Val Senales tests biodegradable geotextiles to preserve snow: pilot project “MINI TAKES CARE” gets underway

A new approach to snow preservation

In recent years, the technique of snow farming—that is, preserving snow from one season to the next using insulating covers—has become increasingly widespread in ski resorts and on glaciers used for training and early-season piste openings. 

However, the project launched in Val Senales introduces an important innovation: the use of geotextiles made from certified biodegradable cellulosic fibres, developed by the Austrian company Lenzing AG, replacing traditional fossil-based materials.

The goal: less snow loss and no microplastics

The trial will analyse several technical aspects of the new materials:

• thermal insulation capacity;
• reduction of snow loss over the summer;
• resistance to weather conditions;
• durability over time.

One particularly significant element concerns the environmental aspect: these geotextiles are designed to eliminate the release of microplastics into Alpine ecosystems, one of the main drawbacks of traditional synthetic covers.

Biodegradable materials and a lower environmental impact

According to the project promoters, the new geotextiles are certified as biodegradable in soil, freshwater and the marine environment, as well as being compostable both domestically and industrially.

Their production also requires less water and reduces CO₂ emissions through the use of renewable raw materials.

A project with a truly circular approach

One of the initiative’s most innovative aspects concerns the materials’ life cycle.

At the end of their use, the geotextiles will be recovered and recycled to be transformed back into fibres and yarns for other textile applications. The process will be carried out in collaboration with the Biella-based Marchi & Fildi group and the company SAFE, which is responsible for the traceable collection of the materials, thereby creating a fully circular recovery and reuse system.

Val Senales as a laboratory for sustainable tourism

The choice of Alpin Arena Senales is no coincidence. The South Tyrolean ski area is one of the symbols of Italian summer skiing and offers ideal conditions for assessing the effectiveness of these new solutions in the field.

Snow preservation is not only useful for extending the ski season; it also contributes to protecting mountain ecosystems, managing water resources and mitigating the effects of climate change in Alpine areas.