Carbon-conscious ski travel

WE ARE ALL LOOKING FOR WAYS TO REDUCE OUR IMPACT ON THE PLANET, AND WHILE A SKI TRIP CAN BE A CARBONHEAVY LUXURY, THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO HELP MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY GREENER. HERE ARE SOME TIPS FROM CONSENSIO’S MANAGING DIRECTOR, CERI TINLEY, WHO IS PASSIONATE ABOUT CARBON-CONSCIOUS TRAVEL AND IS COMMITTED TO DRIVING SUSTAINABILITY INTO CONSENSIO’S OPERATIONS WHILE EXCEEDING GUESTS’ EXPECTATIONS…

How to get there… The most sustainable ways to travel to ski resorts from the UK are by train or self-drive.

Taking the Eurostar to the Alps is a fabulous way to start your holiday. Trains are available from December through to April and you can catch the Eurostar Ski Train direct to Moûtiers to access the 3 Valleys, or to Bourg Saint Maurice if staying in Val d’Isère.

Driving to France uses a lot less carbon than flying, especially if it’s in a hybrid or electric vehicle. All Consensio properties come with private parking and many now feature EV charging ports, so both you and your car can recharge in the Alps.

Finally, don’t print your boarding passes, tickets or travel confirmations unless you really have to. You can save paper by downloading them to your phone.

What to wear? Ethically-produced and sustainably-sourced ski clothing is becoming easier to find. If you’re purchasing new equipment, check out the brands that use sustainable materials, such as skis constructed using responsibly-sourced wood; thermals and socks made from organic cotton or bamboo fabric; or outerwear created with recycled materials. Additionally, make sure when buying ski or snowboard wax that you opt for biodegradable wax.

If you don’t already own your own equipment, then hiring is a good way to support local businesses and shrink your carbon footprint further by not adding to your baggage weight. Ecoski is a great company which allows you to rent performance ski wear, or you could research and purchase from sustainable brands.

Consensio can also arrange for all your ski equipment to be provided via local suppliers’ ski-fitting services.

“There is a perception that providing a luxury product makes sustainability hard to achieve. Consensio proves that sustainability can be at the very heart of luxury travel.”

Ceri Tinley, Consensio’s Managing Director

Where to stay? Whether you’re looking for a luxury catered chalet experience or something more understated, take care in choosing a company that takes tangible steps towards reducing its carbon footprint and impact on the environment.

When you are staying with Consensio Chalets, your carbon footprint is calculated annually in order to offset it as part of your holiday package.

Consensio offers three different types of ski holiday: Ultimate Catered Chalets, Relaxed Catered Chalets and Self-Catered Alpine Apartments, so there is something to suit everyone. A number of chalets even feature environmentally-friendly ozone technology to enable their pools and hot tubs to be chlorinefree, including Chalet Marco Polo and Chalet Lhotse in Val d’Isère.

Staying on a Consensio holiday also allows you to opt for a lower ambient temperature for your chalet to save opening windows. Additionally, Consensio properties have exit switches which allow you to turn off all lights when you leave the property.

What to eat? When staying in a Consensio Catered Chalet, ask your chef to create a plant-based or focused menu using locally-sourced ingredients. While enjoying lunch on the mountain, try regional specialities and local wines – not only will they taste amazing, but they also have a lower carbon footprint than meals sourced from further afield.

What to do in your resort? While on-piste skiing and using lifts to get between ski resorts is the norm, ski touring is a fantastic way to explore the mountains. Ski touring involves off-piste skiing without using a lift, and equipment and guides are easily organised by your in-chalet ski hire company.

By using your own power to ascend the mountains, not only is it a greener way to ski, but it enables you to get off the beaten track and find hidden slopes and views. Nothing beats the feeling of skiing back down knowing you earned the pleasure by getting yourself to the top without electricity.

Also, if you are skiing on the piste, download the piste map on your phone so that you don’t need a paper copy.

Alternatively, if you want to try something different to skiing, the recreational activity of snowshoeing allows you to explore the marked trails around your resort. Snow racquets are attached to your own shoes and the trails are graded so you can select the route best suited to you.

To book a holiday with Consensio visit: www.consensiochalets.co.uk For information about the Eurostar Ski Train, visit: www.eurostar.com For Ecoski clothing, visit: www.ecoski.co.uk