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From Pennies to Prizes : Assessing Incentive Strategies for Reusable Cups

University of British Columbia. AMS Sustainability; University of British Columbia. Campus and Community Planning

Introduction This study investigated whether there was a more efficient incentive strategy to encourage reusable cup usage than the current policy of a 25-cent fee on disposable cups. We wanted to examine if a lottery approach, a 5% chance to win a $5 credit, influenced the perceived likelihood of using personal reusable mugs compared to the current policy. Research Question How do lottery-based incentive strategies, compared to the current policy, influence the perceived likelihood of bringing personal reusable mugs? Methods A between-subjects survey presented participants with hypothetical scenarios reflecting the current policy and lottery approach. Additional measures captured participants' preferences and motivations for reusable mug usage, disposable cup usage, and feedback on other incentives. Results Mann-Whitney U test results indicated no significant difference in perceived likelihood between the control (M = 3.81) and lottery approach (M = 3.91) conditions (p = .77). The exploratory analysis suggested motivations for reusable cup use included environmental concerns (76.00%) and saving money (74.00%), with a strong preference (56.80%) for a points-based reward system over other incentives. Recommendations The exploratory analysis indicated that a points-based reward system is a more favorable option. This study recommends investigating points-based rewards programs, like stamp cards, to encourage reusable cup usage and support UBC's zero-waste action plan. Partnerships with organizations offering mug-share programs like CLUBZERØ or Circular & Co. could streamline operations with digital points-based incentive systems. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”

Report

eng

2024-07-30

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/88771

Unreviewed

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/