Environmental and Sustainability Policy
North Tides ehf.
1.Introduction
Wilderness and outdoor guiding depend entirely on the integrity and beauty of the natural environment. As a company operating in the unique and sensitive landscapes of southeast Iceland, we recognize that environmental responsibility is not just a value—it’s a necessity. Our approach to guiding is shaped by a commitment to minimize impact, respect the land, and create meaningful experiences for our guests.
Being based in Höfn, just a short distance from the glacier areas we explore, allows us to reduce travel-related emissions and stay closely connected to the landscapes we work in. We operate human-powered adventures in small groups, which not only enhances safety and guest experience but also reduces environmental pressure and allows for more thoughtful, low-impact travel.
This document outlines the values that guide our approach and the practical steps we take to minimize our impact. At the heart of our commitment is the belief that meaningful experiences in nature—when shared with care and insight—can inspire lasting awareness. By educating our guests in the field, we aim to spread knowledge far beyond Iceland’s borders and contribute to a broader culture of environmental stewardship.
2.Leave No Trace (LNT)
Protecting Iceland’s fragile nature through conscious travel.
Leave No Trace is the foundation of our environmental practice. With increasing tourism and changing climate conditions, preserving these places demands conscious effort and daily discipline. Our operations are built around minimizing human impact, and our guides actively communicate this responsibility to every guest.
2.1 Take Only Photographs
We apply the motto "take only photographs" on every tour. Our guests are encouraged to fully engage with the landscape—visually, emotionally, and through shared stories—but never physically alter it. Elements belonging to the landscape and are part of a delicate system that should remain undisturbed.
Equally, we make sure to leave no sign of our presence behind. This means no stacking stones or scratching initials. By choosing to simply observe and appreciate, we aim to preserve the raw, wild feel of the glacier environment for everyone—now and in the future.
2.2 Strict Waste Management
We carry out everything we bring with us, including all food packaging, tissues, and other rubbish, including biodegradable waste.
Meeting points are chosen to ensure the availability of restroom facilities, and guests are encouraged to use them before departure. If there are no toilet facilities along the route, our guides carry waste bags for human waste. This keeps the landscape clean and prevents contamination of waterways and surrounding terrain.
All waste is sorted and recycled or disposed at the tour’s end point, if facilities exist, or at our base in Höfn.
2.3 Respect for Fragile Terrain
We take care to avoid stepping on fragile vegetation and stick to durable surfaces like rock, snow, and ice wherever possible. On access trails, we follow established paths.
On the glacier, our guides plan routes that minimize physical impact. We avoid chipping or altering glacial features unless absolutely necessary for safety. Temporary ropes and anchors are used instead of fixed lines whenever possible, and large steps or cuttings are only made when there’s a clear safety need.
Our goal is to move through the landscape with as little trace as possible, keeping the terrain in the condition we found it.
2.4 Minimizing Noise and Light Pollution
We keep group noise to a minimum, especially in quiet, natural areas. This helps preserve the peacefulness of the environment for wildlife and for other visitors.
We use headlamps and other artificial light only when needed, and with care. Any use of drones is avoided unless explicitly permitted and does not disturb others.
Our small group sizes and flexible scheduling allow us to avoid peak hours and crowded areas, which helps maintain the feeling of solitude and reduces the overall pressure on the sites we visit.
3. Education and Awareness
We believe that caring for the environment starts with understanding it. All our guides are trained in best environmental practices and provide guests with clear briefings before each tour, helping everyone minimize their impact from the very beginning. Our environmental policy is also available on our website for guests to review before booking, promoting transparency and shared commitment.
As a small company with small groups, we foster a relaxed and intimate atmosphere that naturally encourages conversation and connection with the environment. Education during the tour happens through informal discussions rather than formal lectures. By sharing stories and answering questions in an engaging way, we help guests develop a personal appreciation for the fragile landscapes they visit—an experience we believe is more impactful and lasting than simply presenting facts.
Our hope is that this connection inspires guests to adopt more thoughtful behaviors during their trip and to carry that awareness with them long after they return home.
4. Durable Business Practices
At North Tides, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact through practical and responsible operations guided by the principles of Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle.
Refuse & Reduce: We do not use any single-use plastics, both in our office and during tours. We avoid printing paper receipts and documents unless specifically requested by guests, preferring digital alternatives whenever possible to minimize paper waste.
Reuse & Repurpose: We actively prioritize extending the life of our equipment and materials to reduce waste. When possible, guides’ clothing and gear are repaired rather than replaced—small tears, worn seams, and minor damages are fixed promptly to avoid unnecessary new purchases. For items that can no longer serve a purpose within the company, we repurpose them for personal or household use, ensuring nothing is discarded prematurely.
When repairs require specialist skills or tools unavailable locally, we send items abroad rather than discarding them. This commitment to maintenance and repurposing helps us reduce waste, conserve resources, and promote a culture of sustainability within our team.
Recycle: Comprehensive recycling options are provided for office waste and materials brought back from tours. Guides encourage guests to recycle where possible during trips and bring any residual waste back to be properly sorted and recycled at our base in Höfn.
Energy Efficiency: We apply energy-saving practices such as setting office electronics to sleep mode quickly to reduce emissions and prolong device lifespan.
5. Community Connection
Being based in Höfn, we value our close relationship with the local community and environment. We aim to support and respect local businesses, traditions, and cultural heritage, recognizing that sustainable tourism benefits everyone involved.
We actively collaborate with many local companies—especially those with similar values and profiles—instead of competing. For example, whenever possible, we recommend tours or services offered by other local operators to our guests, helping to spread business across the region and support the wider community.
Wherever possible, we source equipment and supplies we use for our tours locally—either from Southeast Iceland or, if unavailable, elsewhere within Iceland. This not only supports local businesses but also reduces our carbon footprint.
We collaborate with ongoing scientific projects within the area, including assisting with the installation of timelapse cameras for glaciological monitoring, and transport to difficult to access areas for geological mapping i.e. mountains bordering glacial lakes accessible only by kayak.
By fostering open communication and mutual respect with the community, we strive to create experiences that honor Iceland’s unique culture and landscape, contributing positively to the place that makes our work possible.
6. Appropriate Vehicle Choice and Maintenance
As a small, locally based company, we prioritize using vehicles that minimize environmental impact while ensuring safe access to glacier areas near Höfn. We operate one 4WD vehicle chosen for its reliability and suitability for Iceland’s challenging terrain.
We avoid unnecessary modifications that increase fuel consumption and environmental disturbance. Instead, we carefully assess what is required for safety and operate only appropriately equipped vehicles without excess modifications.
To further reduce our impact, we deflate tires before driving on paved roads to minimize damage to the landscape and improve fuel efficiency.
Our commitment extends to keeping the vehicle in excellent condition through regular maintenance and timely repairs to optimize performance and reduce emissions. We also plan trips to avoid unnecessary travel and peak traffic times, limiting our carbon footprint and disturbance to local wildlife and communities.
While vehicle use is essential, we acknowledge its environmental cost and are continuously exploring ways to offset emissions and improve our sustainability practices.
7. Small Groups and Thoughtful Itineraries
At the core of our guiding philosophy is the commitment to keep group sizes small. This is not only about guest comfort — it’s a foundational element that helps us carry out all our environmental and ethical values in a practical, effective way.
Small groups allow us to maintain a high level of flexibility in our scheduling and routing. By traveling outside peak hours and avoiding crowded hotspots, we reduce pressure on the environment and local infrastructure as well as minimizing disturbance to other visitors.
On all our tours, we prioritize human-powered travel whenever possible—whether it’s hiking across glaciers or moving carefully through fragile terrain. This low-impact approach not only requires a greater level of fitness and engagement from our guests, but also significantly reduces environmental pressure. By slowing the pace and avoiding motorized access, we minimize emissions and physical disturbance while fostering a deeper, more mindful connection with the landscape—something large groups and fast-paced travel simply can’t offer.
Smaller groups also enable better waste management practices. It’s easier to monitor and ensure that no litter or waste is left behind, that proper recycling is followed, and that guests understand and participate in low-impact behaviors throughout the trip.
From a carbon footprint perspective, small groups mean we require fewer vehicles, significantly reducing emissions. This controlled scale also influences our vehicle choices, enabling us to avoid unnecessarily large or heavily modified vehicles that could increase environmental impact.
Education and guest engagement benefit greatly from small groups as well. Guides can provide tailored briefings and foster genuine conversations about environmental stewardship, climate change, and the fragile ecosystems we visit. This intimate setting encourages questions, reflection, and a shared sense of responsibility that is far more effective than formal lectures or large group talks.
Finally, safety and overall guest experience improve with smaller groups. Guides can maintain closer oversight, adapt the pace to individual needs, and ensure that everyone can fully appreciate the raw beauty and unique challenges of Iceland’s glacial landscapes.
In sum, keeping groups small is a core principle that underpins everything we do—from environmental protection and guest education to logistics and safety. It’s a conscious choice that helps us offer tours that are not only more sustainable but also more rewarding, respectful, and unforgettable.
8. Progress Plan
Our environmental and sustainability approach is a work in progress—something we continue to evaluate and adjust as we grow and learn. We stay informed about local environmental conditions, seek out better ways to reduce our impact, and aim to keep our practices practical and realistic.
Being based in Höfn and working in small groups gives us the flexibility to make decisions that are thoughtful and appropriate for the environment we work in. Our goal is to offer glacier tours that are low-impact, respectful, and provide a meaningful experience for both our guests and the places we visit.
We’ve recently begun conversations with Kolviður (the Icelandic Carbon Fund) and are actively working toward becoming carbon neutral by the end of 2024. As part of our ongoing commitment, we plan to publish a yearly sustainability report to track our progress and share it transparently—these reports will be added to this document as appendices.
The sustainability report will include, among other things, a record of miles driven and a detailed gear log. This will help us better understand our operational footprint and evaluate the durability and longevity of our equipment, allowing us to make more informed choices about gear that lasts longer and performs better in the long term.
We are also planning long-term improvements to our operations, including the purchase of an electric vehicle by the end of 2027 to further reduce our carbon footprint.