Morzine and Avoriaz 1800 have started their campaign to be awarded the ‘Flocon Vert’ label, only awarded to ski resorts that demonstrate high levels of sustainability and environmental responsibility.

The accolade is awarded by the organisation Mountain Riders and recognises destinations that demonstrate a commitment to a sustainable development policy.

The threshold is set very high with compliance based on twenty criteria divided into four themes:

– local economy
– social and cultural
– governance and destination
– environment and natural resources

Local businesses, the Tourist Office and mairie are all working together to reduce the environmental impact caused by residents and holidaymakers. The Montagne Verte organisation has been instrumental in developing sustainable policies in Morzine & Avoriaz 1800. You can find out more about their work here.

The resort’s plan is to encourage to help people be greener and to make more environmentally friendly options more accessible. Areas that are covered will include:

Biodiversity

  • $20,000 of work on Lac de Joux Plane and the Col de Joux Plane to protect the black grouse
  • markers approximately every 5m to make dangerous aerial cables visible for birds
  • a new snowshoe track with explanatory panels about local eagles

Ski Area

  • fewer polluting piste grooming machines run on non-toxic, biodegradable GTL fuel [More about ‘green’ groomers here]
  • a poster and awareness campaign concerning the best environmental behaviour
  • trees replanted in areas of the Chablais that require it
  • revegetation with grasses suited to the mountain environment for the Grizzli and Nyon pistes
  • a litter picking day at the end of the season

Responsible Tourism

  • activities on offer with an environmental theme
  • creation of an “eco-event” charter
  • a Chablais Geopark label, as well as a Natura 2000 zone and several wetlands
  • local businesses committed to eco-responsible actions and using local produce

A Green Village

  • many vehicles used by the civic services are now electric
  • two recharge points have been put in place for electric cars
  • no herbicides and pesticides used for the maintenance of flowers and flowerbeds
  • communal buildings equipped with energy efficient collective wood fired heating systems

We wish Morzine and Avoriaz 1800 all the best with their application and hope that they can follow in the footsteps of Les Arcs and be awarded the Flocon Vert.

Iain from Ski Flight Free travelled to Les Arcs prior to their application to review their sustainability credentials – you can read about that here.