The "Less is More" Approach

The kitchen Jackie and I share 

Upon arriving in Iceland, one thing became apparent immediately. Everything is much smaller. To an American, everything about our apartment is compact and “fun size”. The bathroom appears to be built inside of a storage closet, my bed is the size of a couch, and American hotel rooms have bigger kitchens. We pride ourselves on our space; open living rooms with hardly any furniture, king size beds, and large bathrooms. We, unfortunately, disregard the impact these “necessities” have on our environment. 

Environmental impact is at the forefront of Icelandic thought. This became clear very early in our travels. We were asked to reuse our cups on the flight in an effort to reduce the amount of waste produced. We learned that you will be charged if you need a bag to put groceries in, which encourages people to reuse bags instead of throwing them away. An average cup of coffee here is the same size as a small cup in the U.S. 

My bed for the next 7 weeks

It is not difficult to get around Reykjavík by biking or walking, which helps reduce the amount of waste within the city. Even the garbage cans are smaller here, which helps you recognize just how much you are throwing away. It appears that the choice to be more efficient is collective in Iceland; it’s a way of life not a lifestyle. The idea of preserving the landscape and reducing environmental changes is deeply embedded in Icelandic society. It is a huge shock to be immersed in a culture where “less” does not mean less quality, it is simply less wasteful. 

It is common to hear conversations about reducing waste and terrain conservation, but rarely do you hear about a place where these two ideas are actually carried out. Living in the United States, where the population is large, it can be difficult to believe that one person’s choice to be more eco-friendly will have an impact. It is wonderful to be in a country where this actually happens. Witnessing a country that successfully incorporates these two ideas into its society has changed my perspective on the likelihood that the same can be done holistically in the United States.