Switzerland Is Covering Glaciers With White Geotextile Blankets to Reflect Sunlight and Reduce Summer Melting; Technique Cuts Losses By 50% to 70% but Raises Concerns About Microplastics and Cost

Written by Noel Budeguer

Published on 13/01/2026 at 21:31

Updated on 13/01/2026 at 21:32

A estratégia usa lonas brancas para refletir o sol, preservar gelo em pontos específicos e manter atividades econômicas ligadas à neve nos Alpes.

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Switzerland has started covering parts of its mountains with huge white blankets to try to slow down the melting of glaciers in the summer. In the Alps, white no longer comes only from snow but also from the geotextile material applied over the ice.

At the Rhone Glacier, one of the oldest and most visited in Europe, the measure has become an annual routine and changed the landscape. The idea is to protect strategic sections, even with the accelerated loss of volume in surrounding areas.

What Has Changed at the Rhone Glacier with the White Covers

The covering creates a visible contrast between the protected ice and the rest of the glacier. While the covered area remains more preserved, exposed regions continue to melt rapidly during the warmer months.

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How the Albedo Effect Helps to Hold the Ice in Heat

The strategy relies on the albedo effect, which defines how much a surface reflects sunlight. When the ice darkens due to dust and pollution, it absorbs more heat and melts faster.

The covers act as a shield, blocking direct radiation and reflecting some light. As a result, the melting of snow and ice beneath the cover decreases by 50% to 70%.

What Are the Geotextiles Used in the Alps

The blankets are made with polyester and polypropylene fibers, designed to withstand UV radiation and extreme weather. They allow the passage of some moisture but reduce direct heating on the ice.

In practice, the cover helps maintain a lower temperature in the covered area. The result is localized preservation, without preventing the total loss of the glacier.

Why the Operation Is Expensive and Requires Manual Labor

Installation takes place in the spring when teams ascend to the highest areas to unroll and adjust the covers. After that, they are sewn and secured with sandbags and stones to withstand storms and strong winds.

In the fall, the material needs to be removed before winter snow. If it freezes with the ice, it can be damaged and increase costs even further.

How Much It Costs and Why the Focus Is on Tourism and Ski Slopes

The cost ranges between $60,000 and $85,000 per hectare per year, which limits application in large areas. Therefore, the measure focuses on commercial points, such as ski slopes and tourist areas.

One of the protected locations is the ice cave of the Rhone Glacier, which generates income for the region. The blanket helps keep this attraction active longer.

Microplastics and Scale Limit Increase Criticism

With wear, the covers may release fibers that become microplastics, affecting the ice and following with the meltwater to rivers and alpine ecosystems. This raises questions about the environmental impact of the solution.

Furthermore, Switzerland has about 1,400 glaciers, and covering all of them would be unfeasible. In the past two years, Swiss glaciers have lost 10% of their total volume, showing that the technique protects only small areas while the larger problem continues to advance.

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Switzerland Is Covering Glaciers With White Geotextile Blankets to Reflect Sunlight and Reduce Summer Melting; Technique Cuts Losses By 50% to 70% but Raises Concerns About Microplastics and Cost

What Has Changed at the Rhone Glacier with the White Covers

How the Albedo Effect Helps to Hold the Ice in Heat

What Are the Geotextiles Used in the Alps

Why the Operation Is Expensive and Requires Manual Labor

How Much It Costs and Why the Focus Is on Tourism and Ski Slopes

Microplastics and Scale Limit Increase Criticism

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Switzerland Is Covering Glaciers With White Geotextile Blankets to Reflect Sunlight and Reduce Summer Melting; Technique Cuts Losses By 50% to 70% but Raises Concerns About Microplastics and Cost

The Strategy Uses White Covers to Reflect the Sun, Preserve Ice in Specific Areas, and Maintain Economic Activities Related to Snow in the Alps.

What Has Changed at the Rhone Glacier with the White Covers

How the Albedo Effect Helps to Hold the Ice in Heat

What Are the Geotextiles Used in the Alps

Why the Operation Is Expensive and Requires Manual Labor

How Much It Costs and Why the Focus Is on Tourism and Ski Slopes

Microplastics and Scale Limit Increase Criticism

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