Glacier Mice Environmental Policy

1. Our Environmental Responsibility

Glacier Mice operates guided glacier hikes and ice cave tours at Breiðamerkurjökull in Southeast Iceland. Our business depends directly on access to a remarkable and constantly changing natural environment.

We recognise our responsibility to consider the environmental effects of our activities and to avoid unnecessary damage or disturbance wherever reasonably possible.

Environmental responsibility is incorporated into our operational decisions, guide practices, use of vehicles and equipment, waste management and communication with guests.

2. Respecting the Glacier Environment

Breiðamerkurjökull is a dynamic natural environment. Glacier features, waterways, ice caves, access routes and surrounding terrain change continuously.

We seek to work with these natural changes rather than unnecessarily altering the landscape to meet fixed expectations.

Routes and activity locations may therefore change as the glacier changes or when environmental, access or safety considerations make another route more appropriate.

3. Leave No Unnecessary Trace

Guests and staff are expected to leave the glacier environment without litter or other unnecessary waste.

We encourage behaviour that avoids unnecessary disturbance of the landscape and natural features.

Where practical, existing access routes and appropriate established areas should be used rather than creating unnecessary additional disturbance.

4. Vehicles & Transport

Vehicle transport is necessary for many of our glacier operations because of the distance and terrain between Jökulsárlón and glacier access areas.

We aim to organise transport efficiently while maintaining the access, capacity and safety requirements of each activity.

Vehicle maintenance is important both for operational reliability and for reducing avoidable environmental impacts associated with poorly maintained equipment.

Drivers and guides are expected to use appropriate access routes and to avoid unnecessary driving or disturbance of surrounding terrain where reasonably possible.

5. Fuel, Energy & Emissions

We recognise that transport, vehicles, buildings and other parts of tourism operations use energy and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

Our approach is to look for practical opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary fuel and energy use without compromising safety or operational requirements.

As technology and suitable alternatives develop, we aim to consider options that can reduce environmental impact while remaining practical for the demanding conditions in which our operations take place.

Glacier Mice has worked with Kolviður through a carbon offsetting agreement since 2020 as part of our efforts to address the environmental impact associated with our operations.

6. Equipment & Resources

Glacier operations require specialist equipment. We aim to use, maintain and store equipment responsibly so that safe equipment can remain in useful service for an appropriate period.

Maintaining durable equipment can reduce unnecessary replacement and waste while also supporting safe operations.

Equipment that is no longer safe or suitable for its intended purpose is removed from operational use and should be reused, recycled or disposed of responsibly where appropriate options are available.

7. Waste & Recycling

We seek to reduce unnecessary waste in our operations and encourage appropriate reuse and recycling where practical facilities and systems are available.

Waste generated during tours must not be left in the glacier environment.

Guides and staff are expected to help maintain clean operating areas and to encourage guests to take responsibility for their own waste.

8. Pollution Prevention

Fuel, oils, chemicals and other potentially polluting materials should be handled and stored responsibly.

Vehicles and equipment should be maintained so that known leaks, faults or other avoidable sources of pollution can be identified and addressed.

Environmental incidents or significant spills associated with our operations should be responded to promptly and handled in accordance with applicable requirements and circumstances.

9. Protected Areas & Access

Our glacier activities take place in and around Vatnajökull National Park, within a landscape subject to environmental protection, land management and access requirements.

Glacier Mice operates under a permit from Vatnajökull National Park and aims to operate in accordance with applicable rules, permissions and access requirements relevant to the areas in which our tours take place.

Guides and staff are expected to respect restrictions or instructions intended to protect natural areas or manage access.

10. Environmental Awareness for Guests

Guides have an important role in helping visitors understand the environment they are experiencing.

Where appropriate, guests may receive information about glacier processes, changing natural conditions, responsible behaviour and the importance of respecting the surrounding landscape.

We encourage guests to experience the glacier without leaving unnecessary physical traces of their visit.

11. Environmental Considerations in Decision-Making

Environmental considerations form part of responsible operational planning alongside safety, access, guest experience and practical requirements.

When reasonable alternatives are available, we aim to consider options that reduce unnecessary environmental disturbance or resource use.

Environmental responsibility does not override safety. Where a safety requirement creates an unavoidable operational need, the protection of people remains the immediate priority.

12. Continuous Environmental Improvement

Environmental management is an ongoing process. We aim to review our practices as our operations develop and as improved equipment, technology, information and practical solutions become available.

Where useful and practical, future development may include improved measurement of areas such as fuel use, energy consumption, waste and other relevant environmental impacts.

Better measurement can help us identify meaningful improvements and set realistic environmental objectives over time.