Iceland is an incredible country that is founded upon the basis of ingrained sustainable practices. We have stayed in the city of Reykjavik which is a unique city that supports the majority of the Icelandic population. While studying abroad I hope to gain a better understanding of how Icelanders interact in the business world and how sustainable business practices impact their daily life.
Even from the first couple of days, it is evident that the culture is incredibly different than American society. Everywhere we have gone it seems that the standard trashcan is replaced by a segmented bin with a section for cans, paper, and general waste. In addition to this, the city has a sprawling bus system that can enable you to go pretty much anywhere in the city. Their bike lanes are supported on most streets and the walkability of the city is evident. Cars yield to pedestrians on every street even if it is inconvenient for them to stop. It seems as though every other vehicle is an electric vehicle either a Tesla or typically a Nissan Leaf. The EV infrastructure is also prevalent. There are EV chargers at most stores, public parking lots, and most houses that we have passed. All of these are in stark contrast to a standard American city.
Specifically, the business aspects of the country are also incredibly different. Every business in Iceland seeks to maintain sustainability practices by using recyclable, reusable, or green technology. The standard business structure is built around cycles that reuse materials in the same business or other businesses. By following these models they ensure that materials get the most use before they must actually be discarded, and it can save lots of capital for companies. In addition, Icelandic companies always follow inclusive business practices. When we visited the Icelandic Parliament, they were flying LGBT+ pride flags in front of parliament which really emphasizes how open and inclusive they are as a society.
