Reusable Mugs on Campus

I stumbled across this yesterday, Alvaro: http://green.harvard.edu/fas/top-ten and found it clever and entertaining. The injection of humor makes it fun to watch, and they've used prominent members of the student body, staff, and faculty to deliver the message. Maybe you could incorporate something similar in your campaign, whether it's via a website, email blitz, posters, etc. I think what you're trying to do is awesome, and I hope you succeed!

Pamela Williams
Boise Public Works
United States

Thank you Pamela, that is actually hillarious. Humor can go a long way. I will show this to the team.

Alvaro Palazuelos
MA Environmental Studies
Canada

have you seen the new water fountains that are adapted to provide space to fill your water bottles, and as you do so a counter indicates the number of bottles filled daily?

david lendrum
Landscape Superintendent
University of Alaska Southeast
United States

We launched an intervention to promote reusable mug use on the University of Oregon campus last year using sets of paired signs in coffee shops. Based on some psychology research about how people process messaging in advertising, we used two paired signs: one with an ambiguous message ("Did you bring it?") and one with a disambiguating message ("Bring a mug, save a quarter"). We found some significant increases in reusable mug use while the signs were in place, compared to when we just showed the second message alone. This two-sign strategy could be an interesting way to increase the salience of injunctive social norms messaging. Let me know if you're interested and I will send you some more information.
Good luck!

Hale Forster
United States

I would be very interested in receiving more information, Hale. Thanks!

Noni Strand
Campus Pastor
Bethany College
United States

Hale - I'm interested in the theory of using the two signs. Any info on that? I agree that this could be an interesting way to help with norms messaging and I might try this on some of our internal messaging on actions. It's a creative approach and might be an easy one to test too!

Jill

Jill  Boone
Climate Change and Sustainability Manager
County of Santa Clara - Facilities and Fleet Dept.
United States

Hale

I'd also be interested in any additional information you can share,. Along with reusable mug projects, we've eliminated all plastic drink bottles from our facility. No backlash yet, but I'd be interested in any other details you and anyone else would care to share.

Thanks,

Mike Burke
Colgate-Palmolive
United States

Hale, I would be really interested in the strategy you used at University of Oregon. Please, if it isn't too much of a bother, send me whatever information you can. My e-mail is [email protected]. We are going to do this campaign at University of Northern British Columbia and the two message strategy could be really usefull.

Thank you very much for replying to my post Hale,

With regards,



Alvaro Palazuelos
MA Environmental Studies
Canada

+1 on the info Hale. Maybe you could post it online for download, or from a download service like dropbox or yousendit.,

+1 on the info Hale. Maybe you could post it online for download, or from a download service like dropbox or yousendit.

Ruben Anderson
Communications Specialist
Metro Vancouver
Canada

Hi Hale,

I'm also interested in the information on the paired signs campaign. If sending information, please add me to the list. Thanks.

Brian MacNamee
[email protected]

Brian MacNamee

Hale, I'd also like the info please! We'll be starting a campaign like this soon at UCSC.

Gabi Kirk
Outreach Coordinator
UCSC Sustainability Office
United States

Please add me to the list of sending further information on the paired signs for bringing reusable mugs. Thanks!

[email protected]
Bainbridge Island Zero Waste Initiative

Diane Landry
United States

While we're all waiting for Hale to send us information, if you do a quick search for "injunctive social norms" you will find resources.

Hale, if you send out an email please do add me.

Cheers,

Emilio Gagliardi
MSc
Ecologic Holistica
Canada