where can you buy sustainable ski helmets?
If you know of a sustainable helmet, please let us know and we will share the information and the product with everyone.