Ski Equipment

A number of outdoor textiles are made from synthetic materials (polyester, acrylic…) which are themselves made from fossil materials.¹

BELOW ARE A LIST OF MONTAGNE VERTE’S SUGGESTIONS FOR ECO-RESPONSIBLE SKI EQUIPMENT

These fossil materials are used in large quantities: you need about 1.5kg of petrol to make a 1kg of polyester.

In order to turn fossil materials in to outdoor clothing, a large amount of chemical substances and solvents are needed. On top of that, whenever we wash our outdoor clothes, fibres made from these materials detach themselves, are washed away with the waste water.  Sadly, these fibres don’t get filtered at water treatment plants.²

The chemical processes used to make our outdoor clothes also present risks to our health: certain substances can be noxious in situations where we sweat a lot (allergenic, toxic substances can be transmitted through reproduction or can be dangerous for foetuses, etc.)!³

Concerning our equipment, it’s important to know that making a ski is energy-intensive and requires non-ecological materials. In essence, skis are made of glue, injected foam, aluminium, steel, polyamide, polyethylene…

Luckily though, alternatives are being developed in the textile industry (recycled textiles, bio-sourced textiles, textiles made from recycled plastic bottles, etc.) and also in sports equipment such as skis and wax.

Sources: (1) WeDressFair: Qu’est-ce que le polyester?, (2) Edenred: Quel est l’impact écologique des vêtements ?, (3) ANSES: Évaluation des effets sensibilisants ou irritants cutanés des substances chimiques présentes dans les articles chaussants et textiles d’habillement, 2018.

Our suggested suppliers

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    PYUA

    All Pyua’ products are socially and ecologically sustainable, made from previously recycled materials and all of their skiwear is made in Europe. Products are made from previously recycled materials and all outdoor clothes made from 100% recycled polyester. Pyua is member of BlueSign, a coalition of clothes brands for sustainable solutions research, limiting noxious chemicals and social initiatives.

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    LAGOPED

    Lagopède is a french company located in Passy. Clothes are made in Europe, from recycled materials, without PFC.

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    BERGANS OF NORWAY

    Bergans of Norway is located in Norway. They are committed to having a sustainable lifecycle for their products. None of their textiles contain PTFE. They respect animals as all new down used is certified by the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) ans sheep wellness is a priority as well as care for their lands. They’re testing new methods in order to find a replacement for PFAS, aiming to have no products treated by PFAS by 2020. Members of BlueSign and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)

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    VAUDE

    Vaude is located in Germany. As an alternative to petroleum-based materials, they use more recycled and natural materials and bioplastics: hemp, organic cotton, wood fibre, merino wool, recycled S.Cafe® coffee grounds, recycled ECONYL® nylon, recycled polyester, recycled down, RDS certified goose and duck duvets. To color clothes they use Ecolor: fewer emissions and less water and energy for colour, natural dyes certified by GOTS, pigments are obtained from by-products of the food industry and agriculture such as beetroot, bitter orange and dwarf palm extract. They are certified German cowhide leather. Members of Myclimate (for a 100% climate-neutral website), Bluesign®, GOTS and the Fair Wear Foundation

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    ALL IN WOOD

    Allinwood, located in Seyssel, produces handcraft skis (pressed, cut, varnished, glued…). Wooden core are made from white ash for strength and resistance as well as sycamore maple for flexibility and low weight. All wood used is regional, therefore French, and PEFC certified. They use french flax fibre and vegetable glue.

  • BOREALIS

    Borealis, located in Avignon, produces handmade skis built with sustainable materials such as bamboo, bio-sourced resin, and sustainable wood. Most boards are made with a natural bamboo top sheet. As glue they use Greenpoxy Bio Resin, this epoxy resin is made of up to 51% recycled biomass (sawdust, vegetable oils, etc.). All wooden cores used are FSC certified. Topsheets are ultra-thin sheets made of plant-based bioplastic. Ink used for screen printing is water-based and contains no harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Natural linen pads to counteract binding impacts and reduce vibrations.

    Interesting fact: All discarded equipment (broken boards, etc.) is handed over to NoK Boards, a company based in Grenoble that specialises in product upcycling and create amazing new longboards from recycled snowboards.

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    EARLY BIRD

    Early Bird, located in Bern, use ecological materials for its skis : ultra-light FSC-certified wood core, ultra-strong wooden sides, natural flax fibres, bio-based epoxy resin and a sintered graphite racing base made from recycled raw materials, 100% bio wax. Topsheets are made of Robinia and finishes are made with natural oil.

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    GROWN

    Grown, located in Zurich, won the 2018 ISPO Award and the award for ecological achievement for their 100% hemp fibre composite ski. The use of hemp fibre replaces conventional non-renewable fibres such as glass and carbon fibres. Hemp is renewable, organic and captures carbon dioxide.

  • BUTTA

    Butta is located in the UK and offers the ‘Buta Eco’ product range which is a 100% ecological ski wax, so without fluorocarbon.

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    NZERO

    Nzero, located in Barcelona, offers 100% vegetable waxes made from 100% natural ingredients – a mixture of soy and corn extracts, without toxic additives. That means 0% paraffins and fluorides (100% free of mineral oils, paraffins and other pollutant) and 0% toxic fumes and less smoke for ski repair professionals who spend hours waxing skis.

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    VOLA

    Vola is located in Passy and produces ecological ski wax made in France. A large part of its ingredients come directly from vegetable and animal waxes, and are delivered in a small biodegradable bag whose ink is also environmentally friendly. So there is no hydrocarbon is these ski waxes.

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