Encouraging sustainable behaviour in the workplace often proves a frustratingly elusive goal for managers and team leaders. You’ve likely launched sustainability initiatives that failed to stick, or you’ve introduced recycling policies, sent out memos about energy conservation, and yet you still see wasteful behaviour throughout your team. The problem isn’t your team’s lack of environmental concern, it’s the approach itself.
The solution lies in understanding nudge theory and why it’s more effective than traditional rule-based approaches for encouraging sustainable behaviour.
What exactly is a nudge?
A nudge is a small change to someone’s environment that makes a desired behaviour easier or more appealing, whilst still preserving their freedom of choice. Unlike rules that restrict options, nudges guide people towards better decisions without forcing them.
Think of it this way: placing healthier snacks at eye level in your office kitchen whilst moving biscuits to a harder-to-reach shelf is a nudge. Banning biscuits entirely would be a rule. Both might reduce biscuit consumption, but the nudge feels natural rather than restrictive.
The psychology behind why nudges work
Human brains are designed for efficiency. We make thousands of decisions daily, so our minds constantly seek shortcuts and default to the easiest available option. This is especially true when we’re busy, stressed or distracted; common states for most team members.
When someone rushes past a printer, they’ll grab whatever paper is most convenient. If recycled paper is the obvious choice and virgin paper requires extra effort to locate, most people will naturally choose the sustainable option without conscious deliberation.
This happens because nudges work with our mental autopilot rather than against it. They don’t require people to remember rules, make moral calculations or override their natural impulses.
Why rules often backfire when encouraging sustainable behaviour
Rules trigger psychological reactance, our instinctive resistance to being controlled. When you mandate recycling, some team members may comply but feel resentful. Others might unconsciously rebel through small acts of non-compliance forcing you to deal with difficulty behaviour.
More importantly, rules shift focus from positive environmental impact to mere policy adherence. Instead of thinking “I’m helping the environment,” people think “I’m following company rules.” This subtle difference significantly affects motivation and long-term engagement.
Practical nudging in action
Effective workplace nudges are often surprisingly simple:
- Removing individual desk bins and placing shared recycling stations in convenient locations makes proper waste sorting the natural choice.
- Making stairs more appealing than lifts (with music or motivational signs) encourages physical activity.
- Positioning sustainable lunch options prominently in canteens increases healthy, environmentally-friendly choices.
The key is making sustainable options the path of least resistance whilst maintaining employee autonomy.
Encouraging sustainable behaviour as a leader
As a manager, you control many environmental factors that influence daily decisions. Small changes to physical spaces, default settings and processes can yield remarkable behavioural shifts without requiring oversight or enforcement.
Understanding that encouraging sustainable behaviour isn’t about providing more information or creating consequences, it’s about recognising how decisions actually get made and designing conditions that make sustainable choices feel obvious and effortless.
Our Sustainability in the Workplace courses explore comprehensive frameworks for implementing these psychological principles effectively within your team and organisation.
For more suggestions on practical steps you can take to increase the sustainability of your organisation, check out our courses on energy consumption, recycling and starting a green team within your workplace.
