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Whistler Blackcomb has the honour of being selected as one of Canada’s greenest employers in 2009.

Some of the initiatives and reasons why Whistler Blackcomb was selected include:

• Whistler Blackcomb established an environmental management strategy in 1992 with the goal of developing a model of environmental and social stewardship for ski and mountain resort operations
• Whistler Blackcomb has built a $32 million hydro-electric plant inside it's ski area that produces more than enough clean electricity for all of its operations, offset over 11,000 tonnes of carbon, and make the ski resort better than carbon neutral as of December 2009 when it began operating link to ROR.
• Whistler Blackcomb introduced aggressive recycling and composting programs in 2005, with the goal of achieving a 75 per cent reduction in waste this year in its massive food and beverage operations (which includes 18 restaurants). Currently the rate of waste reduction by recycling and composting is X.;
• Whistler Blackcomb added a full-time Environmental Coordinator position to manage the company's many onsite initiatives as it works towards the goal of zero waste
• Whistler Blackcomb recently installed light timers, temperature control and energy efficient light bulbs in the majority of its facilities
• Over 40 employees participate in a carpool program that utilizes five company vehicles and is estimated to save 64,000kms of driving -- equaling a reduction of over 200 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
• Through its Operation Green-Up program, the company has spent $1.5 million since 1999 in a variety of efforts to enhance the natural environment, including projects to limit erosion in watersheds, protect drinking water, and apply planting strategies that reintroduce native species and seed mixes to support wildlife
• Whistler Blackcomb works closely with the Habitat Improvement Team, a local community organization, in their efforts to protect, restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat in the Whistler area as well as partnering with local government and other area businesses in developing a comprehensive community sustainability plan (called Whistler 2020)
• Whistler Blackcomb trains employees on best environmental practices, and hosts ecology and wildlife viewing tours for visitors in addition to showcasing its environmental initiatives through over 50 interpretive sites throughout the resort property

Food and Beverage Environmental Facts 2009

Whistler Blackcomb’s food and beverage department consists of 18 restaurants - 11 on-mountain and 7 locations in the valley. Their environmental initiatives include:

Providing reusable Coca-Cola cold drink cups and Seattle’s Best coffee mugs instead of single-use cups. Use of reusable dishes and cutlery in serveries

• Signage at facilities to create public awareness on recycling and composting.
• Recycling and composting facilities both in public areas and staff areas.
  

Through their efforts, the food and beverage department has made a significant reduction in their waste. There is still a long way to go, but here are some of their achievements:

The Numbers:

• 166.5 metric tonnes - Recycled materials from 2008 to 2009
• 176.7 metric tonnes - Composted organic waste from 2008 to 2009
• 833,100 cups - Reduction in single use cups from 2008 to 2009 at the 3 largest alpine facilities: Roundhouse, Rendezvous and Glacier Creek
• 26.7% - Percentage of waste stream diverted through composting from 2008 to 2009 (up from 4.7% the year before)
• 46.5% - Reduction in garbage from 2008 to 2009 (that’s 276.1 metric tonnes less garbage)
• 35.7% - Increase in recycled materials from 2008 to 2009
• 64% - 2010 target for diversion of materials from the waste stream.

Employees are an integral part of Whistler Blackcomb’s environmental strategy. Through carpooling, employee donations, volunteerism and environmental stewardship, Whistler Blackcomb staff are helping make a difference. Whistler Blackcomb named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. Launched in 2007, the Canada's Greenest Employers competition is organized by Mediacorp Canada Inc., the nation's largest publisher of employment-related periodicals and online directories, and published in Maclean’s Magazine. This special designation recognizes the employers leading the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness in their organizations.

Here are some of the ways employees have committed to help reduce their environmental footprint:

Habitat Improvement Team (HIT)

Mountain-facilitated and community-involved, this environmental team is dedicated to improving the wildlife habitat in the Resort of Whistler. HIT’s inception was in 1997 and since then 89 projects have been completed. Community members and employees are invited to show up every second Tuesday at the designated meeting spot. Groups are then sent out to work on a special project, and are then rewarded with a small après at Merlin’s at the end of the evening.

Operation Green Up

Established in 1998, this $1.5 million mountain restoration enhancement program is designed to enhance and restore the mountain ecosystems. Primary objectives include erosion control, applying planting strategies/seed mixes that enhance wildlife populations, enhancing visual appeal, and utilizing native species wherever possible.

 Whistler Blackcomb Foundation Environmental Fund

With contributions from both staff donations (how many staff?) and the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, the fund supports community environmental projects as well as providing expertise and resources to see the projects through to successful completion. To date, the WBFEF has contributed more than $220,000 to 46 local projects.

Employee carpooling Program

Whistler Blackcomb encourages its employees to carpool. The carpooling program reduces greenhouse gases by an estimated 617,000 kgs per year.

Mountain Clean Up Day

Each year, Whistler Blackcomb’s environmental department organizes a mountain clean up day in which employees volunteer to remove garbage that remains on the ski runs and around food and beverage facilities after the snow melts.

Staff Education

Whistler Blackcomb environment team attends approximately 50 staff training sessions per year and weekly meetings to outline the company’s sustainability programs, reaching more than 2,000 staff members. The team has established four internal working groups focused on sustainability planning in the areas of water, energy, transportation and procurement.

Whistler Blackcomb employees participate in events to showcase sustainability programs including: Earth Day, Clean Air Day, Environment Week, the Commuter Challenge and Mountain and Valley Clean-up Days.