Alpin Arena Schnals launches pilot project for snow conservation using biodegradable geotextiles.

MINI TAKES CARE, the project for snow conservation using innovative geotextiles made from certified biodegradable cellulose fibers, has found a partner in the Alpin Arena Schnals for its first pilot project in Italy.

For years, the Alpin Arena Senales has been actively working to combat the glacier's retreat, investing considerable financial resources and significant personnel in its preservation. Every spring, approximately 300,000 m³ of artificial snow are produced and distributed across the glacier or stored in special depots. These snow reserves, along with around 9 hectares of the glacier's surface, are covered with geotextiles during the summer months to slow the melting process.

As part of the pilot project, a portion of the previously protected areas will now be covered with the innovative geotextiles from MINI TAKES CARE in order to test and evaluate their effectiveness under real-world conditions in high mountain regions.

The project addresses one of the central challenges facing alpine ecosystems: preserving snow and ice during the summer months. In doing so, it contributes to the protection of natural resources and the sustainable development of winter tourism. The geotextiles produced by Lenzing AG are made from TÜV AUSTRIA-certified fibers that are biodegradable and compostable. Thanks to their insulating properties and resistance to extreme weather conditions, they help reduce snow loss – with a significantly lower environmental impact than conventional fossil-based geotextiles.

During the testing phase, both the technical properties of the materials and their contribution to reducing microplastics in alpine ecosystems will be investigated. Furthermore, the use of renewable fibers enables a reduction in CO₂ emissions and water consumption during production.

A key feature of the project is its circular approach: After use, the geotextiles are collected and recycled to produce new fibers and yarns for new textile applications. Thanks to the collaboration with Marchi & Fildi and SAFE, an innovative model for the recycling and reuse of materials is being created.

With this project, MINI and the Alpin Arena Schnals demonstrate how innovation, collaboration and sustainability can together make a concrete contribution to the protection of alpine habitats and the future of winter tourism.

In the Val Senales, northwest of Merano, you can ski from autumn to late spring. This makes the Alpin Arena Senales a popular training ground for national ski teams preparing for the alpine skiing season. The Senales Glacier Cable Car departs directly from the village of Maso Corto and ascends steep rock faces to the Grawand - Croda delle Cornacchie top station at 3,212 metres.

• Altitude: 2,011 - 3,212 m a.s.l.

• Ski slopes: 27.4 km (5.6 km easy / 17 km medium / 5 km difficult)

• Snowmaking: 80% of the slopes

• Lift facilities: 11 lifts

• Toboggan runs: not available

• Cross-country ski tracks: 2 tracks (Lazaun track 3 km, Giogo Alto track 3 km)

Located here is the Hotel Grawand, the highest located hotel in Europe. A few seasons ago, the new cable car with 80-passenger cabins and cabrio modality was inaugurated.

Here, on the border between South Tyrol and Austria, nearly 30 kilometres of pistes await. The varied descents include the challenging Transhumanz valley run, the easy Hasen piste, and the perfectly groomed and snow-covered Lazaun run. The black-rated Leo Gurschler piste serves as a training run for slalom and giant slalom. At the practice lifts, you'll also find the children's area.

A popular attraction at the mountain station of the Senales Glacier Cable Car is the Iceman Oetzi Peak, a spectacular platform with views of the Oetztal Alps. The Lazaun and Giogo Alto cross-country ski trails round off the winter offerings. The ski resort is part of the Südtirol Skiarena.