With ski season upon us and the holidays in full swing, Park City’s environmental impact is reaching its peak. While tourism, winter sports, and celebrations bring joy to our community, they also affect our local ecosystems. A commonly overlooked contributor to this impact is also an essential tool for winter sports enthusiasts: ski wax.

Traditional ski wax formulas contain fluorinated compounds, also known as PFAS, which are among the most damaging environmental pollutants. As ski or snowboard, small amounts of wax are deposited in the snow, where they persist long after the spring snowmelt and contaminate soil and water. PFAS are nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down, but instead accumulate in the environment and the bodies of animals exposed to them.

The harm isn’t limited to the slopes. When fluorinated waxes are heated during application, they release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. This could jeopardize our beloved clean mountain air and contribute to unsafe indoor conditions for those applying the wax, particularly in poorly ventilated ski shops and homes.

Fortunately, we can all take meaningful steps to minimize this impact. First, purchasing eco-friendly ski waxes that are biodegradable and plant-based can make a significant impact! These products are readily available at your local ski shop and can effectively replace any old fluoro wax you may still have in your home. Second, make sure you are waxing your skis and boards in a well-ventilated space to avoid inhaling any airborne byproducts. And lastly, although many ski shops have stopped selling waxes containing forever chemicals, PFAS are still circulating in a variety of consumer products such as cookware, food packaging, and cleaning supplies. With this in mind, we encourage you to support any legislation that aims to prohibit the use and sale of all products containing PFAS.

By Elsa Kerr