A study in China highlights the environmental benefits of implementing “green nudges” in online food delivery platforms. These nudges encourage sustainable behavior, such as defaulting to “no disposable cutlery” and rewarding customers with “green points.” This simple change resulted in a remarkable 648% increase in no-cutlery orders, offering potential advantages for the environment and consumer behavior. Over 18 months in Shanghai, it is estimated that more than 225.33 million sets of single-use cutlery were reduced, potentially preventing 4,506.52 metric tonnes of waste and saving 56,333 trees. India’s leading online food delivery platform, Zomato, achieved similar waste reduction through such nudges.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Green Nudges: Policy interventions designed to encourage individuals to make environmentally friendly choices, often through subtle cues, defaults, or incentives.
- Pro-environmental Behavior: Actions and choices that contribute to environmental sustainability and conservation.
- Single-Use Cutlery (SUCs): Disposable utensils designed for one-time use, contributing to environmental issues due to their non-biodegradable nature.
- Zomato: A prominent online food delivery and restaurant aggregator platform in India, known for its efforts to reduce environmental impact.
