Where to Ski And Snowboard - Tignes awarded for environmental efforts

Tignes awarded for environmental efforts

5th October 2015, by Abi Butcher

Tignes has become the world’s first ski area to be awarded a Green Globe certificate

The French ski resort of Tignes has become the world’s first ski area to be awarded a Green Globe certificate for its work towards improving the environment.

The certificate was awarded for the efforts led by its lift company, the STGM (Société des téléphériques de la Grande Motte). In 2013, the company set up an environmental monitoring committee to measure and evaluate the effect new projects will have on the local landscape and to inventory species of plants and animals within the ski area.

Since 2008, the STGM has dismantled and removed more than 100 lift towers from the ski area. Every year grass is planted to better integrate the ski runs into the landscape, to provide a more stable base for the snowpack, and to restore local biodiversity. The STGM also regularly renews its bus fleet, offering an efficient and environmentally friendly bus service to skiers, who are encouraged to leave their vehicles in the car park.

Green Globe is an international certification program to award efforts made by companies in the tourism industry for their social, economic, cultural, and environmental approach. For a certificate to be awarded, a set of 40 criteria must be met including management, sustainable development, support for local industries, and environmental protection.

Tignes will have to demonstrate “significant improvement” at the next audit in 2017 to maintain its certificate. The 3680ha resort now ranks among the 450 tourism companies across the world with Green Globe certification, and is the only ski area on the list.

STGM chief executive Nicolas Provendie said: “Our role as a major local stakeholder pushed us to initiate the Green Globe certification process. We are developing purchasing and hiring policies that favour the local economy and local employment. Our goal is to continue to pursue this commitment, which is beneficial both environmentally and socially.”

Last season, Tignes hosted 1,571,000 skier days.