Renewable Now

Thredbo Powered by Renewable Energy

At Thredbo, we have harnessed the opportunity to lead our industry and our community toward a more sustainable future, today. Together with Red Energy and Snowy Hydro, we’re proud to be powering all our major resort operations with clean and renewable sources of energy, effective 1 July 2019. This is a positive addition to the long list of environmental initiatives that Thredbo takes pride in.

The Environment
In collaboration with Red Energy, the resort has purchased 9 gigawatt hours of renewable energy per year, the equivalent to the electricity consumed by 1,500 average homes. This agreement goes a long way to preserving the backyard we love, for future generations.

Community
Thredbo understands caring for the environment is a team effort so in collaboration with Red Energy, Snowy Hydro, Protect Our Winters (POW) and the community we aim to protect the mountain and its surrounding environment we value so much.

Leadership
Thredbo is Australia’s first snow resort to have its major resort operations powered by renewable energy, setting a new benchmark for environmental sustainability within the snow industry and protecting our environment into the future.

“Becoming powered by renewable energy has been our goal for some time now and by achieving this we’ve set the environmental benchmark for Australian resorts. We are extremely proud to be at the forefront of reducing our carbon footprint into the future.”

Stuart Diver, General Manager of Thredbo

Other Environmental Initiatives

For ten years, Thredbo has partnered with Greenfleet to offset the operation emissions of the entire fleet of snow groomers and company vehicles. Guests can also contribute by purchasing a $4.00 tree when they buy their lift product. The tree is then planted regionally and will offset the emissions of their travel to the snow.
Thredbo is a proud partner of Protect Our Winters (POW). POW is a passionate crew of snow enthusiasts who care about protecting the incredible winter environment. The goal through this partnership is to raise awareness of the issue of climate change and to continuous to improve Thredbo’s environmental performance.
During winter 2018, Thredbo employees saved over 7,200 disposable cups from landfill by using reusable cups. You can purchase a reusable cup from Thredbo retail stores and Thredbo coffee outlets.
Thredbo has now removed single use plastic bags from all Thredbo outlets as well as moving to biodegradable and commercially compostable packaging, cutlery and paper straws.
All of Thredbo’s outlets are using LED lights as well as the Thredbo Alpine Hotel adding restrictors to all taps and shower heads to reduce flow volume. The installation of waterless urinals alone saves 500,000 litres of water per year.
Each winter, Environmental Week is held in Thredbo to raise awareness of the amazing environment the resort is located within, together with the initiatives the resort has in place to protect it.

Protect Our Winters (POW)

Thredbo is proud to be the Australian partner of Protect Our Winters (POW).

POW is a passionate crew of snow enthusiasts, professional athletes and industry partners mobilising the outdoor sports community to lead the charge towards positive climate action.

The goals in collaborating with POW include raising awareness of the impact of climate change on our mountain environment and to continuously improve Thredbo’s environmental performance.

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Greenfleet

Since 2009 Thredbo has partnered with Greenfleet to offset resort operation emissions. Plus, in what was a global first in 2014, the resort started a forestry carbon offset program for guests. Visitors can purchase a tree for $4.00 when purchasing lift products. A tree will then be planted regionally to offset emissions for their journey to Thredbo.

Our guests have offset nearly 8,000 tonnes of carbon emissions by planting over 30,000 trees.

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EarthCheck

To help measure Thredbo’s environmental performance, the resort, since 2012, works with EarthCheck, a world leader scientific benchmarking certification and advisory group for travel and tourism.

In 2017 and 2018 Thredbo was officially awarded Silver Certification under the internationally recognised EarthCheck Destination Standard. For 2019, Thredbo are working hard on their third Silver Certification, to achieve Gold the business needs to attain Silver for five years.

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Policies

See below our policies that guide the care and protection of our environment and heritage:

Download Thredbo 2019 Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy

Download Thredbo Environmental Sustainability Action Plan

Click here for the Annual NSW Alpine Resorts Environmental Performance Report

Click here to download our Environmental Initiatives 2018

If you would like to provide feedback on any of our policy, please feel free to contact us at info@thredbo.com.au

Indigenous Heritage

Thredbo recognises the Ngarigo People as the Traditional Custodians of this land. We would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Elders past and present and their traditions and culture.

Biodiversity Management

Thredbo acts to protect the native and manage the introduced flora and fauna within our small part of Kosciuszko National Park. Fauna crossing tunnels have been constructed under ski runs and over 2,000 native trees, shrubs, and grasses were planted within Thredbo resort last year, with over 70,000 planted in Thredbo in the last decade.

Energy Management

We employ a number of strategies to keep a cap on energy usage. Here are some of our current initiatives to help us achieve these goals.

Our snowmaking system has been progressively upgraded and automated resulting in a 40% reduction in energy use per cubic metre of snow produced.
Power Factor Correction equipment has been installed on chairlifts to materially increase energy efficiency.
A number of level two energy audits have been undertaken in resort buildings, resulting in significant energy savings.
Heat pumps are used to heat and cool water in the Thredbo Leisure Centre and Thredbo’s snowmaking operations.
Cogeneration and solar systems are currently being investigated to further reduce energy use.

Waste Management

We work with the community to achieve a combined recycling rate of 30% and climbing. Some initiatives to help reach this goal are:

Paper recycling
Battery and Clear Film recycling
Organics Recycling
Used cooking oil collected onsite is recycled into biodiesel
All waste timber and scrap metal is reused or recycled.
Collection of used fluorescent bulbs and obsolete or broken mobile phones for recycling
Biosolids from our wastewater treatment plant are used by local farmers for soil conditioning.
Bin Your Butts! We have given out over 12,000 personal ash trays to stop cigarette butts ending up in the Thredbo river.

Water Management

In conjunction with local stakeholders Thredbo has introduced a Waterwise program, promoting water conservation in the resort. This program keeps Thredbo’s water consumption below 1992 levels, despite large increases in guest numbers.

A significant reduction of our water usage has been achieved through the installation of low flow showers, waterless urinals, dual flush toilets and water efficient washing machines. The installation of waterless urinals alone saves 500,000 litres of water per year.

While the resort uses large amounts of water each winter for snowmaking, the majority of this water returns to the Thredbo River each spring.

The biological and physical condition of the Thredbo River environment is closely monitored by the University of Canberra Institute for Applied Ecology, they sample and clinically analyse the water regularly throughout the year.

Pets & Pests Management

Kosciuszko National Park is home to many native animals, some of which are rare or threatened; such as the Mountain Pygmy Possum and the Corroboree Frog. Guests can assist in ensuring the protection of the native wildlife:

In the Resort
Household pets are banned in the National Park with the exception of trained assistance animals. If you see any non-native animals (e.g. foxes, cats or dogs), please contact the Environmental Services Department on (02) 6459 4100.

On the Road
If you injure an animal on the road within Thredbo Village, please report it to the Environmental Services Department on (02) 6459 4100 If you injure an animal on the Alpine Way or any of the regions roads, please contact L.A.O.K.O. (Looking After Our Kosciuszko Orphans) on (02) 6456 1313.

Education

Thredbo has an environmentally friendly culture – all Thredbo team members take part in yearly environmental awareness training

Employees are encouraged, through an incentive program, to make suggestions of how we can improve our environmental credentials.

Signage has been installed throughout the resort to encourage public participation in Thredbo’s environmental efforts.

The purchasing team are educated in green procurement and are will order environmentally friendly products where economically viable.

What Can You Do

Get Educated
The first step to taking action against climate change and protecting the environment is to educate yourself. Jump online and learn how and why climate change is happening and its direct impact to what we all love so much.

Travel Smart
Reduce the amount of harmful emissions entering the air by driving smart and carpooling to Thredbo.

Greenfleet
Greenfleet and Thredbo offer resort guests the opportunity to plant a tree and offset the emissions of your journey to the resort. You can plant a tree for a small amount of $4.00 when purchasing your lift pass in-resort or online.

Reduce Plastic Usage
Invest in a water bottle and say no to plastic! Thredbo has water filling stations located across the resort for guests to use.

Recycle
Thredbo is responsible for recycling and so are you. In order to keep Thredbo and its surrounding environment as pristine as possible, please follow all recycling guidelines in the resort to keep Thredbo clean.

Pick It Up
If you see any rubbish around the resort or surrounding area please do the right thing and pick it up and place it in the bin…this small step makes a massive difference.

Turn Off Your Lights
Turn off your lights when you’re not using them. At no cost and with very minimal effort you’re instantly saving energy and reducing wastage. Electricity production is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions…so, every light counts!