45% of Brits would choose train travel over flying
We were very encouraged to read a new survey by YouGov for Omio shows that 57% of Brits are willing to make more environmentally-friendly travel choices. According to the research this compares with 45% in Germany and 40% in France. 45% of Brits would choose train travel over flying 45% of Brits surveyed said that they...
Italo success shows appetite for train travel in Europe
We’re looking forward to the opening of the new Midnight Trains project – planning to bring back overnight trains across Europe. They’ll be following in the footsteps of another successful new company who have been showing the appetite for train travel on the continent – Italo. Early innovator of high-speed train travel The company was...
Les Arcs funicular forced to close due to rise in temperatures
The irony is inescapable: climate change has led to the closure of the emissions-free funicular that connects Bourg-St-Maurice to Les Arcs. Powered by 100% renewable energy, the funicular means that it’s possible to travel by train the entire way from the UK to the resort of Les Arcs. ‘Significant deformation’ of the track It’s a...
Chamonix partners with Kia Electric Vehicles
Chamonix has started a new three-year partnership in which the car maker Kia will provide electric vehicles for the resort. The resort already has a great reputation for sustainability and is a verified ‘Flocon Vert’ resort under the Mountain Riders scheme. Marc HEDRICH, President of Kia France said: “The relationship between Kia and Chamonix is...
Serre Chevalier focuses on Renewable Energy
Serre Chevalier was one of the first ski areas in France to produce its own electricity since they started their renewable energy program in 2018. The resort plans to generate 50% of its electricity requirements by 2025 and to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030. There are three pillars to their plan: Hydroelectricity...
Chamonix targets second life for climbing ropes
Established in Chamonix 150 years ago, the Simond factory produces more than 200 tons of dynamic climbing ropes each year with a carbon cost equivalent to a single person flying around the earth almost six hundred times! In an effort to reduce their footprint, the company has launched an operation to collect old climbing ropes,...
Mountain Wilderness launch ‘Installations Obsoletes’ website
For more than 20 years now, the French organisation Mountain Wilderness have been co-ordinating operations to dismantle obsolete installations in the mountains. It could be discarded piles of junk, concrete remains, pylons and cables left over from unused ski lifts or even abandoned buildings and shelters. Mountain Wilderness have recently launched a website listing all...
Mountain Riders create ‘zero waste’ campaign
The Mountain Riders environmental group are launching a new national zero waste reduction program waste in the mountains, to be called “Montagne Zéro Déchet”. The plan is to increase the number of clearing sessions and to encourage the reduction of waste at source and will coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the lobbying group. The...
Ski Instructor uniforms ‘debranded’ to allow resale
More great work from the Montagne Verte team in Morzine, who have been ‘debranding’ ski instructor uniforms so they can be resold. Volunteer Chrissy Jahier and local seamstresses have been working together with partners One Tree at a Time. Instructor uniforms were donated by Mint Snowboarding and Billski. You can see in the image how the logos have been...
Morzine & Avoriaz launches bid to attain the ‘Flocon Vert’ label
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...
Is travelling by train still safe in the ‘new normal’?
Are you looking forward to travelling again once lockdown ends, but are concerned about the risk of taking a train journey? You shouldn’t be: don’t be put off the greenest form of transport. Risk of Infection is less than 0.01% According to research by the RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board), the risk of Covid-19...
The Green Session: Your Free Guide to ‘Eco’ ski wear
This is a great resource from the Green Session team for anyone thinking about buying new ski wear but also trying to minimise their impact on the environment. Cut through the ‘greenwash’ Created by Frenchmen Pierre and Vincent, the guide aims to cut through ‘greenwashing’ and while the technical aspects of products are important and...
