VÖLKL SETS AMBITIOUS CLIMATE TARGETS AND COMMITS TO THE SCIENCE BASED TARGETS INITIATIVE (SBTi)

April 22, 2025

Völkl and the Elevate Outdoor Collective (EOC), including all ten EOC group brands, have officially committed to the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) to set near and long-term science-based emission reduction targets in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The announcement is an important step towards the company’s goal of climate neutrality.

Commitment of the whole EOC group

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is an international climate protection organization that supports companies and financial institutions worldwide in making an active contribution to combating the climate crisis. As a non-profit organization, SBTi develops standards, methods and guidelines that enable companies to set science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Through the SBTi, all organizations joining the initiative can set near-term as well as net-zero targets. The EOC and all ten brands within its group aim to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Furthermore, the EOC has set itself the additional goal of an emission reduction of 80 percent by 2040.

With its commitment to the SBTi, the EOC is required to submit its specific company-wide CO2 reduction targets within the next two years for validation. A complete greenhouse gas inventory, following the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, has been prepared for the entire EOC group using 2022 as a basis year. This baseline includes Scope 1 (direct emissions), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy), and Scope 3 emissions (all other indirect emissions across the value chain). The EOC plans to submit the findings and objectives to the SBTi by 2026.

Völkl continues with the chosen path

Völkl, the last major ski manufacturer in Germany, has been working for several years to make its entire development and manufacturing process more sustainable as part of its stated corporate responsibility. As with all EOC brands Völkl has now added science-based targets to its commitment.

The targets will be reflected and implemented in Völkl-specific measures across four areas – product, manufacturing, distribution, and people (including employees, clients and the community).

“As a winter sport brand, doing everything we can to reduce our environmental impact is increasingly important as we continue to see shorter seasons and lower snowpacks,” said Markus Knipschild, Brand Business Director Völkl. “The CO2 balance sheet and the target validation from the SBTi are a next big step for us to be a more responsible global citizen and reduce our CO2 emissions.”

Manufacturing: Reducing energy consumption

Since 2019, Völkl has reduced the amount of energy needed to produce a single ski by 16 percent. Furthermore, its plant in Straubing obtains its electricity from the nearby Donau hydropower plant which provides 100 percent renewable energy.

Heat generation through natural gas is a large source of CO2 emissions for Völkl. Völkl is working on an alternative to its current CO2-neutral heat source, but until it is in place, it will continue to source CO2-compensated natural gas through the “TÜV Süd Goldstandard”.

To further reduce CO2 emission, Völkl employs short supply chains working only with European suppliers, with 63 percent of them in Germany, including 28 percent in Bavaria. Völkl looks to further improve its transparency in regard to its supply chain and origin of raw materials as part of the SBTi commitment.

Product: Reduce dependence on fossil fuels

Another factor impacting emissions is material choices and their production. For several years Völkl has been evaluating and using alternative options including recycled and bio-based materials. As an example, Völkl is testing a 44 percent bio-based resin system with a biogenic proportion of secondary and tertiary biomass waste to replace the glues currently used in its skis.

Since 2021, Völkl has minimized its use of CO2-intensive materials to only when it offers true added value in its skis. As a result, 3.9 tons of carbon has been saved to date. Additionally, Völkl has used 14 less tons of titanal in its Mantra line since integrating its innovative Tailored Titanal Frame-design into the line in 2021.

Völkl is currently running a “Life-Cycle-Assessment” (LCA) to optimize and evaluate alternatives with the goal of fully calculating the complete CO2 footprint of a ski by the end of 2025.

Distribution and packaging: Avoid air freight wherever possible

Völkl is aware of the importance and influence of its raw material suppliers and their supply chains on its own carbon footprint across its entire value chain. Going forward, Völkl will further evaluate these factors when considering partners and suppliers.

Völkl has worked in close cooperation with its suppliers and sales partners to create a closed-loop principle for its packaging. Wood cores are shipped in reusable cardboard boxes while steel and titanium edges are delivered in wooden crates that are returned to and reused by the supplier. Shipments to subsidiaries are primarily made in bundles of skis on trolleys instead of in individual outer packaging, further reducing the use of packaging material. In addition, Völkl refrains from sending goods by air freight whenever possible.

The human factor: Part of a holistic responsibility

Social sustainability is the fourth pillar at the heart of Völkl's corporate responsibility. The company sees its employees as key drivers of innovation and trailblazers for successful change.

To achieve this, Völkl is focusing on the expansion of its sustainability team and improvements in interdisciplinary collaboration across the various departments. The implementation of Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) processes serve as a framework for the transparent evaluation and communication of its progress.

Similarly, the company has numerous initiatives that contribute to employee satisfaction, diversity and development. This includes campaigns such as “Völkl moves”, the introduction of a mentoring program, and a bonus system for contributing new ideas or membership in the CSR network of the city of Straubing.

A first important step“With the commitment to the Science Based Targets, Völkl and the EOC group as a whole are taking an important step towards rapid and far-reaching emission reductions”, says Michael Knye, EOC Global Sustainability Manager. "The commitment is only the first, simple part - the big challenges are ahead. The task now is to identify key aspects as part of the SBTi commitment and develop reduction plans that focus on actively contributing to limiting global warming."

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About SBTi

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is an international climate protection organization that supports companies and financial institutions worldwide in making an active contribution to combating the climate crisis. As a non-profit organization, SBTi develops standards, methods and guidelines that enable companies to set science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. SBTi is run as a charity and has a subsidiary that provides validation services for climate targets. Strategic partners include the Carbon Discloser Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WIR), the We Mean Business Coalition and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

About Völkl

Völkl has been synonymous with innovative ski manufacturing for over 100 years. The passionate winter sports brand has been developing and manufacturing skis since 1923 and is still the only ski manufacturer to do so in Straubing, Germany. The main factory is one of the most modern ski factories in the world and stands for technology and quality ‘Made in Germany’. The team of design engineers, ski manufacturers, product managers and athletes has made Völkl one of the leading ski manufacturers worldwide.

About Elevate Outdoor Collective

Elevate Outdoor Collective is an alliance of iconic outdoor and winter sports brands with a specialized focus on skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. With each unique brand maintaining its own individual points of view and driving independent innovation, the Collective is fueled with the strength of world-class development facilities and engineers, global distribution channels and committed outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts and experts. For more, please visit: K2 Skis, K2 Snowboarding, Marker, Dalbello, Völkl, RIDE Snowboards, LINE Skis, Backcountry Access, Atlas Snow Shoe Co., Tubbs Snowshoes, Madshus and K2 Skates.  

Photo by: Matt Gartner

Photo by: Matt Gartner