That's La Plagne

How to Enjoy a Sustainable Ski Holiday Without Sacrificing Comfort

Skiing can be a great way for YOU to enjoy the mountains, but it's important to do so sustainably. Follow these 7 tips for a more eco-friendly ski holiday.

This post contains affiliate links

Get the inside track on ski holidays by joining my newsletter

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR WASTE ON YOUR FAMILY SKI HOLIDAY

Ski holidays can be a great way to enjoy the winter season, but they can also have a negative impact on the environment. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your waste and recycle while on your ski trip. But before we get stuck looking at what we can recycle in our resorts, we should first remember that recycling is not a magic solution to our waste production.

Whist, it is clearly one of the best ways to deal with our daily rubbish and waste, there are a couple of things we should try first. From packing reusable items to properly disposing of waste, these sustainable skiing tips can help you enjoy your holiday while minimising your impact on the planet.

1 Bring reusable water bottles and food containers

One of the easiest ways to reduce waste on your ski holiday is to bring reusable water bottles and food containers. Instead of buying single-use plastic bottles and containers, pack your own reusable ones. This not only reduces waste but also saves you money in the long run. Many ski resorts now have water bottle refill stations, so you can easily refill your bottle throughout the day. If you’re stopping for lunch, you can always refill your water bottles for free in the restaurants as well.

My kids love these s oft water bottles from Decathlon. They are quite reasonable, and they fit perfectly in their little pockets. They won’t explode if the kids fall on them – or bruise them! – and they find them fun, which means they also drink more water. I also use a Camel Bak, which is basically a water pouch with an attached straw. You can buy the pro backpack with the water bladder attached, but I just got the cheaper water bladder and use it in my generic backpack.

If you're packing your own lunch or snacks, bring them in reusable containers instead of disposable ones. This simple step can make a big difference in reducing your environmental impact while skiing. We usually buy our Haribo sweets and snacks in bulk and then decant them into reusable sandwich bags because the flat sandwich bags fit perfectly in a ski jacket pocket.

2 Use eco-friendly ski gear

Another way to make your ski holiday more sustainable is to use eco-friendly ski gear and equipment. Look for brands that use sustainable materials and production methods, such as recycled materials or renewable energy sources. Some leading sustainable ski brands are Patagonia, Planks, Picture and OOSC.

Additionally, when it's time to replace your old gear, why not re-sell on WhoSki.com, a peer-to-peer marketplace for ski and winter clothing? You can also buy ‘new-for-you’ ski outfits for all the family at a fraction of the price of a new ski outfit.

And finally, rather than buying anything, you can also consider renting equipment instead of buying new gear, which reduces waste and saves resources. EcoSki is an excellent set for renting individual pieces and also full outfits. You can even rent ski or snowboard outfits from Olympiads Jenny Jones and Amy Fuller’s wardrobes!

By making small changes to your ski gear and equipment choices, you can help protect the environment and enjoy a more sustainable ski holiday.

3 Rent eco-friendly ski equipment

When planning your ski holiday, consider renting eco-friendly equipment. Many ski rental shops now offer skis and snowboards made from sustainable materials, such as bamboo or recycled materials. Additionally, some shops offer equipment that is designed to reduce energy consumption, such as skis with a lower carbon footprint. A lot of ski rental shops are also working with their suppliers to reduce the amount of unnecessary packaging that comes with rental equipment, such as single-use plastic bags, and bulky or unnecessary packaging.

By renting eco-friendly equipment, you can reduce your impact on the environment while still enjoying your time on the slopes.

4 Choose eco-friendly transportation options

One of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions during a ski holiday is transportation. Flying, whilst often the first option that comes to mind, it’s also the most damaging to the environment.

Consider taking public transportation like the snow train, carpooling, or using a shuttle service instead of driving your own car. If you do need to drive, choose a fuel-efficient vehicle or consider renting an electric or hybrid car. You can also offset your carbon emissions by purchasing carbon credits or donating to a carbon offset program. Read this article to find out more about your ski holiday transport options.

Also, once you are in your ski resort, you can use the free public transport rather than driving around the resorts. Trust me, from someone who lives in a ski resort, taking the free La Plagne shuttle bus is much quicker than driving and then trying to find a parking space in busy peak-season ski weeks!

By choosing eco-friendly transportation options, you can reduce your impact on the environment and enjoy a more sustainable ski holiday.

5 Conserve energy in your accommodation

One of the easiest ways to have a more sustainable ski holiday is to conserve energy in your accommodations. Turn off lights and electronics when you're not using them, and adjust the thermostat to a lower temperature when you're out skiing for the day. You can also reuse towels and linens instead of having them washed every day.

Ski chalet companies are also offering incentives to encourage their ski clientele to be more sustainably minded. La Plagne local company Alpoholics offer a free case of BrewDog beer to groups travelling by train rather than flying. And Morzine-based ski chalet company, AliKats, offer a reduction in the ski holiday cost if you agree not to use the hot tubs during your stay.

These small actions can add up to a significant reduction in energy consumption and help preserve the mountains for future generations to enjoy.

6 Support sustainable ski resorts and businesses

When planning your ski holiday, consider supporting sustainable ski resorts and businesses. Look for resorts that have implemented environmentally friendly practices, such as using renewable energy sources and reducing water usage.

In the Alps, there is an award called the Flocon Vert – the Green Snowflake – awarded to mountains and ski resorts adhering to a strict list of environmental guidelines. So far, the ski resorts that have been awarded the Flocon Vert are in the image here.

You can also support local businesses that prioritize sustainability, such as restaurants that use locally sourced and organic ingredients. Have a look at my La Plagne gift guide if you are looking to support independent and local businesses.

By choosing to support sustainable options, you can help promote a more eco-friendly ski industry.

7 Dispose of waste properly and recycle whenever possible

When skiing, it's important to dispose of waste properly and recycle it whenever possible. Many ski resorts have recycling programs in place, so be sure to check with your resort to see what options are available. Having said that, it can be confusing to understand what rubbish goes in which bin to get recycled correctly.

By being mindful of your waste and recycling habits, you can help preserve the natural beauty of the mountains for future generations to enjoy.

SKI RESORTS AND THE RECYCLING BINS… WHAT GOES WHERE?!

In France, the communal bins – poubelles – are dotted around the resort in groups of 3 or 4. Each bin will have a label on it as to what should be put in it. I’m going to try to demystify the labels for you. Hopefully, you can share this information with your friends/colleagues/staff, etc., and together, we can reduce the amount of unnecessary waste in our ski resorts.

Above is an infographic I’ve made up to help show what waste should go in which bin. I should also note that this is made based on the rules in the Savoie. This might vary when you move to other regions and ski areas. As such, always make sure to check in with your local Tourist Information point or accommodation team, who should be able to help.

HOW TO RECYCLE IN THE FRENCH ALPS

From 1 January 2023, the “Communauté de Communes Les Versants d'Aime”, which is the public services for the Taentaise area, including La Plagne where I live, has extended the waste-sorting instructions to include all packaging now. This will basically bring in the same recycling and sorting as the whole of Savoie.

This is basically great news as it makes it easier for us to recycle more waste products and reduce the amount of packaging going to landfill. To keep it simple:

Yellow bin: packaging and paper
Green bin: glass
Grey bin: household waste

To remove all doubt, all packaging, without exception, can now be put in the yellow bin.

Metal
Cardboard
Paper
Plastic

So, for example, you can put all of the following into the yellow bins in La Plagne: bottles, cans, yoghurt pots, trays, plastic films and bags, toothpaste tubes or cosmetic cream pots.

Once the packaging has been placed in the yellow bin, it will be sent to the sorting centre in Chambéry to be sorted and then sent to specialised plants for recycling or recovery.

That’s La Plagne & how to recycle in La Plagne!

Hopefully, these simple tips will help you to start planning and enjoying more sustainable family ski holidays. Including helping you to organise your rubbish more effectively once you arrive at your ski resort.

TOP TIPS

If you’re on holiday here, take your rubbish out to the communal bins daily. It’s a small job done every day but becomes unmanageable if left until the end of the week. If you can’t easily find them, just ask your host or any local staff who will be happy to point them out.
Delegate it to the kids. They do enjoy the responsibility of taking the rubbish out themselves.
Share this article with anyone who is heading to the Alps this winter. Together we can all make a difference and preserve our snow and ski resorts for future generations.
Don’t take your empty wine bottles out to drop into the glass recycling in the morning – it is very loud, and you will wake up sleeping neighbours!