Experts from AINS Group are contributing to the development of the White Winters assessment tool, designed to help ski resorts steer their climate efforts and communicate solutions responsibly.
AINS Group has joined the White Winters sustainability initiative and collaborative network which focuses on reducing the climate and biodiversity impacts of winter sports and ski resorts. The initiative unites ski resorts, businesses, experts, and event organizers to share and develop transparent solutions that promote sustainability.
“For Finns, winter and snow are much more than weather – they are part of our identity, culture, and livelihood. Climate change poses a serious threat to this foundation. With our expertise in urban environments, we want to help turn the White Winters network into an international engine for sustainable winter sports,” says Liisa Jäätvuori, director of sustainability and development at AINS Group.
The goal is to co-create new solutions with ski resorts and corporate partners to curb emissions and protect ecological balance. AINS Group’s sustainability experts are currently developing an assessment tool for the White Winters program to help domestic and international ski resorts manage their climate and nature footprint and communicate their sustainability work in a concrete and responsible way.
“White Winters was created to accelerate and streamline the adoption, sharing, and development of best practices across the global winter sports community. We want to make skiing sustainable so that future generations can enjoy it too. Finland offers both pioneering sustainable tourism and technical expertise that can transform international industry practices,” says Santtu Hulkkonen, CEO of Solved and leader of the program.
Turning sustainability investments into competitive advantage
The White Winters assessment tool will initially be tailored for year-round ski resort operations. It will enable resorts to focus on key areas of environmental sustainability, such as carbon footprint, reducing travel emissions, energy efficiency, biodiversity and water balance, and circular economy solutions, while implementing sustainability measures and communicating them effectively.
Levi Ski Resort serves as one of the pilot sites, combining ambitious environmental targets, energy- and resource-efficient technologies, and international collaboration.
“For us, sustainability is not just about guidance and documentation, it’s about concrete actions. We also want to communicate clearly about the solutions we already apply and our next steps. Transparency matters to our customers and the ski community, and communication is essential to leverage our competitive edge as a destination leading the way in sustainable development,” says Marko Mustonen, business director at Levi Ski Resort.
The White Winters program is part of FIS’s sustainability strategy. In addition to Solved, AINS Group, and Levi Ski Resort, partners include Ski Sport Finland, Nasdaq, Betolar, and Snow Secure.
AINS Group provides ski resorts with multidisciplinary sustainability services for investment planning and construction: climate and biodiversity footprint calculation and management, energy-efficient and automated solutions utilizing waste heat, circular economy in construction, reducing transport emissions, and safeguarding ecological balance.
White Winters objectivities
Further information:
Liisa Jäätvuori, EVP, executive vice president, sustainability and development, AINS Group
Tel. +358 44 300 1358
Liisa.Jaatvuori@ains.fi
Santtu Hulkkonen, CEO, Solved
Tel. +358 50 3732 895
santtu.hulkkonen@solved.fi