While most of us in North America have put away our skis for the season, the time for alpine fun is right around the corner Down Under. The treehugging skier (the green kind, not the klutzy kind) will definitely want to check out the Falls Creek Ski Resort, as its sustainability credentials look as impeccable as some US ski lodges we’ve noted.

The resort announced that it had received the Alpine Planning Award from Rob Hulls, Australia’s Minister of Planning, for its contribution to conservation and environmental management. Falls Creek announced that it would be partnering with TRUenergy to power its main lifts with renewable energy. Both of these developments represent the resort’s mission to maintain its “greatest asset”: the natural environment.

In addition, the resort has committed itself to becoming a plastic bag-free zone, it is the only alpine operator in the country to participate in the national EcoBuy program, and it has even created its own carbon neutralization program, A Tree for Me. While Falls Creek can’t promise that you won’t run into one of those trees while trying out a challenging run, the eco-conscious skier can rest assured that his/her ski vacation will leave a minimal footprint.

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