Environment & Sustainability

Thredbo Powered by Renewable Energy

Thredbo Resort is committed to preserving, protecting, and prioritising our unique alpine environment. We take pride in our long list of environmental initiatives and embrace the opportunity to lead our industry and our community, through our shared passion for the mountains, towards a more sustainable future today.

The Environment
Thredbo operates within Kosciuszko National Park, one of Australia’s most beautiful and sensitive natural settings. Our innovative environmental initiatives cover all aspects of resort operations so we can preserve our unique alpine backyard for future generations.

Community
Thredbo understands caring for the environment is a team effort. We work in collaboration with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Thredbo community, Red Energy, Snowy Hydro, and local non-profit groups to protect the mountains we value so much.

Leadership
Thredbo is Australia’s first snow resort to have its major resort operations powered by renewable electricity and to achieve Gold EarthCheck Sustainable Destination Certification, 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

Renewable Now

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 our resort operations with electricity from renewable sources.

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EarthCheck | Gold Certification

Thredbo has been awarded Gold EarthCheck Sustainable Destination Certification four years running! This internationally recognised environmental milestone is a first for an Australian snow resort and is awarded by EarthCheck, the world’s leading environmental certification and benchmarking program for the travel and tourism industry.

To achieve gold certification, Thredbo have met EarthCheck’s rigorous environmental standards across 12 key performance areas including greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, conservation and management, land use planning and management and waste management.

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Keep It Cool

Keep It Cool is a local not-for-profit group based in the Snowy Mountains and run by passionate mountain goers who love our alpine playground.

You’ll find them (and us) supporting all environmental initiatives that cross their path, educating to inspire change, building a community of like-minded people to help create momentum, and planting trees locally to lock away carbon from the atmosphere and create new habitats for wildlife.

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Greenfleet

2024 marked Thredbo’s 15th year partnering with Greenfleet to offset resort vehicle emissions including all fuel used to run our snow groomers and the resort shuttle buses. The project has contributed over 53,000 native trees and shrubs to help create biodiverse forests across Australia.

Additionally, in a global first in 2014, Thredbo started a forestry carbon offset program for guests to contribute towards tree planting when buying lift products. Since 2019, over 10,000 trees have been purchased by guests to offset their trips to the mountains. All guest donations go towards restoring native forests, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helping to regenerate natural ecosystems.

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Sustainable Snowies

Caring for the environment is a team effort! Sustainable Snowies is made up of local businesses, government, and community representatives that are passionate about the environment, with the aim to improve sustainability within the Snowy Mountains region by working collaboratively, sharing ideas and implementing on-ground projects.

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Ecotourism Accreditation

Since 2011 Thredbo’s guided products such as Backcountry Tours and Hiking, have been granted Advanced Ecotourism Accreditation by Ecotourism Australia.

As an accredited business we are committed to environmental and industry best practices upholding sustainability of business and activities. The activities promote consciousness for conservation by conducting all tours under the Leave No Trace ethics and creating an opportunity to open environmental dialogue between visitors, guides and the community.

We are accredited to discuss climate change and its effect on our operation, ways we can reduce our contribution to climate change both in our guests’ holidaying choices, practices and how we deliver our tour products.

Environment Week

Annually in winter, Thredbo hosts our Environment Week to share information and education about the local and wider environment.

Over the past few years we have been supported by National Parks and Wildlife Services, Australian National University, non-profits and our resort partners to hold numerous events during environment week including ski tours, evening guest speaking events, giveaways, interactive educational events, on-snow resort environmental tours, and more.

Keep your eyes peeled for Thredbo’s 2025 Environment Week events, coming soon.

Biodiversity Management

Thredbo acts in partnership with the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service to protect the native flora and fauna and manage introduced species within the resort. This includes:

Integrated fauna crossings into any new ski slopes and mountain biking trails developed by Thredbo so native species are not impacted by recreational activities.
Active programs targeting invasive weeds and pests by Contractors and the Environmental Services and Mountain departments. Examples include:
- Blackberry and Broad-leafed weed management programs;
- Ferral cat and rabbit control programs; and
- Small mammal live trapping and relocation.
Native vegetation rehab, or grass replanting of disturbed ski slopes, across all development areas within the Resort and Village.

Energy Management

We employ a number of strategies to keep a cap on energy usage. Some of our current initiatives are:

The Merritts Gondola uses an industry leading Direct Drive electric motor system resulting in a 5% energy saving over a traditional lift drive system.
The Easy Does It chairlift electric drive motor has been replaced with the latest “synchronous reluctance” technology drive system, significantly improving its efficiency when not working under full load.
Our snowmaking system has been progressively upgraded and automated resulting in increased energy efficiencies over time.
The Thredbo Leisure Centre has a 100kW solar array installed. In January 2023, 50% of the required electricity for the Leisure Centre came from the solar system.
Lighting across the resort continues to be progressively upgraded to energy-efficient LEDs.
Conventional streetlights on Friday Drive have been replaced with solar-powered lighting.
Thredbo now has 11 Electric Vehicle charging stations for guests and staff to use – 8 at Friday Flat and 3 at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel, if you would like to charge your vehicle at the Alpine Hotel, please call ahead on 02 6459 4200.

Waste Management

We have achieved a combined recycling rate of 36% in 2023/24 and aim to continue increasing this percentage with the help of our staff and the Thredbo community. Some initiatives to help reach our goals are:

Paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, steel and aluminium cans, and battery recycling – download our recycling guide
Food Organics recycling – download our guide on what food wastes you can and can’t recycle
Used cooking oil collected onsite is recycled into biodiesel
In the past two years we sent over 2 tonnes of batteries and E-waste for recycling, including fluorescent light bulbs and white goods.
Biosolids from our wastewater treatment plant are used by local farmers for soil conditioning
In 2023, we diverted over a tonne of un-usable Thredbo uniforms away from landfill, by sending them to UPPAREL to be recycled into new products.
Just over 2 tonnes of mixed rubber, which includes bike tyres, vehicle tyres, and chairlift components, was diverted from landfill in 2023/24.

Water Management

A significant reduction of our water usage has been achieved through the installation of low flow showers, dual flush toilets and water efficient washing machines within Thredbo venues. The Thredbo community is also encouraged to employ water-saving methods in private lodges and apartments.

Thredbo’s snowmaking process uses water when the weather is cold enough in winter, however the majority of this water returns to the Thredbo River each spring when the snow melts.

Thredbo works with the University of Canberra Institute for Applied Ecology to closely monitor the biological and physical condition of the Thredbo River which allows us to best manage the impacts the resort might have.

Native Animals

Kosciuszko National Park is home to many native animals, some of which are rare or threatened including the Mountain Pygmy Possum, the Corroboree Frog and the Broad-toothed Rat. Help us help our native friends by reducing your impact on their home.

Injured Animals

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 region’s roads, please contact L.A.O.K.O. (Looking After Our Kosciuszko Orphans) on (02) 6456 1313.

Policies & Reports

Click the links to check out our policies that guide the care and protection of Thredbo’s environment and heritage, and the reports looking at our progress:

Download the Annual NSW Alpine Resorts Environmental Performance Report

Download our Environmental Initiatives 2023

Download our Sustainability Report 2023

Download Thredbo Human Rights Report 2024

Download the Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy

Download our Environmental Sustainability Destination Action Plan

If you would like to provide feedback on any of our policies contact us at [email protected]

What Can You Do

Thredbo is aiming to reduce waste to landfill. One way you can help is by making sure you use the right bin correctly and recycle like a champion!

Get Educated

The first step to taking action against climate change and protecting the environment is to educate yourself. Jump online today.

Get Educated

The first step to taking action against climate change and protecting the environment is to educate yourself. Jump online today.

Travel Smart

Reduce the amount of harmful emissions entering the air by carpooling or taking the bus to Thredbo.

Travel Smart

Reduce the amount of harmful emissions entering the air by carpooling or taking the bus to Thredbo.

Greenfleet

Assist to offset the carbon emissions from your journey to Thredbo by contributing $5 towards tree planting.

Greenfleet

Assist to offset the carbon emissions from your journey to Thredbo by contributing $5 towards tree planting.

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.

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. Please follow all recycling guidelines in the resort to keep Thredbo clean.

Recycle

Thredbo is responsible for recycling and so are you. Please follow all recycling guidelines in the resort to keep Thredbo clean.

Put Rubbish In The Bin

Pick up rubbish around the resort and put it in the bin, recycling where possible. This small action makes a big difference!

Put Rubbish In The Bin

Pick up rubbish around the resort and put it in the bin, recycling where possible. This small action makes a big difference!

Turn Off Your Lights

Turn off your lights when you’re not using them. Nationally, electricity production is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions so every little helps.

Turn Off Your Lights

Turn off your lights when you’re not using them. Nationally, electricity production is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions so every little helps.

Rental

If only using equipment for a short time, rent instead of buying new. Check out our premium range of skis, snowboards, bikes & accessories.

Rental

If only using equipment for a short time, rent instead of buying new. Check out our premium range of skis, snowboards, bikes & accessories.

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Free refills? Yes please 🙋 Olympic ambassador @josiebaff moving mountains this morning at Exhibition 😍

All lifts spinning from tomorrow. Karels T-Bar just RSVP’d… fashionably early 👌

Under the cover of night, they emerge…. 177 guns fired overnight, as the defenders of corduroy assembled 💪

Join us as we turn pink for Breast Cancer Network Australia at a special cocktail event at Schuss Bar this Saturday July 19🥂 With a 2026 Thredbo Winter Season pass up for grabs and a live auction featuring a snowboard from @burtonaustralianz and skis from @rossignolaustralia - it’s the perfect excuse to support a great cause 🎀💕 @bcnapinklady @redenergyau Tickets available via the link in BIO ✅

Mum’s ‘me-time’ 🧘 When she’s not chasing after her three under four, Tess is chasing turns 🫡

Come with me, and we’ll ski, top to bottom Exhibition ⛷️

Join us for the Arc’teryx Winter Film Tour in the Kosciuszko Room on July 23! ❄️ 🏔️ This annual film tour features inspiring short films that celebrate uncommon journeys into the mountains. 🎟️Ticket link in BIO - see you there!

Who’s ready for the first instalment of the Thredbo Triple Crown presented by @boostaus? 👑 Going down on Monday the 21st of July in a custom built rail set up in the @boostaus Terrain Park with a HUGE prize pool up for grabs, this is an event you don’t want to miss! 🔥 Entries close July 19, link in BIO - you know what to do! ✅

Thredbo’s got a new piece of equipment and it’s big and ready to perform… no matter the conditions. 😉 Introducing our All Weather Snowmaking Unit, the newest edition to our snowmaking fleet that can produce snow in temperatures up to 20 degrees 💪

Two Aussie icons, one legendary collab 👀 Thredbo X @uggaustraliaclassics is coming in hot… A tribute to the true legends of the mountain. Keep your eyes peeled, something special is stepping UP 🥾

Mini moves, MEGA vibes! The Kids Rave is turning up the fun for our School Holidays Festival… Glow sticks, DJ’s and lots of Fairy Floss! 🎉🕺🪩

Today’s forecast: Best day ever

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Thredbo sits on the traditional land of the Monero – Ngarigo people who have looked after this land, water and community for over 60,000 years. We thank them for all they have done and continue to do to look after their country, a special place which we all love and respect.