Environmentally Friendly Snow Options
You are about to embark on a snow project. It could be a large-scale snow park set in an amusement park, or it could be a winter wonderland-themed play area inside a family entertainment center. It could even be a project for TV or film. You have prepared by measuring the dimensions of the space you have to work with, and you have estimated how long the project will last. So, the next stop? Shopping for snow. But did you know that there are different options for snow, as well as snow machines? And that there are environmental implications for which option you pick? As we are learning more and more, where you shop matters, and your buying decisions have implications that reach farther than just your project’s profitability. Today, we are looking at sustainability in snowmaking— what ingredients are commonly used, and how it impacts the environment—so you can make an informed choice when it comes to where to do business.
Unsustainable Options
Before we can cover the more environmentally friendly options, we should first take a moment to discuss some of the commonly used snow products out there, what they are being used for, and the impact they may have:
• Paper-Glitter Powder
Commonly used for promotional events at retail locations or theme parks, or even TV and movie production, paper-glitter powder mixes are used to create snow frost effects. Paper pulp is finely ground, and then mixed with glitter for sparkle. This isn’t the type of snow made by snow machines, rather it gets delivered to the project site in bags. It is used indoors and out, for dusting trees and covering an area with a layer of soft powder. To make sure the product will stick or “set,” a fine water mist is applied to trees beforehand. As you can probably guess, once the paper-glitter mix is applied to trees, there is no way to feasibly remove it. If used outdoors, wind and rain eventually disintegrate the product, which washes off into waterways. If used indoors, the product can be vacuumed, bagged, and disposed of.
• Shredded Plastic
Large snowflakes create a dramatic effect—however, this look is typically achieved with larger pieces of shredded, flame-retardant plastic. This snow is often used in projects such as theater or TV and movie productions, and is also usually delivered to the site in bags. The plastic flakes are lightweight, and are therefore commonly used for snowfall effects. Similar to the paper-glitter mix, once the shredded plastic is used, it is usually vacuumed and bagged up, and disposed of.
• Sprayed Wax
In the search for a perfect winter forest, many companies are turning to tree waxing. Waxed trees are used in larger-scale realistic snow displays at retail sites and in outdoor theme parks and attractions. During the waxing process, white molten wax is sprayed onto the trees, which then hardens into a thick coating. The wax-coated trees can also be dusted with glitter. These “weather-resistant” trees can last for months, after which time they are disposed of.
• Soap
For projects that involve snow play areas (think birthday parties or promotional events), or snowfall (such as for TV or film), many people rely on snow machines that use foam. Many of these product descriptions simply state that these machines use “snow fluid.” But what exactly is in snow fluid? Isopropyl alcohol, bubble bath (or dish soap), water, propylene glycol, and glycerin. Wherever a foam snow machine is used, the floor beneath it becomes slippery. It is also important to note that it is advised not to have an open flame in the area.
Water—the Only Ingredient Used by Our Real Snow Machine
Now that we have covered the rest of the options, we can now cover our last one. As you can imagine, we have saved the best for last! SnowMagic’s snow machine uses only water—no chemicals (or glitter, or plastic, or bubble bath)—to produce real snow. Using our patented system, the Infinite Crystals Snowmaking (ICSTM) system, we are able to freeze water into tiny snow crystals that are indistinguishable from real snowflakes. And our cooled and controlled forced-air technology creates a natural-looking snowfall. The best part? Both our product and process are environmentally friendly. Our snow can be recycled and reused after it melts, and we work with you to design your snow project for maximum efficiency and drainage—making it possible to use our snow machines indoors and out. Imagine, a winter wonderland as clean as mother nature could make it, completely safe for children, pets, and the environment. To learn how SnowMagic can provide you with a sustainable snow project, contact us today.