Every season, hundreds of uniforms move through Steamboat. What happens to them after their final day on the mountain is part of a much bigger story.  

100 to 300 Steamboat uniforms in good condition are donated through the NSAA Sharing Warmth Around the Globe program annually, extending their life in communities around the world.  

But not everything can be donated. Items that are too worn, damaged, or outdated once had no clear path forward, with another 100 to 500 pieces sent to landfill each year.  

That didn’t sit right for Mia, who manages Steamboat’s uniform program. She raised a simple question: Is there another solution for Steamboat uniforms at the end of their life?  

“Early in my role, I started thinking about where all of this was going—and what we could do differently,” Mia shared. 

What started as a question turned into a new way forward.  

After researching upcycling options, Steamboat landed on a collaboration with ReFleece to repurpose retired uniforms into new materials and products instead of ending up in the landfill.  

This effort connects teams across the resort, from sustainability to the uniform room, and reflects a shift in how materials are handled at the end of their life.  

The success of this initiative is now being expanded across the Alterra portfolio of resorts, creating a more complete lifecycle for the uniforms that power each season. In years when suppliers change, the system can scale to handle hundreds or even thousands of pieces at once.  

For many at Steamboat, and across the ski industry, uniforms aren’t just functional. They represent time spent here, work done in all conditions, and a shared experience between employees and guests.  

By upcycling them, that meaning isn’t lost. It evolves.  

You might see it again in a different form. But the story behind it stays the same.  

Not all pieces can be reused the same way.  
But more of them can stay in motion.  

 “It’s been really rewarding to see an initial question evolve into something that reduces waste and gives these materials a second life,” said Mia. 

Behind the Scenes: Evolving the Uniform System 

This isn’t the only Doing Good initiative happening in the uniform room. 

Recognizing the central role uniforms play in Steamboat team members’ time on the mountain, Mia and her team are also looking at how employees experience wearing uniforms.  

As Steamboat transitioned to a new uniform partner, it adopted a policy of inclusive sizing in uniform purchasing, ensuring that regardless of body type, height or size, any employee who walks into the uniform room will find a uniform that fits them comfortably. 

It’s not about one solution. It’s about building an inclusive system that can handle complexity, reduce waste, and adapt over time. 

Because taking care of this place doesn’t stop at the end of the season and taking care of our people isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.