The move towards greener skiing

We’ve all read the reports: Europe has been warming faster than any other continent in recent decades, with temperatures increasing at twice the global average. The effects are clearly visible in our mountains, where we are experiencing rising snow lines, glaciers shrinking, less consistent snow cover and shorter ski seasons. The consequences of climate change are are no longer a whisper, they are here in our mountains for all to see. As skiers, snowboarders and fans of the mountains, it is worrying, and you may even wonder if an eco-friendly ski holiday is even possible.

Whilst reading the latest climate reports and news articles the situation can feel heavy, it’s important to recognise the positive change and cohesion taking place across the Alps and mountain industries. From sports technology and clothing, to environmental schemes and resort operations, every ingredient of snow sports travel is looking a lot greener.

Here’s how to enjoy your snow adventures, whilst treading lightly on the planet and voting for positive climate action.

Where you ski

Green skiing means checking out the environmental credentials and measures in place at the potential resorts on your holiday wish list. Development such as solar ski lifts (Tenna, in Switzerland) and snow groomers running on HVO100 synthetic fuel instead of diesel (various French resorts, including Morzine), illustrate movement towards a more environmentally sound existence.

The “Flocon Vert” label, awarded by environmental association Mountain Riders, has been granted to several European resorts after a rigours vetting process. Morzine Avoriaz is amongst 19 French resorts to have achieved the label, which assesses 20 strict criteria regarding energy and wastewater management, as well as the protection of natural areas. With areas reserved for nature and mountain species to thrive, plus environmentally friendly grooming machines (creating less air and sound pollution) Morzine Avoriaz is showing its dedication to the protection of its mountain territories.

Montagne Verte, our non-profit association founded by business owners and locals, is also making an impact with its creative solutions to environmental issues, including a bicycle-powered bio waste collection scheme that’s reducing greenhouse gas emissions by diverting waste from incinerators, and a second-hand clothes shop.

Getting to resort

Above any other choice, opting for rail as a means of transport will have the biggest impact on reducing the eco-footprint of your holiday. Due to this, along with the well-being benefits of ‘slow travel’, rail travel is becoming an increasingly popular option for UK travellers. It’s also not as slow as you may think. Journalist Daniel Elkan – the founder of SnowCarbon, a resourceful train travel planning website for skiers – points out that train travel (for skiers) can be as fast as flying, door to door, and has the added benefit of enjoyable blocks of time that you can use, instead of moving from airport queue to airport queue to road transfer when you fly.

Choosing train travel to get to Morzine involves a trip on the Eurostar and a change in Paris to board the TGV to Bellegarde or Cluses. As with air travel, you then hop on a transfer or local bus to take you up the mountain. Thanks to the brilliant, AlpineExpress Pass (a Montagne Verte initiative to encourage rail travel), train users can get a discount on their transfer, as well as ski pass, ski hire and other services and activities in the resort.

If you would prefer to arrive by road, Morzine, as well as several other key resorts, can be reached in around 8-hours from Calais, following a 35-minute Eurotunnel or 2-hour ferry crossing.

If flying is the only option, airline passengers can offset their emissions by supporting carbon removal schemes that deliver long-term benefits. If booking with AliKats, a €9/person contribution, based on the average carbon emissions of a return flight to Geneva plus road transfer, is added to the cost of your holiday and invested in the Sustainable Mountain Futures Fund of Montagne Verte.

Using your leg power

Being repeatedly hauled up a mountain by lifts requiring tons of energy to power, is likely to play on the mind of any eco-conscious individual. If you’re keen to find an alternative sport that does not require a ski lift, there are several excellent options. The main three are snowshoeing, cross country skiing (known as”Ski de Fond” in France, which utilizes pre-made tracks on a circuit) and ski touring. The latter involves hiking up the mountain on skis, as well as skiing or boarding down it using special touring skis or a split board (a snowboard that can be separated into two ski-like planks and fitted with climbing skins for trekking uphill through snow). Such off-the-beaten track adventures in the wilderness can be addictive and are what keep many people returning or forever stuck in the mountains. Ski de Fond is hugely popular in our part of the world, and most ski resorts, including Morzine, have several circuits in stunning locations, with parking or bus stops near-by. Whilst doing any of these activities, it’s important to respect local wildlife and nature by sticking to the marked trails or following a professional guide, who will know the mountain and its protected areas.

What you eat

It is certainly easier to eat sustainably at home when you are familiar with the area and can make informed decisions, knowing what is available, in-season and where to buy it. When travelling, sourcing food can be more unpredictable, but there are a few things you can consider before you arrive in your ski resort.

Your choice of accommodation, catered or self catered, is the first big decision. If catered your ‘food footprint’ will mostly be in the hands of the company you book with. Look out for catered chalets and hotels with credible environmental and social policies, including stringent waste management procedures (zero waste being all the better) and commitment to regional suppliers and seasonal produce. Such food produced at scale is one way to reduce the food miles associated with the food you eat and the emissions involved in catering, whilst supporting local farmers and reducing plastic associated with packaging.

If you choose to go self catered, it can be a challenge to keep food and plastic waste to a minimum. A quick scout of resort shops online before you arrive is a great place to start. Bio shops – chains such as La Vie Claire, as well as some lovely independent organic shops – are cropping up in our mountain resorts offering a wide-range of tasty, organic and regional produce. Markets are also a great place to get fruit, veg, cheese and other interesting regional items. Morzine’s market is in the car park in front of the post office on Wednesday morning throughout the year. You can also buy trout from the fishery in Prodains and dairy products from the many farm shops in the valley.

Until recent years, vegetarian food was hard to get your hands on in mountain restaurants, but thanks to demand and businesses becoming more climate-minded, this is all changing. You can now find delicious, inventive vegetarian food in many cafes and restaurants in ski resorts. Check out our blog post on the best vegetarian food in Morzine. When on the slopes it can still be a little tricky, but look out for restaurants with seasonal menus and high environmental standards. Often establishments proud of their producers will list local farms they work with on their website. If you enjoy meat and fish, you should be able to find options reared with high standards of animal welfare.

What you wear

The fashion and textile industry, including sports wear, is a sector with a long string of offences against the planet – high production emissions, pollution, water wastage and unfair social practices to name but a few. What makes matters worse? A huge 85% of clothing ends up in landfills or gets incinerated. So when it comes to skiwear, one key thing skiers can do is to reduce consumption and help keep gear in circulation for longer.

If buying new, brands such as Patagonia, Protest, Icebreaker and Planks, produce high quality kit with people and the planet in mind. These items should last you longer than cheaper, poorly made alternatives, plus careful cleaning and repairing of this kit will keep it in use for longer.

Renting ski wear is a great solution and one which can keep you in high quality kit with less of a hit to your wallet. EcoSki, an online ski clothing platform, allows skiers to rent a high quality ski jacket and pants for a week’s holiday starting from just £45.50 – a good solution if your ski wear only makes an appearance once or twice a year. As well as renting ski clothing, EcoSki covers all bases to make it easy for skiers to purchase ‘kit with a conscience’, find pre-owned kit and repair their items via their online shop.

To discover more businesses and communities that are making it easier to repair kit and purchase second-hand ski gear, check out Re-Action and its members. The movement, founded by former ski boot retailer Gavin Fernie-Jones, has prevented more than 35,000 items of outdoor clothing going into landfill by breathing new life into used gear.

Finally, if your kids have outgrown their ski kit or you simply don’t have the time to repair, consider donating the items to the Montagne Verte shop at the end of your holiday in Morzine (if staying with AliKats, we will even drop it off for you!).

Planks and boards

Several ski and snowboard manufacturers now offer equipment with a conscience. Salomon have made a name for themselves in recent years for adopting a responsible attitude to their production methods, including reducing their CO2 emissions, replacing toxic substances such as fibre glass with bamboo, as well as the implementation of a recycling scheme for old skis and snowboards. Another impressive brand, Venture Snowboards, has models in their range hand made out of sustainable harvest wood cores, recycled fabric, hemp top sheets and low impact resins and glues. Venture’s factory generates all of its own power from windmills and has a 100% recycle policy. Arbor Collective are another example, using sustainably sourced wood and processing methods that stretch resources, rather than damage the planet. Small companies are also making tracks, Idris skis, based locally in the Chamonix valley, are on a mission to create the most environmentally friendly skis possible while maintaining the highest performance. They make 5 models catering for skiers wanting to carve on the piste or ride powder.

Waxing your skis

Wax is essential for an effortless glide on the snow, and also helps to protect and prolong the life of our skis and snowboards. There are many options on the market, but some use harsh chemicals, including PFCs. These toxins creep into waterways and are harmful to vegetation and wildlife, they’re also bad for humans, with links to liver and cardiovascular damage.

So although it may seem like a small switch, opting for a wax made from environmentally kind ingredients can make a world of difference. MountainFlow produces a range of plant-based ski wax that works just as well as conventional, petroleum-based wax, and is easy to apply and non-hazardous to the environment.

AliKats Mountain Holidays is a business that sits in the accommodation sector, but our plight for the planet stretches into our daily life, community and the wider ski industry. We work cohesively with our community to find solutions to our biggest environmental challenges, and support local businesses, suppliers and individuals doing the right thing. From our zero food waste philosophy in our kitchens and the toiletries in our bathrooms, to the energy heating our chalets and the products we clean with, our catered and self catered eco-friendly ski chalet holidays are designed with the planet in mind.