A methodological framework for developing sustainability nudges

Policy-makers and companies, aiming at promoting sustainable consumer behavior and choices (e.g., conserving energy, avoiding food waste, buying “green products”), have increasingly become interested in the concept of nudging. Nudging makes use of the fact that people’s behavior and choices are not always based on rational decision making. Consumers frequently rely on mental shortcuts, heuristics, and biases, which can be instrumentalized, such that people are gently nudged towards the desirable behavior or choice. Scientific research suggests that nudges can successfully influence a variety of sustainability outcomes (e.g., thermostat settings, meatless food choices, recycling) in a variety of settings (e.g., at the point of sale, in consumers’ homes). However, the application of nudges in practice usually proceeds atheoretically, without the monitoring or evaluation of its effect on consumers. Thus, we would like to promote an interdisciplinary, methodological framework, which relies on contemporary insights from behavioral economics, psychology, sociology, and marketing. The framework, presented in detail in our conference poster, serves as a “cookbook” for the development and evaluation of evidence-based nudges in the area of sustainable consumer behavior and choices. Our main sustainability goal is to provide policy-makers and companies with applied, evidence-based nudges, which can directly be implemented in their sustainability policy and marketing strategy