Have you ever wondered how you can have a memorable ski holiday while being considerate of your carbon footprint? As adventurers and holidaymakers become more conscious of sustainable travel, navigating the travel world and making decisions with a lower carbon impact can be challenging.
Skiers are some of the most aware of the effects of global warming and climate change crises as they have witnessed the ever-changing landscape. Melting glaciers, warmer winters with less snow, and more rain mean skiing isn't the same as it once was, and taking a guilt-free trip can be near impossible.
You may think that skiing holidays are one of the highest carbon-emitting trips due to the power it takes to run a ski resort. It might sound like a sustainability nightmare, from constantly heating chalets and restaurants to powering chairlifts all day and piste bashers that run through the night.
However, many European ski resorts focus on a greener future, and some of the world's most sustainable resorts are in Europe.
Flaine, France
The French Alps are famed for their pristine pistes, traditional chalets, and excellent food, but the resorts can sometimes be victims of overtourism. Flaine, however, is a lesser-known destination in the heart of the Alps in the Haute-Savoie region that offers a more sustainable ski holiday.
The resort is car-free, encouraging guests to arrive by train. However, if you do drive, electric charging points are in the car parks outside the resort. Electric buses also serve the resort and surrounding area, making it convenient for guests to access.
Piste grooming accounted for nearly 80% of the Grand Massif ski area's carbon footprint due to fossil fuel use. So, in 2023, the region switched to hydrotreated vegetable oil for all grooming vehicles following successful trials by the Compagnie des Alpes.
Flaine has always been committed to providing a unique experience whilst preserving the natural surroundings. It truly is a resort where nature meets innovation. To protect local wildlife, Flaine has committed to many projects, such as reforestation and the preservation of wetlands. Ski runs have also been designed to minimise erosion and damage caused over the winter months.
St Anton, Austria
Nested in the Tirolean Alps, St Anton is an excellent destination for sustainability-conscious skiers. Since 2006, the resort has used the neighbouring Kartellsee reservoir to generate hydroelectricity. Enough power is generated to power the entire resort, making it one of Austria's greenest options.
St. Anton actively promotes sustainable travel by offering a well-connected train station, making it easy for visitors to arrive by rail instead of flying. The resort encourages train travel, with direct connections from cities like Zurich, Innsbruck, and Vienna, significantly reducing carbon emissions. An efficient electric bus shuttle system within the resort helps reduce traffic and pollution. Around 80% of local transport in St. Anton is already electric, contributing to its eco-friendly initiatives.
Austria is known for its approach to using local produce, which is evident in the attempt to encourage all hotels and buildings in the resort to use wood chips from nearby forests to power additional heating sources.
Skier pauses mid-piste in Flaine, France, soaking in the breathtaking snowy mountain views under a clear blue sky. Photo by Kasya Shahovskaya on Unsplash.
Verbier, Switzerland
Switzerland has been implementing sustainable practices country-wide to help reduce its carbon footprint, with a significant focus on ski resorts. Verbier is one of the best off-piste resorts in the country and is an excellent choice if you want an adventurous holiday while curbing your carbon footprint.
Verbier is one of Switzerland’s most sustainable ski resorts. Its entire chairlift system is powered by 100% renewable electricity. The resort has significantly reduced its carbon footprint by investing in green energy and efficient infrastructure.
Visitors can reach Verbier via direct trains, eliminating the need for flights or car travel. Switzerland’s rail network is over 90% powered by hydroelectric energy, making train travel one of the most eco-friendly transport options.
Pyhä, Finland
Finland isn't the first destination that comes to mind when considering skiing in Europe; however, it is at the top of the game regarding sustainability. Since 2008, Pyhä has brought its CO₂ production down by 90% by using renewable fuels, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and using renewable electricity.
The resort has implemented various rules to help reduce its emissions, such as banning fireworks at events and making the resort car-free. Over time, bringing in these rules has helped them earn the title of one of Europe's most sustainable resorts.
Pyhä is a family-owned resort that cares about preserving the natural landscape, and sustainability is a top priority. Taking advantage of its geographical location, Pyhä uses geothermal heat and bio-district heat to keep almost all the properties at the resort warm. This has dramatically reduced CO₂ emissions, making it an excellent choice for sustainable skiers.
Serre Chevalier, France
Serre Chevalier in France is pioneering sustainability in alpine tourism through innovative eco-friendly initiatives. The resort harnesses renewable energy from hydroelectric, solar, and wind power to reduce its carbon footprint.
Since 2016, the resort has been 30% self-sufficient and aims to produce 50% of its electricity needs by 2026 sustainably. Its hydroelectric system utilises melting snow and natural water flow, while solar panels installed on lift stations and other infrastructure generate clean energy. Additionally, small wind turbines contribute to renewable power generation.
Serre Chevalier also prioritises eco-friendly snow management, using energy-efficient snow cannons and optimised grooming techniques to minimise fuel consumption. The resort promotes responsible tourism by encouraging visitors to use public transport and car-sharing schemes. Sustainability efforts extend to biodiversity protection, with reforestation and habitat restoration projects helping to preserve the mountain ecosystem.
Misty morning at Pyhä Ski Resort in Finnish Lapland, with chairlifts rising above a snow-covered piste. Photo from Pixabay.
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser, Austria
The Tirol region of Austria is known for its commitment to protecting the biodiversity and traditions of the region. Within Tirol is the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser ski area, covering several resorts.
It is recognised as one of the most sustainable ski areas in the world. All 83 lifts are powered by 100% renewable electricity. Electric car charging points at ski lifts are often free, and the resort has upgraded and invested in insulation to help save energy.
Snowmaking in the region is entirely eco-friendly. It uses only drinking water sourced from 16 local reservoirs, which supply 1,051 snow cannons and 829 lances.
Sustainability extends beyond the piste into the hospitality sector, with all the local restaurants prioritising regional and seasonal produce, cutting CO₂ emissions while supporting the local economy.
Saas-Fee, Switzerland
Saas-Fee is a good choice if you are looking for a resort suitable for beginners who are conscious of sustainability. Located in the Swiss Alps, close to the Italian border, this car-free resort won’t disappoint. It is easily accessible by rail, meaning you can travel there more sustainably than flying. The resort offers electric buses that connect guests across the resort and to surrounding areas.
A similar trait to other top sustainable ski resorts in Europe is the innovative use of geothermal waters in spas across the resort as well as using renewable energy to power the majority of the resort.
In 2021, the resort was awarded the Energistadt Gold Label after reaching its goal of implementing at least 75% of its action goal toward improving energy usage and efficiency. Saas-Fee has also been a member of the Climate Alliance since 2024.
Val d’Isère, France
A well-known French Alps resort - Val d’Isère is one of Europe's top sustainable ski resorts. Over the years, the resort has implemented a carbon mitigating strategy to help curb its CO₂ emissions, and the resort strives to continue reducing this until it becomes net zero.
For winter 2024-2025, the resort introduced its first electric bus fleet to shuttle guests. Val d’Isère powers all the lifts from renewable energy and runs all the piste bashers on hydrogenated vegetable oil.
The resort has embraced using local resources to help develop tourism attractions such as The Lost Forest, a forest immersion area, where walkways between the trees have been built using local wood. Not only does this project aim to create awareness of the local biodiversity, but it also creates an alternative attraction close to nature.
These changes have helped the resort gain a reputation over the years for its efforts, which began shortly before 2016, when Val d’Isère received a Green Globe certification.
An electric train glides through Austria’s snowy landscape, offering a sustainable travel option. Photo by Laszlo Biro on Unsplash.
Lech-Zurs, Austria
Lech-Zurs, Austria, is located in the heart of the Austrian Alps in the Arlberg ski area. Primarily known as a luxury resort for the rich and famous, this resort is a hotspot for sustainable tourism. With a resort limit of just 10,000 guests at a time and a quality-over-quantity approach, this resort has discouraged over-tourism since the 1960s.
With this approach, the resort has preserved its agricultural history while supporting local farmers and businesses by encouraging restaurants to serve local and seasonal produce on their menus.
Lech-Zurs also uses renewable biomass heating systems across 98% of households and businesses, primarily using locally sourced wood chips, one of this resort's many sustainable efforts.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt is one of Switzerland’s top ski resorts, known for its outstanding Alpine scenery and strong commitment to sustainability. Located at the foot of the Matterhorn, the car-free resort has encouraged visitors to arrive by train rather than fly or drive. Vehicles are limited within the town, meaning the only form of transport is mini-electric buses.
Piste bashers have been converted to run on sulfur-free “eco-speed” diesel, reducing carbon monoxide emissions by 11%. At the 3S cableway station, solar panels generate power equivalent to 35 households, cutting 23.4 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Many buildings, such as The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, at 3,883 metres, rely entirely on solar energy for heating, lighting, and ventilation. Zermatt also prioritises “renaturation”, removing outdated infrastructure and restoring natural landscapes. Decommissioned cables, replaced every seven to 15 years, are repurposed in Myanmar for bridge construction, further reinforcing the resort’s dedication to environmental responsibility.
The 100% Fossil Fuel Free Resort
Are you looking for the ultimate green resort? If so, you must keep Hammarbybacken, Sweden, high on your list. In the winter of 2024-2025, the resort will test a complete transition to being 100% fossil fuel-free, and it will be interesting to see the positive outcomes of this project.
If the project succeeds, it could encourage other European ski resorts to consider eliminating fossil fuels and becoming fully electric.
The snow-covered Matterhorn stands majestically at dusk, overlooking the charming ski town of Zermatt, Switzerland. Photo by Andrew Masters on Unsplash.
Overview
That was just a selection of European ski resorts heading toward a more sustainable future in travel and tourism. With their innovative ideas, such as introducing electric-powered shuttle buses and using more energy-efficient heating methods, a lot can be said for the efforts of many ski resorts.
While travel is sometimes considered unsustainable, this article has shown that it is possible to visit ski resorts in Europe in a carbon-mitigating way with the possibility of one day travelling in a way with 100% reduced carbon emissions.
Many ski resorts encourage visitors to swap flying for train travel to reduce emissions before arriving at the destination. They also promote recycling and other methods to help protect the natural habitat.
So, if you are looking for a sustainable ski holiday, consider one of these as your next destination.