Tourism, constantly criticised for its negative impact, has often been synonymous with care-free pleasure and excess, usually at the cost of the planet. However, the coolest new hotspots are ethical and low impact, providing a refreshing break for both holiday-maker and the environment. White pod and Casa Camper are proving that sustainability doesn’t have to mean sacrifice, their intelligent approach to luxury travel is bringing them a wave of positive tourism.

Whitepod, located 1700m high in the Swiss Alps, is an award winning ecotourism concept created by local Sofia de Meyer. Inspired by ‘a desire to create a haven of beauty and tranquility’, Whitepod’s message to the world is: “being more ecological can be comfortable and hip!”

Focused on creating minimum impact on the local environment, the design-led Whitepod was established on strong ecological principles in 2004. Set in a stunning mountain range, with a private ski resort, the cutting-edge winter resort is ‘designed to be disassembled without trace’. The number of guests is strictly limited, to a maximum of 24 at the camp and 60 at the refuge. Every element has been carefully considered for ecological merit; from the furniture (made from recycled materials or sustainable local wood) to the water consumption (centralised bathrooms limit water consumption) and the use of local suppliers (local produce and expertise is sourced wherever possible).

“Getting the right authorisations to implement the camp has been, and in many ways still is, a challenge”, explains De Meyer (local building regulations are very strict and the pod design doesn't fit into any of the given categories). “We’ve had to spend a lot of time reviewing current regulations and changing the status of the land where we are located (to a campsite zone). It's in many ways ironic, given the eco nature of our concept.”

Positive tourism
Luxury and low impact don't usually go together, but Whitepod seems to have the perfect combination. “Luxury takes a different shape here; it's more to do with peace and simplicity”, says De Meyer). Whitepod aims for minimum impact on the environment and maximum impact on the people who stay. “I hope guests will realize that little steps can come naturally when they are part of a positive experience”, says De Meyer.

The long-term effect the experience has on the people that stay has always been a major consideration for De Meyer. “We aim to offer a positive experience of nature; simple but comfortable and memorable. It is all about being close to nature at all times, sometimes without even realising it. Relaxing in the pods, walking through a silent forest, watching the view as you are having a romantic supper by the chimney, enjoying traditional cuisine cooked with local ingredients.” Simple habits that are detrimental to the environment appear easily broken when alternatives are put into action; “Take lighting the woodstove for example (heating for the pods, fuelled by local sustainable wood)… when guests attend to it, it is part of an adventure and at the same time, it goes a long way to limiting the impact of the hotel operation. Or using a head torch as light, it is fun... and when they are back home, then perhaps they realise that there is no need to have all lights on all the time because one suffices.”

A few guests wrote to us once they were back home to say that they had happily adopted the "sport shower"... when they are at the camp, we encourage them to take a "sport shower" (switching off the water as they shampoo their hair). It was fantastic to hear that they took this practice back home, a little bit like a Whitepod souvenir!”

Ultimately, Whitepod is designed to present eco living as a positive experience. “So often, when we talk about ecology, we have negative/frightening visions (oil spills, landslides etc.)” Whilst demonstrating a natural setting can be more breathtaking than any manmade utopia, “Whitepod tries to talk about ecology in a more positive context, for example, admiring the sun rising from the comfort of the pod, walking in pristine snow when the smallest piece of litter looks out of place.” Sofia and her team also spend time talking with guests over teatime; interesting debates like the origin of our food (shoud we buy organic or local? what is better for the environment?), can skiing ever be green? “I really think that talking about these in a natural environment, after a day spent outdoors, reinforces the need for change.”

Future-proofing
Described as bringing eco-friendly principles to the ski world, Sofia spoke at a conference on global warming and the future of ski resorts in January 2007. “We try to use Whitepod as a platform to encourage ski resorts to develop alternative activities not so reliant on snow (and infrastructure).” Whitepod itself was created right from the start to be adaptable to less snowy winters that could be caused by climate change. “Most of our activities can be offered with less snow and we take a lot of time to talk with our guests on these issues.”

With its numerous initiatives and recommendation that guests should travel by train to reach the campsite, Whitepod already appears about as close to ‘carbon-neutral tourism’ as it’s possible to get, but there is a constant desire to lessen the snowboot print even further. In time, Sofia hopes to have the pods connected to solar power, with ensuite bathrooms featuring rainwater retention and natural heat pumps. Constantly pushing the boundaries has always been part of the mountaineering spirit, and Whitepod has given it an exciting new direction.

Camper, the Spanish shoe company, has diversified into the food and hospitality sector, impressing a new set of customers with its quirky and environmentally-aware approach. Called ‘Casa Camper’, the Barcelona-based hotel is “a diverse way to express the Camper brand”, and an attempt to convince us that responsible travel is not a complete oxymoron.

“Using a hotel, we aim to emulate the values and philosophy of the brand in a new format. More than a message, Casa Camper interprets many of our core values such as design, quality and comfort,”says Dalia Saliamonas, Camper Communications Director.

The luxury of simple pleasures
Low impact on the environment and maximum impact on guests is Camper’s aim on every level, and offering ethical luxury in simple forms appears to be their winning formula. “Our guests enjoy the simplicity and friendly nature of Casa Camper. They like the fact that there are systems that support recycling, as in the water recycling system, and the simple details of natural lighting, healthy and natural foods that are available to guests 24 hours a day. Often the simple things are in the end the most appreciated.”

Casa Camper uses simple pleasures to make sure that guests never feel ethics get in the way of a luxurious and vibrant experience. “As Casa Camper is backed with design as well, many guests clearly see that luxury can be interpreted in many ways. Personalised service, the care behind healthy eating, and a conscious environment are all ingredients to the simple pleasures in life.”

Following their own path
Despite the philosophy of ethical luxury, Casa Camper was not designed primarily as a template of sustainable consumerism for others to follow. “We have done what we felt was right as well as feasible. As Casa Camper is our first hotel, we really wanted to create a set of values that were in harmony with the brand. We think it is best that each act on his own accord and we do what we think is best for us. We have seen a few new hotels adapt certain policies started at Casa Camper and it is an honour that some of our ideas have gone beyond our own hotel.”

From shoes, to restaurants, to hotels, Casa Camper appears to be creating an entire lifestyle experience. Miguel Flux, head of business development at Camper told Treehugger.com, “We didn’t want to diversify in the usual way. While I am sure we could successfully put the Camper name on watches or sunglasses, we wanted to do something our customers and we would appreciate as useful. Food and shelter, like shoes, are a basic need.”

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