HOKA Val d’Aran by UTMB® takes another step forward in sustainability and offsets the carbon footprint of its 2025 edition

• The event strengthens its environmental commitment through the purchase of 471 GHG credits.

• The initiative supports social projects in Catalonia linked to emissions reduction.

• HOKA Val d’Aran by UTMB® becomes the first trail running event in Spain to offset its carbon emissions through the purchase of GHG credits.

As a pioneering and benchmark event in Spanish trail running, HOKA Val d’Aran by UTMB® is reinforcing its environmental commitment by offsetting the emissions generated during its 2025 edition through the Voluntary Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Offset Programme of the Government of Catalonia.

Through UTMB IBERIA, the organisation has purchased and retired 471 GHG credits, as certified by the Catalan Office for Climate Change, enabling the event to neutralise the impact of the CO₂ emissions generated. This initiative has been financed mainly through UTMB’s own funds, complemented by voluntary contributions from many runners.

The funds are allocated to local social projects that verifiably reduce emissions while generating a positive impact within the region. These projects are part of a public programme that connects climate action with social initiatives, allowing organisations to offset emissions that cannot be avoided. At the same time, the event continues to implement concrete measures to reduce its carbon footprint. This commitment is built around two pillars: reducing the operational footprint of the event and supporting projects with high environmental value. Since 2023, a collective mobility plan has been promoted in Val d’Aran, which in 2025 significantly reduced emissions associated with the event: 20 buses in operation, up to 2,400 fewer cars on the roads, 8,800 people transported, and 5.1 tonnes of CO₂ avoided. Looking ahead to 2026, these measures will be further strengthened by limiting private vehicle use even more and prioritising collective transport as a key element in protecting the environment.

“For us, offsetting emissions is not only an environmental action, but also an opportunity to generate a positive impact within the region,” says Xavier Pocino, CEO of UTMB Iberia. “Through this programme, we ensure that our emissions are transformed into direct support for meaningful projects.”

Pocino also highlighted the role of the event community: “We especially want to thank our runners, whose involvement makes it possible to move towards increasingly responsible events with a real impact, especially those who made a voluntary contribution to offset their carbon footprint.”

The programme is led by the Government of Catalonia through the Catalan Office for Climate Change and promotes emissions reductions through projects developed by social organisations, whose reductions are verified before being converted into offset credits. With this step, the event further strengthens its commitment to more responsible trail running, combining sporting performance, respect for the environment, and social commitment.