Inspired by Whistler Blackcomb, Vail Resorts shoots for zero net operating footprint by 2030

The U.S. company plans to get there through measures such as purchasing renewable energy and diverting waste from landfill

Epic may be an overused word, but no one can accuse Vail Resorts Inc. of setting the bar too low. The ski resort giant, which bought Whistler Blackcomb for $1.4 billion last year, recently announced that it will pursue a sustainability commitment called Epic Promise for a Zero Footprint. This pledge calls for Colorado-based Vail Resorts to commit to zero net carbon emissions by 2030, zero waste to landfill by 2030 and zero net operating impact on forests and habitat.

Owner and operator of 10 mountain resorts and three urban ski areas in the U.S. and Canada, the company said it was inspired by Whistler Blackcomb’s environmental example. It plans to reach its goals through several efforts. On the emissions side, for example, Vail Resorts will buy renewable energy that equals its total energy consumption. To get to zero waste to landfill, it will divert all waste from its operations to “more sustainable pathways” by doing things like improving recycling and composting.