A green relay, made up of small gestures, to help protect the planet. From 19-23 April, on Earth Day, The North Face launched the Clean Up Hike, which has activists, athletes and outdoor enthusiasts participating in a series of organized events across Europe. The goal of each stage is to collect and dispose of waste, but also to protect mountains, trails, and natural habitats from pollution. In the past year alone, The North Face, along with many community organizations, has helped clean up more than 4,500 kilometers of outdoor space. This year Austria, Germany, France, England and Italy are uniting for 5 days of organized excursions designed to help the environment by picking up one piece of rubbish at a time.
The first stop was the “XPLR Pass Clean-Up Hike” in Innsbruck with the super-trailer Ida-Sophie Hegemann, two-time winner of the Transalpine Run, who accompanied the participants along the trails of the Hungerburg. The relay pass next was Elsey Davis’ turn with the April 20 event “XPLR Pass Clean-Up Hike Cornwall”, the marathon runner and ultrarunner set a time at Watering Hole, to clean up Perranporth’s beach and sand dunes. Alongside The North Face on this occasion and on all the stages planned in England is Trash Free Trails, a non-profit organization that cleans up trails in the UK. More than 8 Earth Day dates have been set for April 22, including the first Italian date, the Champoluc date, in Valle d’Aosta organized by The North Face in collaboration with the Summit Foundation., a Swiss-based NGO that has been active in media campaigns and clean-up events for 20 years. Since 2001 the group has removed more than 160 tons of rubbish and on this occasion they will dedicate themselves to the tracks of the Monterosa Ski Area.
On the last day of the dual event initiative in Italy. The first is in Limone, Piedmont, in collaboration with the European Research Institute which developed the CleanAlp project, which aims to protect the habitat of the Alps. The second is the one in Dunas, still in Valle d’Aosta, and you will see Anna Boccini as your private guide for the trip, a member of The North Face explorer team, passionate about mountain sports from road running, to trekking, to skiing. The Clean Up Hike with Anna Boschini will include an area that is part of the Tor Des Geants track, one of the most famous and demanding mountain runs in the world. In particular, the areas to be cleaned are part of the third phase that runs from Cogne to Dunas. However, The North Face does not want the theme of sustainability to stop on Earth Day, but aims to take concrete actions throughout the year, starting with a commitment to reduce its environmental impact. From producing responsibly sourced recycled, renewable or renewable fabrics to integrating sustainability into business operations, from product conception to realization, from production to packaging. The brand will also continue to protect outdoor spaces, but the responsibility also carries over from simple, affordable actions, such as carrying a bag so you don’t leave or collecting waste if found along its path.
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