Ski Industry Climate Summit

Winter sports are running out of time, but the ski industry is not running out of ideas. Right after ProWinter in Bolzano, the Ski Industry Climate Summit 2026 brought brands, researchers, recyclers and NGOs to the same table to discuss what real climate action looks like beyond glossy sustainability claims. From modular skis designed to be taken apart, to recycled high-performance materials, one message stood out: the biggest lever might be the least glamorous—making skis last longer, proving it with data, and building the systems that keep products in use instead of in storage.

The 25th edition of the Prowinter trade fair - the central meeting point for manufacturers, retailers and brands in the winter sports and outdoor industry in the European Alpine region - will open its doors in Bolzano from January 11th to 13th, 2026. From clothing and equipment to safety-relevant and sustainable, innovative technologies, there will be plenty of new products and trends to discover. PowderGuide will be there for you to report.

As established in the two previous articles – recycling skis isn’t easy or, in many cases, not yet possible. But what other options exist for avoiding the landfill? Or at least for extending the lifetime of our equipment? Circular production can be divided into 9 Rs, with recycling way down at the bottom together with incineration of materials, as the two least circular options. Before the two there’s rethinking, reducing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing and repurposing (upcycling). These are actions that we as individual consumers can take to slow down resource loops, extend product life and reuse products. At the same time, companies can contribute to closing and narrowing resource loops by capturing value from waste through recycling, as well as through product design and resource efficiency.

During last year's ISPO 2024 in Munich, over 180 industry experts gathered at the second Ski Industry Climate Summit to work together on solutions for a more sustainable future for the winter sports industry. The event, largely organised by Atomic, was an impressive demonstration of how collaboration and innovation can drive climate protection forward. With a 25% increase in participants compared to the premiere in 2023, the summit proves that sustainability has become a key part for the industry.