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The Impact of Visual Nudges on Food Waste Behavior in All-Access Dining Halls

University of British Columbia. Food Services; University of British Columbia. Campus and Community Planning

Introduction Our study was operated in the setting of all-access university dining halls, testing an unexplored area – the effectiveness of visual nudge on food waste behaviour, highlighting the environmental consequences. Research Question In what way does a poster showing how food waste influences environmental damage affect the amount of food waste at an all-access student dining hall? Methods We observed students and other consumers who dined at the FEAST dining hall at UBC during dinner hours. We designed a baseline condition and an intervention condition with posters. Food waste was quantified using a 0-5 scale, and the total weight of food waste in kilograms was also recorded. Results We found a slight decreasing trend in food waste during the intervention, but results were not statistically significant (p-values > 0.05), indicating no substantial impact of posters on food waste behaviors. Though, the study offers insights into the potential limitations and challenges of using visual nudges to promote sustainable behaviors in dining halls. Recommendations Firstly, if using visual materials such as posters, ensure the legibility and clarity of both the design and message. Placing posters more strategically in areas without the risks of obstruction can enhance visibility and engagement among students. Furthermore, it might be useful to test and consider consolidating information into larger size posters instead of multiple small ones, as this could potentially impact the saliency and effects of the visual materials and rule out the possibility of desensitization. Coordinating with students, soliciting feedback, and letting them be involved in the development of strategies might also help in improving food waste reduction initiatives that are tailored to their habits and preferences. Establishing clear policies and guidelines regarding visual material design and placement can ensure consistency and possibly strengthen its effectiveness in conveying these messages to the students across campus. 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/2429/88797

Unreviewed

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