sustainable slopes
carbon neutral by 2030
Here at Mt Hutt we're on a mission to do the best we can by our unique environment. This has inspired us to make the ambitious commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030, through emissions reduction, renewable energy use, and environmental restoration initiatives across the mountain.
We’ve already reduced our emissions by over 50%, and we continue to chip away at that number with the aim of reducing a further 5% each year. Guided by kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga, we know the maunga is the backbone of everything we do.
Looking after it isn’t just a goal – it’s our responsibility.
how we're making a difference
Waste reduction: In 2024, we introduced Sorting Stations to our food/drink outlets, reducing waste to landfill by 42% through better recycling and reusable tableware.
Transport efficiency: Our carpool priority initiative at Mt Hutt cut guest-related emissions by 30%, saving around 11 tonnes of CO2 per day.
Support for conservation: Our long-standing support of kea conservation continues, with more than $69,000 raised through guest and company donations to date. While this progress is something to celebrate, there is still important work ahead, particularly in Canterbury. We’re also pleased to mark the first full year of our partnership with Southern Lakes Sanctuary, strengthening our commitment to protecting the unique wildlife by working in other regions.
Renewable electricity: We’ve partnered with Meridian Energy to use their Certified Renewable Energy product. This allows us to report our mountain market-based Scope 2 emissions as zero.*
Carbon credits: We’ve purchased carbon credits from Climate Action Company (formerly Carbonz). Since 2022 we have purchased 1907 tonnes of carbon credits to offset emissions.
*Using the market-based reporting methodology as per the GHG Protocol’s Scope 2 Guidance.
what's next
By 2030, we aim to cut food waste by 75%*, use 95% reusable tableware, and reduce single-use packaged items.
Conservation programmes: Planting, revegetation, and pest control projects will stay in full swing across all our ski areas.
On the right path: The continuation of NZSki’s emission reduction initiatives, many of which are outlined on this page. *Using 2024 data as a baseline.
You’ll notice carbon offsetting is one part of our multi-pronged approach. We know this isn’t a long-term solution, and over time the native trees we plant will begin to sequester carbon, taking over from the credits we purchase. Our most important focus is ensuring we’re doing all we can to minimise emissions through our carbon reduction initiatives.
To move towards our goal, we are committed to making the most of the best technology available in the industry. Investigating and trialling new technology is a big part of reaching carbon neutral by 2030. We are always working to do more, but we think this is a pretty good start on our decarbonisation journey.
Restore & regrow
One of our exciting initiatives we’re undergoing on our sustainability journey is restoring and revegetating our mountain. To date we have planted 8,810 native Manuka and Totara trees alongside a mix of shrubs and tussock. We have been planting these trees over a number of years and in the future these trees will begin to sequester carbon, taking over from the credits we purchase.
pest control
To help Kea and other birds, we run an extensive trapping programme which includes 65 traps across several kilometers of the mountain. The trap lines intercept and trap pests such as stoats, possums and rats from wandering up Mt Hutt and threatening bird nests and young.
Reducing the number of pests on the mountain also increases food sources for the birds. So far, we have trapped and eliminated over 1,000 pests.
waste minimisation
We have been working hard to significantly reduce waste in our café and restaurant through a number of different initiatives. With the introduction of Sorting Station we have reduced waste by landfill by 42% in our first year. The method is simple and effective – guests drop their trays at our manned stations and our friendly staff sort the waste. This ensures better recycling, due to less contamination, it also means we don’t lose any of our reusable tableware.
At present 90% of the tableware we use (mugs, plates, knives, forks etc.) are either reusable or home compostable. You won’t see a single-use takeaway cup or sauce packets on our mountains as we outlawed these a few years ago. Each year our teams are working hard to reduce the amount of single use food packaging.
We have also made a commitment to measure the amount of waste that goes to landfill and into our innovative waste technology called an 'ORCA' – this will help us gain better understanding of how we can further successfully make reductions.
The ORCA is a pretty special piece of technology. This machine takes food waste from our café and restaurant and creates the perfect environment for it to break down into a liquid that then gets added to our wastewater system to make its way off mountain. This technology eliminates the need to truck our food waste off mountain.
snow on the go
Our snowmaking machines are the best in the business meaning they're energy efficient when using both power and water to make snow. The water used is from our snowmaking reservoirs that are kept topped up via bores that tap into aquifers or streams that are fed by snow melt and run-off.
Our fleet of groomers are equipped with SNOWsat - a sophisticated snow management technology that leverages GPS and accurate ground surveys. SNOWsat continuously measures and displays snow depth in real-time allowing our groomer operators to distribute snow more evenly as they traverse the mountain, and ensure we only make snow where it’s needed. In 2025, Mt Hutt downsized their grooming fleet to 3 groomers. This strengthened efficiency and saw a 3% reduction in litres per tilled hectare.
transport
We encourage all our guests to ride-share or book a bus. One bus can offset 50 to 60 car trips.
Snow Riders NZ is a great place to find mates to share a lift up the hill with. The introduction of our carpool priority initiative at Mt Hutt cut guest-related emissions by 30%, saving around 11 tonnes of CO2 per day.
We also track fuel efficiency across our vehicle fleet to encourage efficient driving practices in vehicles and grooming.
We also have our own in-house Transport Vehicle Usage app – it logs distance travelled and records passengers in vehicles. This helps us understand and reduce the number of vehicles and/or trips up and down our mountains.
how can you help?
Use our sorting stations: Drop off your tray after meals to help reduce waste contamination.
Carpool or ride the bus: Priority parking for carpoolers and a reduced carbon footprint.
Donate to local causes: Add $5 to your online purchases to support the Southern Lakes Sanctuary or the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust.
Thanks for being part of the journey
Mt Hutt / NZSki recognised at ANZ Business Awards in 2026 as the winners in the ‘Excellence in Environmental Sustainability’ category.
