HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc Commits To a 20% Reduction in Carbon Emissions by 2030 and Unveils an Ambitious Plan to Promote Sustainable Mobility

June 11, 2025

• Commitment to cut HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc’s carbon emissions by 20% by 2030, based on the event’s 2024 carbon footprint
• Focus on transport: 30% lottery bonus for runners choosing recommended lowest carbon travel options
• Launched UTMB GO – a dedicated platform to support sustainable travel to the event
• Further details to be released in the autumn

Chamonix (June 11, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc is taking a major step forward in its efforts to reduce its environmental impact and protect the Mont-Blanc region. The event has pledged to cut its carbon emissions by 20% by 2030, using its 2024 carbon footprint as a baseline, and is rolling out practical and incentive-based measures to help reach this collective, ambitious goal.

CUTTING EMISSIONS BY 20% BY 2030: A BOLD AND NECESSARY COMMITMENT TO PROTECT THE REGION

20 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO REDUCING IMPACT

• 2004: Launch of an event-wide transport plan
• 2006: Creation of the Environmental Commission with Les Amis de l’UTMB Mont-Blanc
• 2007: Elimination of plastic cups
• 2017: Signing of the Charter of 15 Eco-Responsible Commitments
• 2018: Introduction of the Bring Your Own Utensils initiative (BYOU)
• 2022: Aid Stations eliminate single-use plastic bottles
• 2024:
  • Carpool scheme launched with Dacia for the event’s organising teams
  • Launch of a voluntary carbon contribution programme
  • Strengthened partnerships with Lyria and Alpy Transfers
• 2025: Launch of UTMB GO – a platform to help runners identify the most efficient travel routes (time x carbon)
• 2026: New transport measures to be announced in 2025 and implemented in 2026

A flagship event on the UTMB World Series calendar and a proving ground for innovation, HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc has placed sustainability at the heart of its mission since day one. Today, the event sets a new standard with its goal to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2030 with a strategy inspired by the Paris Agreement.

To meet this objective, HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc is implementing a 4-pillar plan, developed in collaboration with Protect Our Winters (POW) and the Pro Trail Runners Association (PTRA): commit, measure, reduce and offset.

COMMIT: In keeping with the event’s inherently collective spirit, all stake-holders will be called upon to commit to its impact and respecting the environment

MEASURE: The event’s carbon footprint will be measured and published annually,The 2024 carbon audit conducted by Utopies consultancy provides a solid foundation for continued progress. It revealed that approximately 88% of the event’s total emissions are generated by – with 86% of those emissions linked to travel to and from the event. In 2026, the HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc will focus its efforts on the single most significant area for improvement: transport. The aim is to encourage everyone – regardless of where they are travelling from, to choose the lowest-carbon travel options, recognising that every individual has a role to play.

• With 79% of runners coming from Europe, efforts will focus on reducing short-haul flights and promoting travel by train of bus.
• For the 20% of runners arriving from outside Europe, the priority is to encourage them to use lowest-carbon transport options such as trains and buses once on the continent.

“As witnesses to climate change, we’re taking action to protect the environment that we cherish. Given the overwhelming impact of transport in our carbon footprint, collective action is essential to achieving results. As organisers of an international event, we have a duty to provide real, practical and motivating solutions that support more sustainable travel habits no matter where people are coming from. We want each person to understand the impact of their travel choices and feel empowered to reduce it,” said Isabelle Viseux-Poletti, UTMB France Events Director.

REDUCE AND OFFSET: STRONG MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

The HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc remains committed to reducing its own emissions. To encourage stakeholders to do the same, it has introduced a range of practical and incentive-based measures.

1. A 30% lottery boost from 2026 to reward low-carbon travel

The organisation aims to turn its commitment to sustainable mobility into a tangible benefit for runners. From the 2026 edition, a dedicated tool will recommend the most carbon-efficient travel route for each runner based on their location. Those who follow the suggested route will receive a 30% bonus in the lottery draw for races requiring entry by selection (UTMB, CCC, OCC, ETC).

The system will account for the unique travel realities in each country, ensuring a fair and equitable approach for all participants regardless of where they live.

With this unprecedented initiative, UTMB Group aims to spark true collective momentum: every runner who opts for a cleaner travel option contributes to a shared support of nature, a reflection of trail running’s core values of environmental respect.

1. Enabling low-carbon travel today

To support low-emission travel and reduce reliance on private cars at the event, the organisation is making a significant investment in transport services for local, European, and international participants. As a key priority, these initiatives will account for approximately €600,000 in 2025, the event’s largest single area of expenditure.

• UTMB Mobility has been running for over a decade, with 15 lines serving 28 stops and around 120 buses in operation during the event week – including 100 on the busiest day. In 2024, the initiative saw an investment of €500,000 and prevented the equivalent of over 6,000 cars on the road.
• Private cars are banned from over 80% of key course locations, which are accessible exclusively via UTMB Mobility shuttles. This measure protects the serenity of natural sites, avoids congestion, and ensures smooth access for participants and spectators.
• UTMB GO launched in 2025, will help runners plan their journey to the Mont-Blanc Valley and manage local travel with the lowest possible carbon impact – all without needing a car.
• Exclusive discounts in partnership with TGV Lyria and Alpy Transfers will encourage rail travel on the Paris–Geneva route and offer competitively priced shuttle transfers to the Mont-Blanc Valley.

1. Shared responsibility: all stakeholders will contribute

Despite all mitigation efforts, some emissions remain unavoidable. That’s why, since 2025, HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc has launched a carbon contribution scheme to support emissions reduction and carbon sequestration projects. In 2025, nearly €25,000 — including €8,000 from runners — was contributed through voluntary donations and support from the organisation, enabling EcoAct to support two agricultural transition projects in Haute-Savoie, France, and one in Brazil.

In 2026, the organisation will offset emissions linked to event operations, as well as in travel by volunteers, guests and suppliers. All runners taking part in the HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc races, along with event partners, will also be required to contribute according to their individual carbon footprints.

All funds from this carbon contribution will be allocated to an independent certified organisation responsible for overseeing the implementation of environmental initiatives including as agricultural transition projects.

A RESPONSIBLE APPROACH TO TRAVEL: OPEN TO THE WORLD WHILE RESPECTING NATURE – TRUE TO THE SPIRIT OF TRAIL RUNNING

Since 2003, UTMB Group has sought to organise events that unite people and connect them with nature. It remains convinced of the power of sport and human connection. But this mission now requires a fundamental shift in how we travel. To continue running together, we must travel more responsibly: more locally, more consciously, and with lower impact.

The HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc travel policy reflects the wider philosophy of the UTMB World Series, which now includes 52 events around the world – helping runners experience the UTMB adventure closer to home. Today, 91% of runners participate in events on their home continent.

As a pilot initiative, HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc reaffirms its ambition to be a model for sustainable sporting events. By combining sporting excellence with environmental leadership, the event aims to ensure the adventure that began more than 20 years ago continues for generations to come, in harmony with the Mont-Blanc region and its people.

“In our valley — a sensitive and fragile area — sustainable mobility is not an option, but a necessity,” says Éric Fournier, Mayor of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. “We must strike a balance between maintaining our region’s appeal and preserving our environment. That’s why we support initiatives like those led by the organizers of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. Since its inception, the event has been developed in close collaboration with the local communities it passes through, to better address local sustainability challenges. The organizers have been attentive to the local concerns around sustainable mobility. We must continue to work together to protect our mountain environment and ensure the long-term future of an event that reaches far beyond our valley.”

“By encouraging a reduction in the number of cars in the Mont-Blanc Valley and raising awareness of the environmental impact of travel, UTMB Group is reinforcing its commitment to protecting our environment and the quality of life for local residents,” says Alberto Motta, Councilor for Urban Planning at the Courmayeur Mont-Blanc Town Hall. “This is a key focus for us in Courmayeur, and I’m pleased that together we are succeeding in proposing innovative and meaningful solutions.”

“Cross-border travel between France, Italy, and Switzerland is essential to the smooth running of the HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc,” says Joachim Rausis, President of Orsières. “The travel policy put forward by the event addresses two key challenges: improving access flow and reducing the carbon impact of transportation across the Mont-Blanc massif. At a time when Valais is being severely affected by the consequences of climate change, this commitment is more necessary than ever. It enhances the experience for everyone while reinforcing our shared responsibility in the face of the climate emergency.”