Folsom & Sustainability
We at Folsom Customs are doing all we can to reduce our environmental impact, yet we humbly know we will always have one. One of the biggest problems in manufacturing is that we are forced to use materials that have a higher environmental cost. Currently, soy/bio based resins and plastics are not ready for the abuse skiing places on them, so we are still tied to petroleum based components. However, the epoxy we use is as low impact as we can get and is 99% non-toxic. We recycle all plastics possible and our manufacturing process is honed to produce as little waste as possible. We are using only poplar and bamboo for our cores (no foam or composite cores which rely on more petroleum and complex manufacturing). We have also decided not to use lacquers, topcoats, and silk screen inks because of their toxic composition. Reducing the impact of our manufacturing process is only part of our responsibility. For too many industries, the focus seems to be on how cheaply their products can be made with little regard to the impact of the actual products. One of the worst, least friendly bi-products of ski manufacturing is the ski itself. So what can we do about that? The first step is to focus on making a product that has the longest useful lifespan as possible. Then, when that lifespan ends, we need to usher that product into a new role so it lives on. At Folsom Customs we will be actively involved in reusing our skis for outdoor furniture, sleds, track lighting fixtures, art, and whatever else we can think of. We cannot merely manufacture responsibly. We need to use and reuse responsibly.
Beginning in the 2009 season, Folsom Custom Skis has partnered with The Arbor Day Foundation and will be planting a tree in our national forests for every ski we manufacture in each calendar year. This means when you buy a ski you will be helping us offset our wood usage and our carbon footprint. Each pair of skis sold will be mailed with a certificate from the Arbor Day Foundation. Let's ski hard, but tread lightly