sustainability

In 2010, we equipped our Italian headquarters and production facility with a full-scale solar power system that supplies the vast majority of our energy needs. The installation produces more electricity than we consume annually, with surplus clean energy being fed back into the local grid. During the winter months, when sunlight hours are shorter, we source only certified hydropower from nearby providers to keep operations running on fully renewable energy.

This commitment is about more than reducing bills—it’s about decoupling our manufacturing from fossil fuels entirely. By choosing local, renewable sources, we cut down on greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining energy independence for our factory. Every ice axe and crampon leaving Grivel today is forged in a workshop powered by sunlight and mountain water.

The core of our products is steel, which is infinitely recyclable. But it’s not just the main material that matters—it’s the processes around it. Over the past decade, we’ve replaced many industrial chemicals traditionally used in metalwork with safer, water-based alternatives. Our paints are solvent-free, cutting the release of harmful volatile compounds into the air. Lubricants and oils used in forging and machining have been switched to vegetable-based or semi-vegetable fluids, dramatically lowering environmental toxicity.

We treat every offcut, filing, and discarded piece of material as a resource. Steel scraps go back into the supply cycle, plastics are collected and recycled, and we ensure no remnant waste leaves our facility unchecked. Even wastewater from production is captured and purified on-site to meet strict local standards before it returns to the river systems at the base of Mont Blanc.

Packaging is often overlooked in gear manufacturing, but for us it’s another lever to reduce impact. Since 2020, every roll of tape used in our packing stations is made from kraft paper, eliminating petroleum-based adhesive plastics entirely. Internal packaging has been redesigned around recyclable and compostable materials, replacing bubble wrap with PAPERplus Classic Grass—a local, renewable product made from recycled fibers and regional grass pulp.

We also prioritize reuse: pallets, boxes, and even some protective fillings make multiple trips before leaving our warehouse for good. It’s a quieter change than a new piece of gear, but every small adjustment reduces waste volume and lowers our carbon footprint in shipping.

Our sustainability efforts don’t stop at the factory door. We support ongoing projects focused on preserving alpine ecosystems, including the Save the Glacier campaign, which organizes annual clean-up efforts and educational outreach on Mont Blanc. We are also an active supporter of the UIAA’s environmental initiatives, advocating for responsible access, reduced waste, and sustainable climbing practices worldwide.

These partnerships are about taking responsibility not only for the tools we make but for the places they are used. As a mountain brand, we depend on healthy, thriving high-altitude environments. Supporting conservation and awareness projects is one of the most direct ways we can give back to the terrain that inspires everything we do.