World Ski Championships 2025 to be ‘Plastic-Smart’ – Volunteer Uniforms Packed with Plastic

The Ski-VM 2025 organizers in Trondheim claim that this edition of the world championships will be the most sustainable one to date. Yet, the volunteer uniforms have come under fire for being made of synthetic materials – essentially, plastic. The red jackets handed out to volunteers at the Granåsen venue are very visible but also raise environmental concerns.

Professor Ingun Grimstad Klepp from SIFO, Oslo Met, criticizes the use of these fossil-based materials, noting that if the aim is to reduce plastic use, the uniforms should be rethought. She points out that the textile industry is responsible for a significant percentage of global emissions and microplastic pollution. According to Klepp, many garments given as freebies end up unused in closets, eventually contributing to the microplastic load in our environment.

Volunteer Kristi Bakketun, who received one of the red jackets, expresses a conflicted view. Although the uniform creates a strong sense of community, she worries that she might never actually use the jacket and that it could simply become waste. Event officials, including Haakon Jensen, the commercial chief for the event, defend the decision. Jensen emphasizes that performance and uniformity are key; the use of 100% recycled polyester ensures the garments are water- and windproof, and helps make the event’s overall branding clear. The uniforms are part of a sponsorship agreement with the clothing manufacturer Swix, which touts the technical benefits of recycled materials despite the inherent challenges of using plastic-based fibers.

The article places the debate in a broader context by citing figures from the United Nations Environment Programme, which estimate that the clothing industry contributes between two and eight percent of global greenhouse gas emissions as well as a significant portion of microplastic pollution in the oceans. With massive piles of discarded clothes already a problem in parts of the world, sustainability experts urge for a rethinking of material usage – possibly by encouraging volunteers to use their own clothing instead of uniform freebies.