LA ROSIÈRE, A GREEN SNOWFLAKE CERTIFIED RESORT

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE MOUNTAINS: INITIATIVES TO PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENt

With its Green Snowflake certification, La Rosière is committed to reconciling tourist activities and environmental preservation.

November 28, 2023: La Rosière awarded the Green Snowflake Label

The Green Snowflake is a label guaranteeing the sustainable commitment of mountain tourist destinations. This label is developed by the association Mountain Riders to provide mountain enthusiasts with a clear view of tourist destinations that are attentive to their environment. Choosing a Green Snowflake resort is supporting responsible tourism.

The Green Snowflake validates the achievements and projects undertaken within the resort. It is also, and above all, a validation of the territory’s sustainable development strategy in response to the climate, environmental, and social challenges that we face. It is not an end in itself but an encouragement to continue improving every day, to continue trying, and to question ourselves. It is finally the recognition of the commitment of a socio-economic fabric and its stakeholders, led by the La Rosière Tourist Office, the Montvalezan Town Hall, and the La Rosière Ski Area – Espace San Bernardo.

Reducing energy consumption

The Ski Resorts and Ski Area have been implementing actions to offer an unforgettable experience to all of their holidaymakers and reduce their energy consumption at the same time. Here are some of the measures implemented in La Rosière

Commited for the long term

The resort is committed to planting 1500 trees over 3 years. The shoots come from Bourg Saint Maurice (15km away) and this initiative is accomplished by a partnership with the ONF (National Office of Forests) and a budget of €8000/year.
Why plant trees? Trees are natural regulators of our ecosystem, they purify the atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing back oxygen. Their foliage and root systems filter water. They play a stabilizing role for the soil by avoiding erosion whilst also sheltering various forms of flora and fauna. By releasing water vapor into the atmosphere, trees also participate towards regulating extreme temperature differences. This phenomenon impacts the degree of local humidity and helps against extreme climate variations.

The environmental road map

It has 16 eco-commitments to preserve the mountain with concrete measures in terms of climate and greenhouse gas emissions, water management, protection of biodiversity and preservation of landscapes.
One of the objectives set by French ski areas is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2037, with zero CO2 emissions.
More info here

Preservation of fragile natural areas

La Rosière ski area is also committed to protecting fragile natural environments and species such as the black grouse (fauna) and the Alpine Lycopod (flora). Since 2014, it even has its own environmental observatory! More information on the ski area’s website.

Travelling green = cheaper skipasses

The principal contributor of greenhouse gasses from a ski resort (57%)* is the transport of people towards their holiday destination… one more reason to choose the train, the only carbon-free solution. La Rosière is mindful of the ecological impact that its activity can cause on the environment and promotes offers to attract people into arriving by more ecological transportation. For all the travellers arriving by train at the Bourg Saint Maurice train station, a 15% reduction is offered off their next 2 day or longer Espace San Bernardo lift pass**; Direct TGV trains from Paris connect in 5 hours with Bourg Saint Maurice. By looking after the planet, La Rosière is looking after its visitors.
**More info : larosiere.ski

With EcoSki, an additional reward for rail travelers

EcoSki is a platform for the resale and rental of second-hand ski clothing and technical accessories for UK vacationers. To congratulate rail travelers, EcoSki also offers skiers a 15% discount on all their purchases (new or used) as well as on ski clothing rentals.

EcoSki founder Rachael Westbrook is proud to partner with La Rosière: “The idea behind EcoSki was born in La Rosière, so it makes perfect sense to join forces,” she says. “The resort is constantly striving to operate more sustainably and reduce its environmental impact, and it is well on its way to obtaining the ‘Le Flocon Vert’ label this season, which demonstrates its commitment to the environment and makes it even more special in my eyes.”

More information about this collaboration can be found on EcoSki.co.uk.

The zero waste charter

The Tourist Office of La Rosiere, aware of the challenges of sustainable development, is committed to the fight against waste with the establishment of an internal charter in order to gradually move towards zero waste.
La Rosière tourisme has also signed a green energy contract. Indeed all of its premises are powered only by electricity produced by renewable energy sources (hydraulic, wind or photovoltaic) produced in France.
More info on our zero waste charter (french only)

A green network of artificial snow

The Espace San Bernardo (on the La Thuile side) was the first ski area in the world to harness its network of artificial snow to produce clean and renewable energy, with the implementation in 2016 of an innovative hydroelectric program. Over 3 years, the ski area of La Thuile has produced more than 4.8 million kWh (4.8 GWh) uniquely from the power of the water that is circulated through its artificial snow network.
This was a technical challenge and shows once again how the ski area operators and the businesses in the sector are constantly investing and innovating to protect the mountains where they work and live all year.

Paying attention to pastoral issues

The La Rosière Ski Area is a Beaufort PDO area where cows (of the abondance and tarine breeds) and sheep graze all summer long in the mountain pastures.
While winter is devoted to the joys of skiing, summer gives way to grazing and farming.
This division of the territory thus allows an economic dynamism of the resort all year round.
See the measures taken.