Transform recycling into a slam dunk with this playful nudge, making a mundane task enjoyable and encouraging repeated behaviour.
Recycling, despite its societal importance and widespread recognition as a positive norm, is inconsistently practiced, especially in the United States. This inconsistency stems from several challenges: unclear rules about what can be recycled, non-standardised sorting requirements, and the variable availability of recycling facilities.
Moreover, recycling often feels like an unrewarding task, leading many to prioritise convenience over responsibility. These hurdles, coupled with an absence of immediate gratification or visible impact, hinder the formation of lasting recycling habits. For recycling to become second nature, we need innovative solutions that are both clear and motivating.
Enter Bathroom Basketball—a playful recycling intervention spotted at organic body care company Badger Balm in New Hampshire, USA. This innovative nudge combines gamification with behavioural insights to encourage sustainable actions. A small basketball hoop is mounted above a recycling bin, accompanied by a clear sign indicating which materials (e.g., toilet paper rolls) are recyclable. This setup transforms an otherwise mundane task into a rewarding game.
Why does this work so well? Four key principles are at play:
This gamified approach highlights how joy and achievement can make eco-friendly habits stick.
Do you know of any other nudges that gamify sustainability? Feel free to get in touch: hello@green-nudges.com
From Sara Conklin, Experience and Behaviour Designer at Acceladopt Green. Sara’s work focuses on accelerating climate solutions through experience design, empathy research, and behavioural science–breaking down barriers to sustainable action.
A behavioural science approach helped Katwijk turn scepticism into trust, fully booking energy coaches, and unlocking 100+ insulation subsidies.