ForeverProject
Our Commitment to Net Zero Emissions and Building a Sustainable Tomorrow
Big Sky Resort represents a collective of people who live and breathe the outdoors.
Our mountains, rivers, and forests provide us with inspiring adventures and therapeutic escapes. To protect our environment, health, and society, we're strengthening our commitment to sustainable business practices.
NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2030
Boyne Resorts recognizes human-driven climate change as an urgent issue for the world, as well as for the Snow Sports industry. In early 2021, we formalized commitments to climate action and announced our ForeverProject.
ForeverProject is an initiative to attain a sustainable tomorrow through collaboration by positively affecting the lasting impact our resorts, team members, and guests have on the planet.
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- Power all operations with 100% clean electricity
- Reduce dependence on carbon-based fuels in existing buildings through energy efficiency upgrades and electrification
- Develop and implement high-efficiency green building standards for design and construction of new facility and real estate projects
- Upgrade our lift networks, installing the most technologically advanced lifts, and enhancing the energy efficiency of lift houses
- Install low-energy equipment while expanding snowmaking
- Add on-site renewable energy generation projects
- Monitor emerging technologies to identify opportunities to maximize efficiency and electrification of fleet vehicles and equipment
- Seek partnerships with local and/or meaningful programs to sequester carbon
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- Expand composting
- Enhance recycling
- Partner with local and non-profit organizations to donate/repurpose items, from uniforms to equipment
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- Participate in community environmental clean-ups
- Protect and limit disturbances to wildlife habitats, forests, and wetland ecosystems
- Conserve water through efficiency upgrades and utilizing recycled water where possible
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- Educate team members on the purpose of specific plans and encourage their input and ideas
- Be a leader in the community, educating guests about sustainability and welcoming their participation in initiatives
- Advocate at local, regional, and national levels for policies that promote climate solutions
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- Invest in Team Member housing to address local housing shortages
- Encourage and provide options to team members to utilize sustainable modes of transportation
- Develop great people
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- Promote carpooling and sustainable transportation options to and from our properties
- Collaborate with local and regional non-profits, government agencies, and community organizations
GET INVOLVED
Carpool to Big Sky
We invite our guests to play an active role in minimizing their carbon footprint - setup a carpool to Big Sky Resort with our partner Go Gallatin
Offset Your Trip
We invite our guests to play an active role in minimizing their carbon footprint - offset your trip to Big Sky Resort with our partner Tradewater
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
MINDFUL EFFICIENCY
Create and maintain a culture of reduction: energy use, waste output, water impact; balanced with maximized utilization of our human, technological, natural, and financial resources.
TIRELESS CONSERVATION
Protect the natural environment unwaveringly, ensuring proper use for purposes related to outdoor recreation, and preserving or rehabilitating the land over which we are stewards.
INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION
Support and reward outreach and partnerships that extend beyond all traditional boundaries, providing deeply valuable impact among our team members, and in our communities, industry, and environment for the long term.
DISCOVER OUR INITIATIVES
Energy
From running lifts to making hot chocolate, energy is a vital resource for Big Sky Resort.
Ecosystems
Belonging to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Upper Gallatin River watershed, we want to preserve our natural resources that are a source of recreation, sustenance and beauty for our community
Waste
We're working to reduce waste throughout the lifecycle of what we use, from our supply chain to disposal.
Community
Advocacy
We’re advocating at the local, regional, and national levels to mitigate the effects of climate change and promote climate solutions.
The Sustainability Specialist
Jun 5, 2023
Big Sky Resort’s sustainability specialist Amy Fonte is driving a new way of doing business.
Led by National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), the Climate Challenge is a voluntary program dedicated to helping participating ski areas reduce greenhouse gas emissions, engage in advocacy on climate change solutions, and reap other benefits in their operations, such as reducing costs for energy use. Big Sky Resort has been a participant of the Climate Challenge since 2019.
Golden Eagle Community & Partnerships Award
In 2022, Big Sky Resort was among the recipients of NSAA's Golden Eagle Awards for our sustainability initiatives with our community partners. By working with community partners, we are better able to consider the interconnections and interdependencies throughout the system to develop more sustainable, long-term solutions. Notable initiatives included two carpool incentive programs for guests and employees and offering free bus passes; co-authoring the “Big Sky Community Climate Action Plan”; and participating in the Middle Fork Stream Restoration Project. Members of our team sit on several local boards of directors and wrote a powerful op-ed with fellow ski areas, Citizen’s Climate Lobby, and the Montana Ski Areas Association.
Our Collective Work
ForeverProject is an initiative of Big Sky Resort's parent company, Boyne Resorts. Understanding the dire need to place greater focus on reducing its carbon footprint, Boyne Resorts’ plans and execution will continue to evolve and also include sustainable practices related to waste reduction, reuse of materials, and limiting impact to the treasured land, habitats, and natural resources at its resort playgrounds. Learn more about Boyne Resorts and the ForeverProject at boyneresorts.com/sustainability
