Vail Resorts, Inc. has announced a major sustainability initiative called Epic Promise for a Zero Footprint.
The program commits the company to achieve zero net emissions by 2030, eliminate waste sent to landfills by 2030, and ensure zero net operating impact on forests and habitats.
“Everything we do at Vail Resorts is driven by the spectacular natural surroundings where our employees, guests and communities live, work and play,” said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. “The environment is our business, and we have a special obligation to protect it. As a growing global company so deeply connected to the outdoors, we are making a commitment to address our most pressing global environmental challenge and protect our local communities and natural resources. Through improved business practices, capital investment and continued innovation in environmental stewardship, we are setting a goal of achieving a zero net operating footprint by 2030. With our Epic Promise for a Zero Footprint, Vail Resorts is doing the right thing for both the environment and our business.”
Building on the environmental work of Whistler Blackcomb, Vail Resorts is expanding that leadership with a broader plan focused on three pillars: emissions, waste and the protection of forests and habitats. The company will pursue measurable emissions reductions alongside investments and operational changes designed to prevent waste from reaching landfills and to minimize impacts to natural landscapes where it operates.
The initiative applies across Vail Resorts’ network of properties, aiming to give guests and employees the chance to enjoy the outdoors without leaving an environmental footprint. This includes its resorts in Colorado—Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone—Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe region of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in Canada; Perisher in Australia; Stowe in Vermont; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota; and Mt. Brighton in Michigan.
To reach these goals, Vail Resorts plans to combine operational improvements, technology upgrades and strategic capital investments. Actions may include energy efficiency upgrades, transitioning to cleaner energy sources, enhancing waste diversion and recycling programs, and managing land use to protect native forests and wildlife habitat. The company also intends to measure progress and report transparently on outcomes to ensure accountability as it moves toward the 2030 targets.
By aligning business strategy with environmental responsibility, Vail Resorts aims to protect the natural settings that define its resorts while demonstrating that sustainable practices can support long‑term business resilience. The Epic Promise for a Zero Footprint signals a comprehensive effort to reduce environmental impacts across emissions, waste and habitat protection—efforts that benefit guests, local communities and ecosystems alike.