Sun Peaks Resort Sustainability Hub

ISO 14001 Environmental Management System

As a leader in protecting the environment, Sun Peaks Resort has operated with certification under ISO 14001 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

Train employees and contractors 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
• Increase organic waste diversion from landfills. Complete ecosystem restoration projects to enhance biodiversity or support natural regeneration
• Lower water consumption per skier visit, with a long-term goal of reducing overall use.Train 100% of employees on sustainability achievements and goals
• Increase guest awareness of sustainability efforts

Targets are managed as part of an ongoing process and are not presented as fixed outcomes.

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
• Strengthening internal tracking and reporting

These priorities are reviewed and updated regularly.

Sustainability Governance and Review

Our environmental performance is reviewed through a structured process aligned with ISO 14001. 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

This framework supports accountability and informed decision-making.

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 sacrificing 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 off hydro-powered electricity
• The use of hydro power minimizes 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.
• Sun Peaks is an active participant in the BC Hydro Power Smart program.
• Sun Peaks Resort has received a BC Hydro award for outstanding energy efficiency.

Waste and Materials

• Resort-wide recycling programs.
• Waste sorting and diversion practices.
• Elimination of most single-use materials where feasible.
• Ongoing evaluation of waste streams.
• All e-waste including computers, monitors, mobile phones, printers, and fax machines is recycled through the Encorp Pacific, Return-It program.
• Recycling all aluminum, steel, tires, engine oil, antifreeze, varsol, contaminated fuel, oil and fuel filters, hydraulic fluid, and industrial containers.
• Elimination of deep fryers at the mid-mountain Sunburst Lodge.
• Toilet paper and paper towel made from 100% recycled material.

Land and Ecosystems

• Environmental considerations in trail design and development.
• Erosion control and vegetation management, i.e. 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 tests are conducted to pinpoint fertility concerns and to identify fungal diseases, decreasing 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 are used to improve the soil’s physical properties such as water retention, permeability, water infiltration, drainage, aeration, and structure. With increased root system health less fertilizer is required.
    • Mechanical methods such as brushing, rolling, vertical cutting, and aeration are 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.