A panoramic view of Mont Blanc and the surrounding snow-capped mountains from Flaine, under a clear, bright blue sky.
Home A more sustainable mountain

Sustainable mountains

A mountain resort

where nature meets innovation

for a sustainable future

An iconic ski resort nestling in the heart of the Haute-Savoie region, Flaine is so much more than just a ski area. Since its very beginnings, the resort has been committed to a sustainable development approach, ensuring the protection of its unique natural environment whilst offering exceptional experiences to its visitors. Discover how Flaine seamlessly combines tourism and ecology all year round.

Creation of the resort

Founded in 1968 by Éric and Sylvie Boissonnas and designed by architect Marcel Breuer, Flaine was created to be an innovative, environmentally friendly resort. With concrete buildings that blend into the Alpine landscape, Breuer’s modern, functional architecture was designed to minimise the visual impact on its natural surroundings. Flaine was one of the first resorts to ban cars from its centre, in favour of greener transport options.

Heritage
Photo of Eric and Sylvie Boissonnas, founders of the Flaine ski resort, posing together to celebrate their contribution to the development of this alpine resort.

Flaine became somewhat of a laboratory, as the first French resort to be equipped with artificial snowmaking facilities, as well as the most powerful (of its time) eco-friendly 3-turbine boilers, burying electric cables underground to create a more natural landscape for holidaymakers, and building the Grandes Platières cable car’s base station at ground level, which was a major technological achievement.

Committed to the environment

A car-free resort, shuttle-bus transport, lift access between Flaine Forum-Flaine Forêt, electric car charging points, an environmental observatory… Flaine has been a pilot resort for many sustainable development and ecology projects, and 50 years after its creation, it is still introducing innovative environmentally friendly measures. This innovative mountain resort is committed to protecting its natural heritage through several environmental and social initiatives:

  • Electric car charging points: available at the entrance to Flaine Forum and in the P3 car park above Flaine Forêt.
Aerial view of the resort of Flaine in summer, with its modern buildings set against a natural backdrop of mountains and lush green forests.
  • Protection of natural areas: Concrete actions are carried out to protect the local biodiversity, including reforestation projects and the preservation of wetlands.
    During the winter season, Flaine organises eco-friendly activities, such as “nature events”, that encourage visitors to make the most of the snow whilst respecting the environment. The ski area is maintained sustainably, with minimal use of snow cannons, and optimised management of water resources. The ski runs are designed to limit erosion and protect the local wildlife.
  • In summer, Flaine is a true paradise for nature lovers. The resort offers many eco-responsible activities such as hiking, mountain biking and climbing to discover the Alps’ natural beauty without harming the environment. Marked footpaths and protected zones help to minimise the impact of hikers on the local eco-systems.
  • Environmental observatory: in 2007, Flaine ski area set up an environmental observatory, which has now been extended to the whole of the Grand Massif.
    The observatory’s aim is to protect and respect our exceptional natural heritage. It now extends over 4,219 hectares and 5 municipalities and is a snapshot of our environment: landscape, flora, fauna, agriculture, water, and geology.
    This snapshot allows us to monitor its development in a factual way, to find solutions to protect or restore land and at-risk zones listed by our observatory.
  • Goals for 2030: The Grand Massif ski area (GMDS) is determined to be exemplary when putting in place action plans with the authorities, respecting regulations, and being forward-thinking in its development projects. The work carried out is based on three levels: observing, understanding, and acting.
flaine-modif-schema-gmds-complet

1-Net zero carbon

  • One step closer to zero carbon thanks to HV0 fuel.
    Piste grooming is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions for the Grand Massif ski area, with almost 80% of its carbon footprint coming from the use of fossil fuel. Reducing energy use and no longer using fossil fuel for piste grooming is vital.
    Following trials carried out by the Compagnie des Alpes, the Grand Massif ski area decided to use only HVO100 (hydrotreated vegetable oil) to operate its grooming vehicles from winter 2022-2023.

 

Red groomer preparing the snow-covered ski slopes of Flaine at sunset, with a mountainous landscape in the background.
  • Reforestation of local forests
    Le Grand Massif is committed to reducing its CO2 emissions and has funded the reforestation of areas of private forest affected by the 2019 storm, which impacted more than 180 hectares of forest. Some of these drives will be awarded the “Low Carbon” French government benchmark used to certify the contribution made by companies and local authorities to CO2 sequestration projects in forests. The aim is to encourage silvicultural itineraries that go beyond conventional ones, enabling additional carbon to be captured. These actions form part of the action plan to offset residual carbon emissions.

2-Positive biodiversity

  • Flaine: A management plan for our natural areas
    Grand Massif ski area is taking this approach one step further by implementing a management plan for the natural habitats on the land it owns (not only forests), with the aim of preserving and enhancing biodiversity, as well as welcoming visitors.
    The document was produced in 2023 in partnership with the Conservatory of Natural Areas in Haute-Savoie and the «Gestionnaires Forestiers des Alpes» forestry management, to be implemented in 2024.
    The data from the Environmental Observatory will be used to produce the management plan.
Aerial view of a forest path surrounded by spruce trees in the mountain resort of Flaine in summer.
  • Revegetation of work sites
    Grand Massif ski area is also committed to improving its seed mixes, selected particularly with agriculture in mind, and to be as close as possible to naturally occurring seeds. A specific mix of seeds adapted to the natural setting was sown over 5 hectares at Tête des Saix.
  • Restoration of wetlands
    All Grand Massif ski area’s projects are part of an ARC (avoid, reduce, compensate) approach. When planning a project, the impacts to avoid and reduce are first considered, followed by how to compensate for them.
    It involves restoring the water supply to these settings by replacing the draining ditches with reversible drains, which are clogged in spring and summer, allowing water to overflow into the wetlands! In winter, the drains are cleared,restoring the drainage so as not to impact the snow management: this is a great example of striking a balance between protecting resources and operating the ski area.
  • Protection of the Black Grouse and Willow Ptarmigan wintering areasAware that winter activities can threaten these species, Le Grand Massif is committed to protecting the areas essential to their life cycle. The sharing of natural areas between skiers and the wildlife that lives there is a priority.
    For several years now, quiet areas have been marked out at the start of winter and identified by bird flags and signs in the Combe de Vernant. Since winter 2022-2023, new quiet areas have been marked out on Flaine’s ski area and highlighted on the piste map.

3-Zero waste

Recycling initiatives are in place throughout the resort to reduce waste. Flaine also encourages recycling and the reduction of waste at source.

  • “0 waste bins on the ski area”
    The Grand Massif provides pocket ashtrays at awareness-raising events and at ski lift sales desks. 1 cigarette butt in the ashtray equals 500 litres of water saved.
    Since 2022, all waste bins on the ski area have been removed. Please keep and sort your rubbish in resort, where waste bins are available.
Late summer wetland landscape with the Flaine mountains in the background, photographed from Les Grands Vans.
  • Recycling ski lift liners
    A partnership between the Compagnie Des Alpes and the IDM company enabled the Grand Massif ski area to recycle 2,400 kg of used liners in 2022, saving 16.8 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
    The liners are the plastic parts of the ski lift rollers found on the pylons.
    The collection process set up by IDM as part of the Ecovertis project makes it possible to collect the used plastic, pool resources and recycle the material to give it a new life as flooring.
  • Flaine’s company canteen composts its bio-waste
    Food waste from the snack bar is now recycled in a composter.
    Provided by La bulle D’Oxygène company, the composter can be moved around and is hermetically sealed (rodent-proof and odourless). It works by adding only dry matter and can compost up to 10 tonnes of bio-waste each year.
    It will reduce the amount of mixed waste, therefore indirectly reducing the number of trucks needed to collect and process it. In the long run, this means less CO2 will be emitted into the atmosphere!

Flaine is the perfect example of a sustainable mountain resort, where respect for the environment is at the heart of every initiative. Both in winter and in summer the resort strives to minimize its ecological footprint whilst offering unforgettable experiences to holidaymakers. Choosing Flaine is choosing responsible tourism and helping to protect our precious planet.