ISO 14001 standard

ISO 14001 is the "environmental management" standard consisting of a collection of action programmes designed to minimise the harmful effects of activities on the environment and continually improve environmental performance.

 

Pistes and ski lifts

The ISO 9001 standard (quality management) is becoming commonplace among operating companies, which are now committed to ISO 14000/14001 environmental certification.

 

Their main objective is to reduce energy consumption, cut sources of pollution (exhaust gases from piste grooming machines and snowmobiles, oil leaks, use of biodegradable oils, noise pollution, etc.) and to ensure waste recycling.

Les Menuires was the first resort to obtain this certification. The vast majority of the players in Savoie Mont Blanc share this requirement for environmental quality and have obtained the ISO 14001 standard.

 

A few examples:

Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry
La Clusaz: working towards certification
Les Gets
Le Grand Bornand
Les Menuires
La Plagne
Praz de Lys Sommand: working towards certification
La Rosière
Tignes: working towards certification
Val d'Isère: working towards certification
Valmorel
Val Thorens

 

When it comes to Tourist Offices and infrastructures, Megève Tourisme was for example the first Tourist Office in France to obtain ISO 14001 certification. Chamonix obtained it in June 2007.

 

Note: the press centre for the 2009 Alpine Ski World Championships in Val d'Isère was built in line with France's High Quality Environmental Standard (HQE) and an application for ISO 14001certification has been made for the entire 2009 Alpine Ski World Championships.

 

European programmes

Alpine Pearls

A quality guarantee for holidays in the Alps that subscribe to a sustainable transport ("soft mobility") policy. Twenty-one towns and villages in Austria, Germany, Italy, France (Les Gets, Morzine and Avoriaz) and Switzerland have got together to offer their guests a totally new kind of holiday.

A boon for sustainable transport thanks to measures introduced to protect the climate that make car-free transport a possibility at least some of the time. 

[+] more info (in French only)

 

Stations Vertes

More than a certificate, this is a trademark recognised as THE French network of "nature-friendly destinations".

France's 590 Stations Vertes de Vacances are towns and villages in rural and mountainous areas that have signed a quality charter. To qualify, they have to feature a natural attraction and provide facilities and accommodation for tourists in unspoilt surroundings.

[+] more info (in French)

 

Best of the Alps

Twelve Alpine villages have got together to form Best of the Alps. Destinations popular for their natural structures, assimilation into their region and blend of traditions.

Chamonix Mont-Blanc and Megève are two of them.

[+] more info

 

Mobilalp

Giving tangible expression to the concept of sustainable mobility, Mobilalp is particularly active in the fields of the environment and transport planning. This scheme promotes green technology, public transport and "soft mobility".

[+] more info (in French only)

 

Environmental charter

The ANMSM (National Association of Mayors of Mountain Resorts) has worked in partnership with ADEME (the Agency for the Environment and Energy Management) and Mountain Riders to draw up a National Charter in favour of Sustainable Development In Mountain Resorts.
The charter, which lists some 120 undertakings in favour of sustainable development, is a major commitment and a clear call for change. Signatory resorts commit to a 10-year action plan.

[+] more info

 

Upadated October 2009