Environment and commitment to eco-responsibility, Les Saisies ski resort

A lasting commitment

A resort committed to the environment for many years

A ski area committed to strong action: the resort’sEnvironmental Observatory ( Video) has added a pastoral aspect to its specifications. A first in France! The Les Saisies ski area is criss-crossed by high mountain pastures, and in summer is home to the herds of over 20 farmers who produce the Beaufort PDO. The aim of this tool is to encourage exchanges with farmers and to take account of pastoral activity in development and management projects for the ski area and tourist activities in general (mountain biking, etc.) This section provides a detailed description of users, pastoral practices, existing facilities, areas at risk and potential improvements. There are 24 farmers in the Saisies ski area. This pastoral section was set up in partnership with the Société d’économie alpestre de la Savoie (SEA 73). This collaboration is “a step in the right direction”, explains Pierre Simon, a farmer and ski patroller at Les Saisies.
Sharing water resources is another of the resort’s concerns. Some farmers have access to the high altitude reservoirs to supply water for their herds in summer.
The use of HVO fuel for shuttle buses, snow groomers, vehicles and snow removal equipment, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of transport and grooming (greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 83% compared with diesel). Find out more
Eco-damage: optimisation tools for grooming machines (GPS and snow height measurement)
Eco-driving of snow groomers to optimise fuel consumption.
Practice eco-driving on ski lifts (reduce speed of cable cars in off-peak periods) to save energy.
Renovation of the ski area operator’s administration building (external insulation, new glazing, double-flow ventilation, etc.).
Douce chairlift: fatal recovery of the heat released by the cabinets/exchangers to heat the premises of a station.

– The Diamant Confort label, created by SAEM les Saisies Villages Tourisme and supported by the SIVOM, guarantees the quality of the destination’s accommodation by helping private owners with their renovation projects and labelling those that meet a variety of criteria, including a sustainable development component.

– Diversification, with a plethora of activities on offer in summer and winter, as well as a recognised drive to open up during the peak seasons (spring and autumn).

– The destination also has accommodation for seasonal staff working for the resort.

– In order to preserve the mountain, roads to the summits are closed to motorised vehicles during the summer months. Access is possible on foot, by electric shuttle or by taking a ski lift.

–Les Saisies – Beaufortain – Val d’Arly Regional Nature Reserve. A veritable nugget located on the Col des Saisies, this reserve covers an area of almost 300 hectares, which forms the basis of a large part of the Nordic ski area. It is the largest acidic peat bog in the entire Alpine arc, making it a unique natural heritage site of international importance.

– The launch of the lessaisies-express.comwebsite , a MAAS (Mobility As A Service) which offers discounts on ski passes to visitors who have chosen alternative mobility and makes it easier for them to find the itinerary available by soft mobility.

Discover Les Saisies-Express

Let’s respect the mountain pastures

The resort of Les Saisies has grown and developed at the center of an exceptional natural heritage. Between the alpine pastures of this beautiful cow mountain and its protected...

The Saisies peat bog

The Saisies peat bog is a protected natural area that is home to a specific and diverse flora and fauna. It is also a very popular hiking site, with several marked trails...

Our ambition is to offer a dynamic place to live all year round, serving the population (residents and visitors). Les Saisies and its villages (Hauteluce and Villard sur Doron) are committed to the protection and enhancement of their natural and cultural heritage, and have advanced in the decarbonisation of their activities and welcome tourism thanks to a diversified offer.

4 strategic areas have been identified to implement the area’s vision:

– Controlling urban development and land artificialisation

– Decarbonising activities by targeting mobility and energy renovation

– Diversification of activities

– Year-round local life and active citizen participation

Local commitments

Waste management
An area that is both exceptional and fragile
Les Saisies is set in an exceptional natural environment. Alpine pastures, the birthplace of Beaufort cheese, forests, wetlands – wherever you look, these landscapes are within easy reach. The wealth of natural environments is characterised by a remarkable diversity of flora and fauna.
Very early on, the local authorities became aware of the special nature of their environment and its fragility by taking numerous initiatives. Today, this mission continues, with the aim of reconciling the protection of the environment, human activities and raising public awareness by taking action to protect, manage and enhance natural areas.
Waste management is at the heart of these initiatives:
– Organisation of waste clean-up operations on the slopes and in the resort after the winter season (around 300 kg of waste collected in the resort every year)
– Pocket ashtrays donated by SPL Domaines Skiables des Saisies (available at ski pass sales points)
– Bag dispensers for dog faeces
– Priority given to local suppliers and eco-designed products at SAEM
– WASTE SORTING:
o Public platform of waste sorting containers throughout the area (sorting of household waste (grey container), packaging and paper (yellow container) and glass (green container). Sorting memo: arlysere.fr/nos-services/dechets/le-tri-mode-demploi/)
o Depots in the area(Beaufortain depot and Val d’Arly depot)
o Cardboard compactor for professionals in the Les Saisies area(Find out more)
o Resource centres (Ressourcerie du Beaufortain and Ressourcerie du Val d’Arly) which collect, recycle and resell second-hand objects at fair prices.
o Collection of used ski equipment at the end of the season at the region’s waste collection centres, with a view to recycling/reuse.

Local initiatives

Local initiatives to respect the environment

A number of retailers, accommodation providers and estate agents are actively involved in implementing environmentally-friendly solutions.

The list is not exhaustive, but we wanted to use this section to highlight their actions!

Name	Actions
Chalet Nantailly	Eco renovation of the chalet: natural, recycled and second-hand materials, design of a low-energy building Water and energy management: local, green electricity Raising customers’ awareness of ecology and sustainable development: courses, availability of local and natural products, etc. Human support for customers Development of partnerships with local people and off-season activities
Grand Mont agency	Donations to various associations Use of environmentally-friendly cleaning products Discounts for customers travelling to Les Saisies by train or electric vehicle Renovation work Staff car pooling, staff and customer awareness campaigns Green electricity
Le Patafan	Partnerships with numerous local producers and promotion of products on menus and in videos Cuisine based exclusively on short distribution channels and fresh produce
Refuge de la croix de pierre	Energy and water self-sufficiency in a high-altitude refuge: solar panels, solar water pumping system, rainwater recovery tank (management and limitation of water use). Limiting food waste: distribution to farm animals (chickens, pigs, dogs) Local and seasonal products
Hélène’s trails	A strong commitment to preserving the environment Raising customers’ awareness of the need to respect flora and fauna Activities close to nature and courses on the use of natural plants, etc. Extensive knowledge of flora Use of reusable cups and organic and natural products
The Refuge restaurant	Waste management: sorting of recyclable waste, recycling of unsold food, no use of individual bags Energy: insulation of the chalet, replacement of all light fittings with LEDs, little sign lighting Local and seasonal products
Chalet Mignod	Solar panels, building insulation Spring water management Waste sorting Selection of local products
RNR manager	Raising public awareness of biodiversity Protection and study of the Nature Reserve
Chozal Farm	Electric vehicle charging points Water saving: aerators on taps, dual flush toilets Use of eco-labelled cleaning products Energy management: sensors on the windows (cut off the heating when they are opened), Voltalis (cut off the heating and production of hot water when EDF consumption peaks) Waste: shower gel dispensers in bathrooms Composting Herb garden in summer

Les Saisies Nature Reserve

Located on the Col des Saisies, straddling the Beaufortain massif and the Arly valley, the Saisies – Beaufortain – Val d’Arly regional nature reserve covers an area of almost 300 ha. It is the largest acidic peat bog in the entire Alpine arc!

As well as being classified as a regional nature reserve, the Les Saisies peat bog is also the subject of other protection measures.

Since 1989, the area has been classified as an arrêté préfectoral de protection de biotope. The aim of this classification is to protect the living environment (the biotope) of key species, particularly plant species. To achieve this, the Prefect has adopted a set of rules detailing the activities that are prohibited or regulated in the area.

In August 2006, the peat bog became part of the European Natura 2000 network. It is because the Saisies peat bog is of ecological importance on a European scale that the site was included in this network. The Natura 2000 classification provides funding for actions that help to preserve biodiversity. Finally, the peat bog was granted Regional Nature Reserve status in 2013, giving the site’s managers greater financial and human resources.

Through environmentally-friendly management, the reserve is helping to protect this exceptional heritage while promoting harmonious cohabitation between human activities and nature.

Find out more

A resort with the Green Snowflake label

The Les Saisies area was awarded the Flocon Vert label on Friday 24 November 2023, the result of several months’ work by a group of players working in perfect coordination to serve the area:

– SIVOM des Saisies: a multi-purpose inter-municipal association comprising 3 communes (Hauteluce, Villard sur Doron and Crest-Voland). Its main remit is tourism development.

– The communes of Hauteluce and Villard sur Doron, responsible for their respective local areas,

– SAEM Les Saisies Villages Tourisme: a private company in charge of tourism management in the resort (Tourist Office, communications, tourist, sports and leisure facilities and infrastructure, such as the Le SIGNAL aquasport centre),

– SPL Domaines Skiables des Saisies: manages the downhill and cross-country ski areas, the winter footpaths and snowshoe trails, the intramural shuttle service, as well as related activities such as the bike park, Mountain Twister and Parc des Elfes.

The Flocon Vert label was created in 2011 by the Mountain Riders association, to help mountain resorts adopt a more eco-citizen approach. The label is awarded on the basis of compliance with criteria divided into 4 themes: local economy, social and cultural, governance and destination, environment and natural resources.

By obtaining the Flocon Vert label, Les Saisies will be able to draw up its roadmap, identifying its strengths and possible areas for improvement. It also helps to unite all the players in the area, actively integrating them into a destination-wide sustainable development strategy.

The process doesn’t stop once the label has been awarded – on the contrary, it’s only just begun! The region is committed to long-term action.

+ More information about this label

Faced with the current climate and societal challenges, we decided to roll up our sleeves and take action, using the Flocon Vert label as the basis for our roadmap.
From this assessment emerged the certainty that we are collectively committed.

A clear roadmap

An action plan has already been drawn up to take our commitment even further, with the leitmotiv of remaining true to our values (authenticity, conviviality, family spirit, respect for nature) while at the same time being innovative.

The first flagship action we have taken is to carry out our carbon footprint for the entire region, using the methodology set out by ADEME (the French Environment and Energy Management Agency) and the 3 Scopes. The carbon balance enables us to scientifically measure the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the main activities in the region. It has therefore given us a more in-depth understanding of our impact, enabling us to adjust our actions. The results are based on a skier’s day to measure the impact of tourist activity.

We also take into account the mobility of our customers as well as local workers and residents.

Would you like to know your carbon impact? impactco2.fr

Carbon footprint for Les Saisies, Villard sur Doron , Hauteluce

The other actions identified in our roadmap include, first and foremost, carrying out our own carbon assessment for the region as a whole, so that we have a more in-depth understanding of our impact and can adjust our actions accordingly.

We are also going to set up a charter of committed players to raise awareness, unite and promote the destination’s professional players (restaurateurs, accommodation providers, activity providers, etc.) who wish to adopt an ecological, sustainable and supportive approach.

We are going to encourage soft mobility by continually improving transport within the destination via the shuttle system, promoting our MAAS lessaisies-express to offer a facilitated door-to-door transport service from the customer’s home, including the last kilometre in Les Saisies.

We are going to step up the marketing of unmarketed tourist beds , whose impact on the region is mainly economic.

And other challenges to help us build the Les Saisies of tomorrow and look to the future with a smile.

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