At Weston, we’ve always said: Without snow, we don’t exist. That line usually comes up in the context of our Climate Action Plan - but today, we want to pause and celebrate some of the wins along the way. Because while the climate crisis is daunting, progress matters. Small steps add up. And in our case, those steps are starting to look more like dump trucks full of wins (more on that later), and emissions reductions that prove “doing more with less” isn’t just a mantra; it’s a strategy.
Giving Back: More Than a Tagline
We’ve been 1% for the Planet members since 2019, six full certification cycles and counting. In that time, Weston has documented over $100,000 in direct giving to 1% for the Planet community members. These are specific partners they’ve vetted, and whose missions support the planet in a variety of ways. Additionally, we’ve given to countless product donations, raffles, and community fundraisers that haven’t specifically been a part of 1% for the Planet, but we feel are still doing good in their local communities.
From avalanche education to Indigenous-led stewardship, that money has gone straight to the people and programs building a better outdoor community. And to us, that’s just the baseline. Giving isn’t charity. It’s an investment in the very ecosystems and communities that make backcountry riding possible.
Packaging & Shipping: Out with the Trash
If you’ve ever unpacked a new snowboard or skis, you know the drill: way too much packaging, and half of it destined for the landfill. We decided to change that.
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We’ve completely eliminated Styrofoam in exchange for recyclable cardboard from all shipments. Back of the napkin, this has saved the equivalent of four to five dump trucks of foam over the last four seasons.
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We pivoted from individual board bags (heavy, unrecyclable, and rarely reused) to recyclable shrink wrap that actually has a chance at a second life.
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In our warehouse, we now reuse up to 40% of incoming packaging for outgoing orders. So if your board shows up in a reused box — that’s on purpose.
It’s not flashy, but this work matters. Packaging waste is a hidden emissions source, and every box we reuse keeps us from producing more virgin materials.
Quantifiable Carbon Reductions: Doing More with Less
Coming out of COVID, one lesson stuck with us: efficiency is climate action. We looked at every part of our operations with fresh eyes, and the results speak for themselves. We now have five years of emission data to analyze, and we can put numbers to some of the projects we’ve worked on.
- We’ve reduced overall emissions by 29% per dollar of revenue since the 20/21 season.
This is massive for us! We’ve still got a ways to go, but we’re proud to be able to see top-line progress. It isn’t a linear path, but we’re proud of our overall progress. Specifically, we’ve seen wins in the following areas:
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Utilizing existing programs with our local utility, switching to 100% renewable energy at our Ammons HQ saved ~15 metric tons of CO₂e over three years.
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Phasing out old, less efficient company vehicles cut those emissions by ~65%. Don’t worry though, the Tiny House isn’t going anywhere!
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Reduced business travel decreased associated emissions by ~55%. Turns out a video call works in place of showing up in person most of the time, and is usually easier for everyone.
Efficiency isn’t just a financial win, it’s a climate win. As a society, we need to get creative and pursue solutions that work both economically and environmentally, because those are often the easiest to build momentum around. We’re proud to be proving that a leaner Weston is also a cleaner Weston.
Where We’re Headed
These wins are worth celebrating, but they’re not the finish line. They’re checkpoints — proof that momentum is real, and that change is possible when you commit. Our Climate Action Plan still holds, we have specific, quantifiable targets to hit by 2033 across all of our emission sources, and are working towards the overarching goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Stay tuned for more information on these goals and how we plan to get there.
In the meantime, we’ll keep showing up for snow. With our wallets, our operations, and our community. Because the future of backcountry riding depends on it.
“Let’s keep doing the work so we never have to ride powder for the last time.”
