Sun Peaks Resort Sustainability Hub

ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System

As a leader in protecting the environment, Sun Peaks Resort has operated with certification under ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System (EMS) since 2005. We were the first mountain resort in North America to be certified under what remains one of the world’s most recognized EMS standards.

This EMS provides a formal framework for our teams to:

• Identify, manage, and reduce adverse environmental impacts
• Establish and review short- and long-term objectives and targets
• Monitor performance and compliance obligations
• Support continuous improvement across all departments

Employees and contractors are trained to incorporate our EMS into all applicable operational aspects. Environmental management is fully integrated into our operational planning and our practices are subject to regular internal and external audits to maintain certification.

Sustainability Targets

Our targets are established and reviewed by our Executive team, Leadership team, and EMS committee members, through our annual EMS planning cycle. These targets reflect areas of focus and continuous improvement and may evolve over time. Current target areas include:

• Reducing Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions intensity per guest visit.
• Increasing organic waste diversion from landfills. Completing ecosystem restoration projects to enhance biodiversity or support natural regeneration.
• Lowering water consumption per skier visit, with a long-term goal of reducing overall use. Training 100% of employees on sustainability achievements and goals.
• Increasing guest awareness of sustainability efforts.

2026 Sustainability Priorities

Priority initiatives are identified annually through the EMS review process. These represent areas of focused effort within the current operating cycle. In 2026, we are actively working on:

• Advancing waste diversion practices
• Improving energy efficiency in key facilities
• Enhancing water conservation measures
• Supporting responsible land use practices

Sustainability Governance and Review

Our environmental performance is reviewed through a structured process aligned with ISO 14001:2015. We operate under the framework of:

• Cross-departmental collaboration and coordination
• Ongoing performance monitoring against targets
• Internal audits and compliance tracking
• External audits to maintain ISO certification
• Leadership oversight of environmental priorities

An established EMS Committee meets throughout the year to review projects and targets, discuss new initiatives, and champion existing and new ideas across the business.

Resource Management

Water

• Snowmaking system is primarily gravity-fed and designed for efficient water use; new automations added in 2025 improve operational efficiency
• Monitoring of water withdrawal and usage
• Consideration of watershed impacts in operational planning
• No drawing of water from McGillivray Creek
• Use of storage ponds for golf course irrigation, drawing from residential drainage and filtered through the turf’s thatch and root system
• Spot watering on golf course and reduced irrigation in low-priority areas when water is less abundant

Energy

• Energy efficiency improvements in buildings and infrastructure
• Ongoing monitoring of energy use
• Operational adjustments to reduce unnecessary consumption
• All Sun Peaks lifts run on hydro-powered electricity
• Use of hydro power to minimize the impact of resort operations on the climate and environment
• Geothermal heating is used in an increasing number of resort facilities, including golf maintenance
• Where possible, new buildings will have a geothermal heat source
• Active participation in the BC Hydro Power Smart program
• Recipient of a BC Hydro award for outstanding energy efficiency

Waste and Materials

• Resort-wide recycling programs
• Enhanced waste sorting and diversion practices, increasing recycling and organic waste diversion from landfill
• Elimination of most single-use materials
• Ongoing evaluation of waste streams
• Recycling of e-waste, including computers, monitors, mobile phones, printers and fax machines, through Encorp Pacific, Return-It program.
• Recycling of aluminum, steel, tires, engine oil, antifreeze, varsol, contaminated fuel, oil and fuel filters, hydraulic fluid and industrial containers
• Toilet paper and paper towels made from 100% recycled material

Land and Ecosystems

• Environmental considerations in trail design and development
• Erosion control and vegetation management, including slope stabilization
• Protection of sensitive habitats where identified
• Use of environmental expertise where required
• Use of the Integrated Pest Management guidelines for fertilizer and pesticide application
  • Although fertilizers, pesticides, and soil amendments are used on the Sun Peaks Resort Golf Course, a variety of techniques are used to minimize the impact on the eco-system
    • Soil testing conducted to pinpoint fertility concerns and identify fungal diseases, reducing unnecessary use of pesticides and fertilizers
    • The application of all products follows label requirements, using modern and specialized equipment.
    • Organic, amino acid, micronutrient, and synthetic applications are used to fertilize.
    • When applying herbicides spot treatments are used.
    • Grass clippings are mowed back into the turf to decrease the amount of topical nitrogen required.
    • Soil amendments used to improve the soil’s physical properties, including water retention, permeability, water infiltration, drainage, aeration and structure, resulting in increased root system health and reduced fertilizer requirements
    • Mechanical methods such as brushing, rolling, vertical cutting and aeration used to reduce weed and disease infestations and improve plant health

Air and Emissions

• Monitoring of fuel use across operations
• Consideration of equipment and fleet efficiency over time
• Inclusion of emissions awareness in operational planning
• Purposeful village design minimizes the need for vehicle travel
• Valley Trail Network encourages walking and cycling
• Piped distribution system for clean-burning propane gas, reducing heavy truck movement
• Snowmobiles are all four-stroke, for better efficiency and reduced exhaust emissions
• Modern fleet of snow-grooming machines and use of technology for efficient grooming operations

Additional Practices and Items of Note

• Staff engagement in environmental practices
• Promotion of environmental awareness and stewardship internally and externally.
• Identification of improvements through EMS reviews and CAPA forms
• Adaptation to changing environmental and operational conditions