Sustainability

Vasaloppet’s sustainability strategy helps us prioritize and efficiently take on important challenges. A common thread in our work is to preserve our history while at the same time developing along with the outside world. This sustainability strategy will be evaluated annually and revised when necessary. Important results are happier and healthier participants, support for sports clubs and regional development, sustainable financial results for the owning clubs, and reduced environmental impact.

Vasaloppet as relating to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals are the most ambitious agenda for sustainable development that our world’s nations have ever taken on, and their purpose is to achieve four fantastic things by the year 2030:

• end extreme poverty
• reduce inequality and injustice in the world
• promote peace and justice
• solve the climate crisis.

Through the Sustainable Development Goals, this can become our reality. Based on these overarching goals, Vasaloppet has decided to focus on the following goals:

3 Good health and well-being
Part of Vasaloppet’s Vision is to sustain and promote positive health. Vasaloppet is an engine for people’s health and exercise.
8 Decent work and economic growth
Vasaloppet’s organization should be a good employer and develop the cooperation with the sports clubs who help our events.
10 Reduced inequalities
Vasaloppet strives to have more women, those newly arrived to Sweden, and others, participate in our events.
12 Responsible consumption and production
Vasaloppet works to, among other things, reduce the climate foot print of transports as well as the amount of waste and chemicals produced while increasing source separation for recycling and reduced energy usage.
13 Climate action
Vasaloppet should contribute to improving general knowledge and consciousness within our organization and among participants. Vasaloppet will also work to expand its work with partners to more efficiently reach the Sustainable Development Goals.
16 Peace, justice and strong institutions
Vasaloppet will conduct its operations ethnically and responsibly and work to counteract cheating in sports.

Environmental sustainability

Vasaloppet’s environmental sustainability work includes the following focus areas:

• Vasaloppet will reduce the environmental impact of its transports, travel, food and snowmaking
• Vasaloppet will work towards zero tolerance against littering in the arena

The climate issue is one of Vasaloppet’s biggest challenges since the winter races are completely dependant on cold and snow. Within Vasaloppet we want to do everything we can to reduce our impact on the climate by evaluating existing standards and holding an active dialogue about environmental requirements with our transport suppliers and travel partners.

By evaluating choices of transport, fuel for machines and heating, and by mapping out participants’ travel and transport flow, we examine all opportunities to improve efficiency in different areas. Plans are also made, together with suppliers, as to how the distribution of snow can become more efficient, and we are also investing in more modern and environmentally friendly machines.

Vasaloppet has, for several years, worked towards a zero tolerance against littering in the arena. The Winter Week 2017 saw the introduction of a time penalty for anyone caught throwing litter along the track in the arena, and we are simultaneously analyzing the need for more rubbish bins in more locations. This also includes work towards reducing the environmental impact of ski wax where we, together with our partners, strive towards offering participants more environmentally friendly alternatives.

Vasaloppet’s  environmental policy

Economic sustainability

Vasaloppet’s economic sustainability work includes the following focus areas:

• Vasaloppet will work for long-term product development over time
• Vasaloppet will make sustainable investments in the arena

By scouting our surroundings, opening up for collaborations and products that attract more people, while at the same time preserving the quality and ensuring satisfied participants, we work with product development as the basis for securing Vasaloppet’s continuity and appeal as a brand. Results of participant surveys are an important tool that we use to work for constant improvements.

The arena is the basis for Vasaloppet’s activities. It should hold for, and inspire to, exercise, health and well-being all year round. We will update our snow assurance plan and, together with our suppliers, plot how the distribution of snow can become more efficient. We are also investing in machines that are more modern and environmentally friendly.

A collaboration with all landowners is central to Vasaloppet and we will develop a plan to secure access to the arena all year round, and also evaluate possibilities for other actors to perform activities in the arena.

Social sustainability

Vasaloppet’s social sustainability work includes the following focus areas:

• Vasaloppet will be an engine for public health and exercise
• Vasaloppet will nurture and develop its collaboration with sports associations

Vasaloppet stands for fitness and public health. The races are meant for those who want to improve their health and experience the thrill of completing a challenge. By focusing more on the health aspect in our communication, and evaluating health in our participant surveys, we want to broaden our target groups, attract new participants and inspire more people, welcoming all to Vasaloppet’s activities.

Vasaloppet will also be a good employer, ensuring that our coworkers feel good and experience good health.

Functionaries are Vasaloppet’s most important resource, and Vasaloppet’s contributions given in return to the sports clubs are central to the region. Since volunteer work is on an overall decline in our society, the question of functionaries is a challenge. We have also attempted to increase our functionary operations by taking in volunteers from the whole country. Another important activity is to more clearly communicate how much money (these past few years the amount has been 20–25 million SEK) that flows back into sports clubs each year.