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Phase: Research Missions: Surprise Us

Influencing behaviors

Drive people toward responsible behaviors might not be as difficult as we imagine!

Photo of Christel Tardif
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This is a path light! The light source is protected by a metallic sheet made of round holes the size of a cigaret. And of course, I was not the only one to discover this. At some point I really wondered if this was made especially for cigarets. This is a path light! The light source is protected by a metallic sheet made of round holes the size of a cigaret. And of course, I was not the only one to discover this. At some point I really wondered if this was made especially for cigarets.
It just needs 3 to show example (previous image) for everyone to follow! And this light becomes a trash bin for cigarets (and plastics)! It just needs 3 to show example (previous image) for everyone to follow! And this light becomes a trash bin for cigarets (and plastics)!
As for the light grid, forms induce behaviors. Here is a natural hole in the stone. It looks like an ashtray and it is used like an ashtray! As for the light grid, forms induce behaviors. Here is a natural hole in the stone. It looks like an ashtray and it is used like an ashtray!

As I was walking in my city, observing plastics and people, I made  interesting discoveries.

As shown in the pictures, it only needs a specific form to induce behavior. The light protective grid has holes the size of a cigaret and suggests that this is especially made for cigarets disposal. For the stone natural hole, it's the same principle, the only thing is we obviously know it's not made on purpose for cigaret disposal, but people still use it!

And then, it only needs 3 "exemplary" behaviors for everyone to follow!

What is a provocation or insight that might inspire others during this challenge?

The challenge is focusing on single-use plastic items. Whatever solutions we come up with, disposal and trash collect will still be a big issue. Can we be inspired by those kind of examples to design disposable systems that are obvious and driving behaviors easily?

Tell us about yourself

I made this discovery during an observation walk. I live in Pornic, a small city in France, next to the ocean. I'm very much concerned about the environment and plastics ending in the ocean. I'm working on this challenge with a small group I'm coaching in my city.
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Photo of Balint Katona

Hey Christel,

You are right! Human behaviour is one major impact, I find, in this entire 'circular economy' challenge. I have some insights to add. I've lived in many countries and the general approach differs tremendously. In Argentina or Italy, peeps put their litter directly to the streets sometimes. There comes the wind, it's up to the chances what will happen. In Italy there is an emphasis on the environment and there are great waste management systems, the outcome is pretty good I notion. It's not the case in Buenos Aires, though they have highly creative solutions. In Hong Kong, people don't really care I think, there are many paid workers who collect litter all day long. In Switzerland for instance, there are no bins on the streets and I think this directly makes people think twice in case they have something to litter. (I think they rather put it on their pockets.) And I've seen the biggest dumpsters (ok, after India) in the rainforests of the Amazonas.

This is a cultural/behavioural attitude connected to past-present options and possibilities. In short, you are right, again. It takes many witty folks with strong will in small localities to design local solutions.

Bonne nuit.

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Photo of Christel Tardif

Hey Balint Katona thanks for your input. I actually love the idea of having NO bin! Imagine - no bin, no waste ;)
I've read another post on the example of an island. And the insight I took was: island native population are most of the time respectful of nature, it's cultural. But as soon as new comers are arriving, the population start loosing its connection to nature and generation after generation, it's all gone! So HMW reconnect people to nature?
Merci ;) et bonne nuit

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Photo of Msindhu

Reg the idea of having no bins: I found it amusing when he mentioned that there are no bins in the streets of Switzerland! Its a wonderful idea,but it would only work in Switzerland! Here in India, under our new administration, there is a new initiative going on to increase the number of bins on the streets so as to not litter the place. This is a place where most people consider anything (that is not their house) to be a dumpyard and feel free to litter their surroundings. So maybe after training a generation of Indians to mandatorily use dustbins, after changing their behaviour so that they consider littering to be NOT normal, THEN the design idea of NOT introducing dustbins would work here :)

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