UTMB: The Travel Policy, a systemic response to the carbon footprint of mobility
The major trail running event sector faces a major environmental challenge: the carbon footprint generated by participant travel. The UTMB Group offers a structural response to this challenge through its Travel Policy, a system that combines behavioral incentives, mandatory contributions, and the deployment of concrete logistical solutions. This ambitious and replicable approach has been recognized as a nominee in the Environmental Initiative of the Year category at the Trail Running Awards.
Mobility at the heart of the carbon footprint
The initiative is based on a clear analysis: the majority of the carbon impact of an international event such as the UTMB comes from the travel of runners, partners, and teams.
The Travel Policy was developed to tackle this challenge head-on by acting on four fundamental levers, in close collaboration with Protect Our Winters (POW) and local communities.
The four pillars of policy:
Data collection: Each participant declares their mode of transportation and place of residence, enabling an accurate calculation of the carbon footprint of each journey.
Behavioral incentives: Runners who choose the lowest-carbon routes, based on the available options, receive a significant bonus in the registration lottery.
Carbon contribution: All stakeholders (runners, partners, organizers) contribute financially in proportion to their emissions, with the funds being reinvested in carbon capture or avoidance projects through a certified organization.
Concrete logistical support: Deployment of active solutions to facilitate change in habits.
Innovation: Incentives, transparency, and collective commitment
The Travel Policy stands out thanks to its combination of technical rigor and behavioral innovation.
A unique incentive model
The bonus system is an innovative feature in trail running at this level of organization. By linking the choice of transportation to an increased chance of registration (via the lottery), the UTMB is using its main lever of attractiveness to actively encourage more sustainable practices.
Logistics solutions deployed
This financial commitment translates into significant investments in sustainable mobility: the introduction of numerous UTMB Mobility bus routes, and the establishment of partnerships with rail (TGV Lyria) and regional bus (Alpybus) operators to offer competitive fares. In addition, the UTMB GO platform (developed with You.Smart.Thing) offers a decision-making tool to plan the lowest-emission journeys.
Transparency and reproducibility
The initiative is supported by a partnership with the NGO Protect Our Winters (POW) to ensure that every decision is ethically and technically justified. The UTMB is committed to total transparency with the annual publication of carbon results and quantified reduction targets. This model, designed to be scalable and replicable by other international events, is intended as a tool for the entire industry.
Impact and institutional validation
The initial results of the Travel Policy show concrete effectiveness, with several thousand cars avoided during the previous edition. The plan is accompanied by a commitment to reduce emissions in the coming years and significant annual investments in sustainable mobility.
This initiative has the institutional support of the Mont Blanc communities, including the municipality of Chamonix. The Mayor of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Éric Fournier, emphasizes that sustainable mobility is a "necessity" for the valley and that the event "must continue this work together to protect our mountain environment." This collaboration with local authorities and athletes (via the PTRA) confirms the collective approach and relevance of the initiative.
By tackling head-on the main environmental challenge facing outdoor sports, the UTMB Travel Policy stands out as a model for environmental policy applied on an international scale.
