Transition
Taking stock, in every way
As the world’s no. 1 winter sports resort*, we have a huge responsibility, but before taking action, it is crucial to understand what is at stake with all the necessary hindsight, sharing of experience and humility. * 2,436,150 ski days sold over the winter season 21-22
Giving things meaning and setting the course
CSR report, carbon footprint & snow monitoring
Ce sont deux démarches complémentaires qui se veulent des "photographies" de l'existant. Des supports fondateurs pour fixer le cap et décider des actions qui impacteront l'avenir de La Plagne et la préservation de ses écosystèmes naturel, économique et social.
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CSR* resort report *Corporate Social Responsibility |
GHG balance at the territorial level |
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The ski area and the climate issues
Nicolas Provendie, the general manager of the Société d'Aménagement de La Plagne
Research studies on our mountain area
En route for the Flocon Vert label
We have initiated this process with the Mountain Riders association which delivers the label. A total of 20 criteria are validated on four main themes:
- governance and destination
- local economy
- social and cultural
- natural resources & ecology
More clarity for holidaymakers. The label also offers customers a clear vision of the responsible mountain destinations.
A new era off the glacier
After taking note of the evidence of climate change on its glacier and, proud as it is of the part of its ski area that is 3250 m above sea level, La Plagne has had to resign itself to envisaging the future differently. The redevelopment aims to leave the zone of permafrost of the glacier and move the gondola arrival station to another high-altitude peak (3 060 m), situated further south. The goal is to offer an easier long-term access to this sector from the winter season 2023-24, with a 360° panoramic view in both summer and winter.
The benefits of this move:
- a rehabilitated glacier, with all the installations dismantled within 3 years
- easier to keep the lift open when there is heavy snowfall
- panoramic view of the Vanoise glaciers
- accessibility for skiers and the possibility for everyone to test the experience of being at 3000 m in winter and summer
In concrete terms:
- 1 lift instead of 4
- 9 hectares less of ski runs
- 35 pylons and poles taken down
- 630 m of ski lift cables removed
- 1 800 m of electric cables removed
- 9 buildings taken down
- 606 m² of built surface area
An ambitious project
This approach is part of a project to develop the line all the way from Plagne Bellecôte to the glacier by 2025. The next step is currently under study with a new gondola up to Roche de Mio (to be commissioned in December 2025).
Circular economy
In Plagne Centre / The first biomass heating plant in the mountains opened in 2009.
Initiated by one of the Plagne Centre owners’ associations along with Veolia Eau, this operation proved to offer a solution to the major issue of heating in a winter sports resort created in the 1960s. It produces 85% of the energy required for heating and hot water production in Plagne Centre and discharges 4,000 tonnes less of CO² into the atmosphere every year. The fuel comes in the form of wood chips made of bark from sawmills and fibre that cannot be recycled as compost. The long-term aim is to source forestry chips from local operators to help them complete their projects linked to the wood industry.
In Aime / Antropia, first recycling center in La Plagne, opened in April 2023
The principle of a recycling centre is to collect and put back into circulation what people no longer need, an approach that naturally supports the development of the circular economy on a local scale. In fact, through its network, Antropia collects a lot of skiwear (jackets, ski pants, etc.), from the different socio-professionals from all of the local resorts in particular. This ski wear, mostly by brand names and often nearly new, are rendered “neutral” by having any labels or other badges removed by partner association One Tree at a Time [onetreeatatime.fr].
Teen or adult outfits (from size XS, jacket + pants) from 160 €. Children’s skiwear also for sale.
Versant du Soleil, in Granier / Transformation of whey into methane for the first time in an Alpine pasture !
All year round, during the production of Beaufort cheese, a very cumbersome residue is created: whey, which in volume represents more than 90% of the milk produced.
The spreading of this by-product is prohibited. Various recycling solutions exist, but the Plan Pichu pastoral cooperative in Granier, on the Versant du Soleil, wanted to go further by thinking in terms of "recovery" whereby the waste is not simply recycled, but is transformed into energy. After an initial trial season in 2022, the transformation of whey into methane provides near autonomy for heating the water and milk since summer 2023.