What unsustainable behavior needs to change:

Gelderland Province offers abundant natural beauty that’s cherished by both humans and animals. Nevertheless, where nature and human activities intersect, accidents can occur. In the Netherlands, thousands of wildlife collisions happen annually, often due to speeding motorists unaware of animals along the roads. This behaviour poses risks to both traffic safety and animal welfare. 

Additionally, the annual shift in daylight patterns brings earlier darkness. While wild animals maintain their regular rhythms, human travel occurs later; thus contributing to an increase in wildlife collisions.

The Green Nudge:

To mitigate this issue of wildlife collisions, creative agency ANDC has developed interventions targeting motorists‘ behaviour.

Their research identified three promising approaches: capturing attention and offering actionable perspectives, heightening risk perception, and reinforcing desired behaviours among the respective target audience (drivers).

Signs were created to welcome motorists into the wildlife domain, fostering a sense of being “guests” in the animals‘ territory. These signs concluded with a clear demarcation, distinctly outlining the area’s boundaries. Furthermore, in order to amplify the perception of risk, a dynamic light sign was developed to indicate the frequency of wild animal crossings.. Finally, strategically positioned silhouettes of wild animals along the road served as attention-grabbing symbols to evoke associations with the local wildlife.

The result: This set of interventions significantly reduced the speed of motorists. In the short term, the average speed decreased by 3.64 km/h. Over the long term, the average speed was consistently lower, showing a reduction of 5.19 km/h on average.

Are you aware of any other nudges that help to protect wildlife? Feel free to get in touch: hello@green-nudges.com

What unsustainable behavior needs to change:

Water waste in hotels resulting from showering is a significant problem, especially when guests do not concern themselves with the extra costs. On average, hotel guests likely shower for 8-10 minutes, a significantly increased use of water as compared to a more economical 5-minute shower when at home.

This behaviour is simply bad for the environment and contributes to unnecessary water depletion. And moreover, because hotels consume thousands of litres of water on a daily basis to accommodate this increased demand, hotel operational costs are also inflated.

The Green Nudge:

As part of its ongoing mission to reduce water usage, Disneyland Paris is testing special water-saving shower heads at Disney Sequoia Lodge. These illuminated showers start with a soothing blue for the first 10 litres; switch to an encouraging green up to 20 litres; then shift to a reflective purple when the guest uses up to 30 litres; and finally signal with a bold red, when guest usage exceeds 30 litres. This clever use of universally recognized colours not only promotes shorter showers, but also merges significant behavioural change with enjoyment.

The result: The „Hydrao shower heads“ have successfully reduced water use in showers by 22% at the testing lodge. Pending their continued effectiveness, the resort plans to expand the installation of these efficient shower heads and water-saving toilets in all of Disneyland-Paris hotel rooms.

To boost conservation efforts even further, Disney-Paris ought to consider enhancing the water-light system by activating the red light earlier.

Are you aware of any other nudges that help to save water? Feel free to comment or get in touch: hello@green-nudges.com

What unsustainable behavior needs to change:

High altitude lakes nestled in the French Savoy Mountains are pristine and fragile ecosystems that have long been cherished for their natural beauty and serenity. However, these idyllic alpine sanctuaries are facing a growing threat – mass tourism. As tourists flock to the Savoie region in search of adventure and relaxation, they often indulge in the tempting activity of swimming in these pristine mountain lakes. While swimming can be a delightful experience, it comes at a cost to these delicate ecosystems.

Mountain lakes are particularly sensitive environments, where a delicate balance of flora and fauna thrives in crystal-clear waters. The influx of tourists dipping into these alpine waters disrupts this equilibrium. Human activity introduces pollutants, disturbs the habitats of aquatic creatures, and can lead to erosion around the shorelines.

The Green Nudge:

In a bid to preserve the fragile mountain ecosystems of the Savoie department, the local authorities commissioned the „NUDGE ME“ agency. In the summer of 2023, in four of the region’s pristine mountain lakes, the agency deployed two green nudge sign designs for testing: the shark and the mermaid.