VF Green

Aware of the challenges of climate change and sustainability, the Verbier Festival, supported by a committee of staff members, strives to integrate sustainable measures to organise an event that is in tune with its time. The initiatives proposed by the committee are part of a dynamic process aimed at continuous improvement, particularly in terms of preserving the environment and raising awareness about climate change. They aim to demonstrate the importance of a global, coherent, and long-term approach, which takes into consideration the means and resources of the organisation.

steps taken to raise awareness:
encouraging sustainable forms of transport

Academy and Orchestra musicians (more than 300 people) are encouraged to travel to and from Verbier by train rather than by plane. To encourage this practice, every year, a prize is awarded to the person who takes the longest journey without using a plane. In Verbier, all of our teams are encouraged to walk, cycle or take public transport. The Festival provides bikes for some members of staff. To help everyone achieve this, the Verbier Festival has set up partnerships with mobility providers such as: BikesLab, RailAway, TMR, Téléverbier or the VIP Pass.

encouraging people to eat responsibly and locally

Every year a ‘green’ breakfast is organised for all the musicians, staff and volunteers at the Festival. Thanks to its success, two breakfasts will be organised this year. We encourage participants to buy local products and to try to reduce meat consumption. We do this by offering a wider variety of plant-based meals in our cantines, making sure that the products are local and still contain protein. We also consider the dietary restrictions of as many people as possible.
In 2025, the Verbier Festival is strengthening its local roots by entrusting catering services to a Valais-based partner. This decisive choice reflects a clear commitment to supporting the region’s economic players, promoting local products, and reducing the environmental impact of the event. By collaborating with a partner firmly rooted in the region, the Verbier Festival aims to offer a culinary experience that is more authentic, responsible, and fully aligned with its core values.

increasing awareness of the impact that our event has on its natural environment

The Verbier Festival teams volunteer their time upon arrival in Verbier to help plant flowers and vegetables in the École de la Comba Garden, which after the Festival are looked after by the school’s pupils. The Verbier Festival Forest is a preserved natural site that the Festival is committed to protecting and developing. Musicians will take part in a tree-planting workshop there this summer, and one of UNLTD’s popular Balade Musicales will lead to a concert there. Over the last six years the Festival has drastically reduced the number of plastic bottles distributed, and has instead installed water fountains backstage. The Festival aims to make recycling areas simple to use and visible and is continually looking at ways to reduce printed materials by encouraging the public to take only what is needed.

vf green committee

The Verbier Festival Commits to a More Sustainable Future.
Aware of its roots in the heart of the Swiss Alps, the Verbier Festival joined the Swisstainable sustainability programme in 2024 and was recognised at Level I – committed. This initiative reflects our desire to harmonise musical excellence with respect for our exceptional environment and encourages us to continue on our path of continuous improvement. Swisstainable brings together Swiss tourism stakeholders around a shared vision: that of long-term sustainable development. As an international festival deeply rooted in its region, we have already been committed for several years to integrating responsible practices into the organisation of our event, to closely monitoring our actions, and to raising awareness among our audience, artists, and partners about environmental issues. Today, we are striving for greater transparency in our practices and aiming for new goals.

With this in mind, we have decided to begin a CO₂ assessment process in 2025 in order to better understand our environmental footprint. This assessment will be based primarily on data collected during the 2025 edition of the Festival. We look forward to discovering the results, which will allow us to take concrete action where our impact is most significant. Our goal is clear: to improve our overall footprint year after year, and even reverse the trend where possible. Through a rigorous approach, targeted actions, and collective commitment, we aim to make the Verbier Festival a leading example of a cultural institution that is vibrant, mindful, and sustainable.