Photographer kneels by the pond and photographs the sky, hut in the background
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Sustainability

"Thanks to its snow-secure altitude and diverse natural landscape, our guests enjoy a wide range of sports and adventure experiences at the Kitzsteinhorn all year round. To ensure this remains possible for generations to come, we will continue to act responsibly and conserve resources in this unique alpine environment."
— Thomas Maierhofer, CEO of the Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG


Triple ISO Certification
Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG holds triple ISO certification across all areas of the company – recognizing excellence in quality, environmental, and energy management (ISO 9001, 14001, and 50001). In addition to long-standing partnerships with the Hohe Tauern National Park, the Salzburg Institute for Ecology, and other renowned research institutions, the company’s sustainability strategy focuses on energy efficiency, environmental protection, and the use of renewable energy sources.
 

Measures

Electricity generation from renewable energy sources

  • WATER — The company’s own small-scale hydroelectric power plant Grubbach enables efficient year-round use of water and hydropower. In the summer, the turbines convert 300 liters of meltwater and rainwater per second into electricity. In the fall, the hydro plant functions as a pumping station, supplying water for snowmaking. With this combined hydro and pump station, Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG generates approximately 1.3 million kWh of electricity per year.
  • SUN — Large-scale photovoltaic systems installed on the roofs and façades of company-owned buildings produce around 350,000 kWh of electricity annually.
  • GEOTHERMAL HEAT — All company facilities and operational buildings are heated without fossil fuels. The Kaprun Center, Kitz Camp, and Team Camp use geothermal energy to generate approximately 300,000 kWh per year for building heating.
  • ENERGY RECOVERY — The company produces an additional 250,000 kWh of thermal energy per year through energy recovery from the drive motors of various systems.

In total, Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG generates about 2.2 million kWh of energy annually from renewable sources.

  • The company sources 100% of its electricity from renewable, carbon-neutral energy sources. Since January 2024, all electricity used for company operations has been supplied as certified green energy by VERBUND Energy4Business GmbH, directly from the Kaprun hydropower plants. This initiative creates major synergy benefits and supports the regional circular economy, including in the energy sector.

Reducing the carbon footprint (mobility)

  • In the 2022/23 winter season, all snow groomers on the Maiskogel family mountain were operated for the first time using fossil-free HVO100 fuel. This renewable diesel alternative is produced from natural waste products such as used cooking oils and fats and emits 90% less CO2 than conventional diesel. As a result, Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG was able to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 240 metric tons on the Maiskogel during that winter season. Due to the positive experience with HVO100, the company made the decision to convert all diesel-powered snow groomers and heavy machinery to HVO100 starting in the 2023/24 winter season — despite the higher cost. This measure makes a significant contribution to the company’s climate performance, resulting in an annual CO2 reduction of approximately 1,300 metric tons.
  • In 2022, the company expanded its visitor parking area at the MK Maiskogelbahn and installed ten EV charging stations, with infrastructure in place to expand to a total of 22 stations as needed. Together with the 3K K-onnection – the tricable gondola linking Maiskogel and Kitzsteinhorn, which began operation in 2019 – this initiative helps avoid up to 1.5 million kilometers of private car travel annually by eliminating the need to drive to and from the Kaprun valley head.
  • Many employees use company-owned electric minibuses to form carpools between home and work. These commutes are entirely CO2-free, as the minibuses are charged at the company’s EV charging stations, which are powered by certified renewable energy sources. This measure helps save approximately 28,000 kilograms of CO2 per year
  • Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG also makes significant financial contributions to regional public transportation in support of climate-friendly mobility. This includes:
    1) Free bus service on line 660 (Zell am See – Kaprun – Kitzsteinhorn) for anyone with a valid ski pass,
    2) free local transportation within Kaprun on lines 660, K, and D for all passengers – with or without ski pass or equipment – from late October through early May.
    The company also provides financial support to ensure that, from Christmas through mid-April, holders of a valid ski pass can use the ski buses between Niedernsill – Piesendorf – Maiskogel / Kitzsteinhorn and Fusch – Bruck – Maiskogel / Kitzsteinhorn, as well as the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn, free of charge.

Recultivation & revegetation

  • In 2008, the Salzburg Institute of Ecology (IfÖ) and Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG launched the project "Kitzsteinhorn 2015". The goal of this initiative is the sustainable revegetation and restoration of high-altitude areas on the Kitzsteinhorn. The project utilizes a seed-sod combination technique, in which existing turf vegetation and topsoil rich in fine particles are carefully preserved and reused. In addition, erosion-resistant geotextiles are applied to help restore natural, site-typical vegetation covers. In its 2019 annual report, the ecological construction supervision team from IfÖ concluded: “In total, more than ten hectares of unvegetated and partially eroded ski slope areas were rehabilitated and permanently revegetated.” Restoration and revegetation measures are ongoing. All construction projects are planned and executed in close cooperation with the ecological construction oversight team at IfÖ.

Cooperations

  • In 2012, Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG and the Hohe Tauern National Park signed a permanent cooperation agreement aimed at fostering long-term knowledge exchange and strong synergies. One key outcome of this partnership is the opportunity to offer guests guided info tours led by National Park rangers on the Kitzsteinhorn – both in summer and winter – to help raise awareness and promote environmental education.
  • In 2022, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) named Zell am See-Kaprun one of its "Best Tourism Villages". This distinction is awarded only to rural tourism destinations that serve as outstanding examples of natural and cultural heritage preservation, promote local values, products, and traditions, and demonstrate a clear commitment to sustainability. Recognized destinations must actively use tourism as a driver of rural development, as well as a source of employment and income – socially, economically, and environmentally.

Long-term research as a basis for sustainable planning

  • Since 2010, the non-profit, non-university research organization GEORESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, in cooperation with Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG, has operated the Open Air Lab Kitzsteinhorn. Project partners include the Technical University of Munich, the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, and the Munich Alpine Hazards and Mitigation Cluster. This open-air laboratory focuses on studying the impacts of climate change on high-alpine surface and subsurface processes, with core research areas in climate, glaciers, permafrost, and rock stability. “Our goal – and one of our greatest challenges – is to improve forecasts of future developments in both natural and human-influenced processes. These forecasts serve as a critical decision-making tool for sustainable strategies, planning, and projects.” GEORESEARCH

pro natura – pro ski Award

  • In 2011, the Kitzsteinhorn ski resort received the “pro natura – pro ski” award from the same-named foundation in the course of the XIth Alpine Convention. The evaluation considered the extent of environmentally responsible management, the company’s efforts to address climate change, the presence of a long-term environmental strategy, and the transparency of public reporting. Kitzsteinhorn stood out for its forward-looking concepts, concrete actions, clearly defined environmental responsibilities, and a strong commitment to transparency.

The online magazine Stories of Sustainability by Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG offers insights into how sustainability is practiced in everyday operations on the Kitzsteinhorn.

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