A race towards sustainability
The frosty winter days and shiny tracks surrounded by clean nature are a luxury that Finlandia-skiers appreciate. Winter sports events want to provide high-quality and diverse experiences, but at the same time it’s important to keep in mind that the next generation should be able to enjoy these things as well. Everyone must fight for a more responsible sports culture, and Finlandia Ski Marathon wants to do its deed in this fight.
The frosty winter days and shiny tracks surrounded by clean nature are a luxury that Finlandia-skiers appreciate. Winter sports events want to provide high-quality and diverse experiences, but at the same time it’s important to keep in mind that the next generation should be able to enjoy these things as well. Everyone must fight for a more responsible sports culture, and Finlandia Ski Marathon wants to do its deed in this fight.
The European Union regulates many rules and customs related to nature and climate. However, many actors want to take action beforehand. The European Commission’s goal is to prohibit disposable containers by 2030. GreenCup, a company that provides drinking cups for Finlandia, has started working on reusable cups and other dishes already. With GreenCups, Finlandia Ski Marathon is taking a step towards a zero-waste event. Also, Finisher-cups with the logo of Finlandia Ski Marathon are a great souvenir for a useful purpose.
Finlandia Ski Marathon’s partners have also worked to prevent climate change. For example, Salomon produces its products using a circular economy -based product model. This means that the products are made of safe, renewable and recyclable materials. New products are designed in a way that takes into account the water consumption, CO2-emissions and waste. Just like Salomon has stated, winter sports can be done while taking nature into consideration. Also, you don’t have to buy new skis or poles since CustomSki rents them to participants. You can also buy fluor free waxing service from Start if you don’t feel like buying ski waxes yourself.
The tracks of Finlandia Ski Marathon go through the sensitive area of UNESCO Global Geopark, and that’s why it’s important that the tracks stay clean after the event. The Energy Chews of a Finnish brand Nosht have replaced the energy gels that litter the tracks. The Energy Chews are vegan, gluten-free, suitable for FODMAP-diet and are made of clean ingredients. Also, Finlandia Ski Marathon has invested in the waste management of the event. A company called Lassila & Tikanoja is responsible for the waste management of the event, and the goal of Finlandia Ski Marathon is to move towards a more carbon-neutral waste disposal. As a winter sports event, we want to take part in a race towards more sustainable winter sports culture.
This article is part of Finlandia Ski Marathon’s Behind the Scenes -series, which introduces the story and background of the skiing event. Building up some new structures, responsibility actions and a versatile network of partners are interwoven as themes in Finlandia Ski Marathon in 2024.Sources
