earlybird skis – CHICKADEE
Every year in Switzerland alone, tens of thousands of pairs of skis and valuable resources end up in bulky waste. Recycling practically does not take place. This is because the various materials that make up a ski are so firmly bonded together during production that they can hardly be separated later. The Swiss label earlybird skis, founded in 2014, has therefore set itself the goal of developing a recyclable ski that meets the highest standards in terms of both sport and ecology. The company’s touring and freeride skis are made from bio-based and recycled materials that are bonded together with a novel, re-soluble epoxy resin: The core and sidewalls of the skis are made from FSC-certified European wood, the edges are made of recycled steel, and the gliding surface is also made of recycled polyethylene (UHMW-PE/ptex). For the top layer, either a wood veneer or an extremely scratch-resistant resin obtained from castor beans is used. Only green electricity is used in the series production of the skis in the Czech Republic and Italy. The CO2 footprint of the earlybird skis is thus the lowest in the entire industry and is offset with myclimate.
Comments of the nominators
A small company achieves great things: it proves that a product that until now has always had to be disposed of as non-recyclable hazardous waste can also be made separably from renewable or recycled materials – without compromising on quality. This is a model that could serve as a role model beyond its own industry.
Comments of the jury
With its freeride and touring skis produced according to strict ecological criteria, the young, extremely committed small company earlybird has achieved something quite remarkable: proof that quality and performance on the one hand and sustainability on the other can very well go hand in hand. This gives a leg up to an industry that has so far paid precious little attention to ecology in its products. To change the entire industry as a niche supplier – that can only be achieved if you have an outstanding product to show for it. The earlybird skis are based on a precisely thought-out product development that is consistently implemented at all levels and appears exemplary in every respect.
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