Thredbo, Australia, Receives Asia-Pacific Region’s First EarthCheck Platinum Destination Certification

One of Australia’s most popular resorts just reached a major milestone. 

On July 14, Thredbo Resort announced it had achieved EarthCheck Platinum Certification, a prestigious recognition awarded to organizations with over a decade of consistent, independently verified sustainability performance. With its recognition, Thredbo becomes the first destination in the Asia-Pacific region to earn Platinum Certification.

EarthCheck, which awards the certification, is an industry leader in scientific benchmarking, certification, and advising for sustainable travel and tourism. Founded in 1987, it has helped businesses around the world deliver “sustainable, clean, safe and prosperous destinations for travelers to visit, live, work and play.”

“The achievement reflects Thredbo’s long-term commitment to protecting the unique alpine environment while continuing to deliver world-class mountain experiences for guests year-round,” the resort wrote in its announcement.

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A Decade of Performance

The past 10 years at Thredbo have been defined by improvements across energy, waste, biodiversity, community engagement, and destination management. Notable achievements include transitioning to 100% renewable electricity, creating the Sustainable Snowies program to prevent littering on the slopes and using independent annual audits to measure sustainability initiatives and guide additional improvements.

“Protecting the alpine environment is fundamental to everything we do and continues to be a priority,” Thredbo Resort General Manager Stuart Diver said. “EarthCheck is an internationally recognized framework to measure our progress, challenge ourselves to do better, and ensure we’re stewarding the alpine environment for future generations.”

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A Milestone for EVT Limited

Platinum Certification is not only a significant achievement for Thredbo—it is also a major accomplishment for EVT Limited, a major Australian company operating in the entertainment, hospitality, and leisure sectors. EVT is the owner and operator of Thredbo, as well as dozens of hotels, cinemas, and restaurants around Australia, New Zealand, and Germany.

“Thredbo’s achievement of EarthCheck Platinum Destination Certification is a milestone for EVT,” Head of Sustainability Katharine Hopper said. “As EVT works towards our Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi)-validated emissions reduction goals, this recognition highlights the important role our destinations play in enhancing experiences for our customers, supporting our community and operating with care for the environment.”

A Push for Sustainability

Ski resorts across the globe are becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures and less reliable snowfall are bringing challenges to resorts, especially in Australia, where resorts typically operate at lower elevations compared to Europe and North America.

Thredbo’s Platinum Certification displays a larger trend in the ski industry, where resorts are pushing for more sustainable operations. Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico is the first Certified B Corporation ski resort, and other major industry leaders, like the Alterra Mountain Company, have pledged to drastically reduce carbon emissions in the next five years.

As climate change continues to affect ski resorts, certifications like Thredbo’s are more than a credential. They demonstrate real, long-term progress.