News /Crystal clear up on the Mer de Glace

THIS year marks the 10th edition of the Mer de Glace clean-up event in Chamonix. The event aims to raise awareness of the need to protect the Mer de Glace glacier environment as a whole.

Employees from the British Consulate in Marseille and Crystal Ski Holidays once again joined forces with the town of ChamonixMont Blanc, the French Alpine Club, Lafuma, as well as other mountain-based organisations, and a large number of volunteers to collect rubbish left by over 500,000 yearly visitors and waste from mountain installations which reappear decades later as the glacier ice melts.

This year, they were also joined by two Crystal Ski Holiday competition winners, who specialise in the geography of cold environments. To mark the anniversary, an eco-friendly village, exhibition and workshops were open to the public to raise awareness and share best practice.

Participants and locals were entertained at the Maison des Artistes by a group of musicians who also joined in on the rubbishcollection and awareness-raising hike on the glacier.

British Ambassador to France, Lord Ed Llewellyn, said: “I am delighted to see staff at our consulate in Marseille once again working closely with Crystal Ski Holidays and other partners, not forgetting the French authorities, to raise awareness of the importance of protecting our environment. This is another excellent example of continued collaboration and cooperation with our Voisins in France. “

Crystal Office Operations Manager France, Catherine Allen, said: “This is now the third year that Crystal has been involved in the clean-up as for us, sustainable tourism is fundamental. Over the last ten years, over 20 tonnes of waste was collected from the glacier including a truck tyre and a Swiss passport dated 1964 – certainly one of the more unusual finds.”