Effects of “green nudges” on renovation waste management: a randomized controlled experiment

Purpose Nudge theory has demonstrated its efficacy in shaping policy tools, especially in the realm of environmental management. Yet, its application in construction waste management (CWM) remains largely unexplored. Thus, this study delves into the application of nudge theory in CWM, with a specific focus on renovation waste. Design/methodology/approach The research team selected six nudge strategies, emphasizing aspects of self-interest (self-earn or self-save), environmental concerns (benefits or hazards), and social norms (descriptive or injunctive) and built them into different renovation practices for clients to choose. A randomized controlled trial involving 387 participants from Shenzhen, China, was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of these green nudges in promoting renovation waste management (RWM). Findings The results indicated that green nudges emphasizing self-earn (OR = 2.47, 95% CI [1.21; 5.02]), self-save (OR = 2.92, 95% CI [1.42; 6.01]), environmental benefits (OR = 2.46, 95% CI [1.23; 4.95]), and environmental hazards (OR = 2.40, 95% CI [1.18; 4.88]) significantly enhanced clients' willingness to adopt green renovation practices, with self-save showing the most pronounced effect. Descriptive and injunctive social norms had either a weak effect or no effect. Originality/value This research pioneers the application of nudge theory in CWM, expanding the theoretical landscape of behavioral economics. It not only proposes various green nudge strategies to promote RWM but also underscores the potential of this behavior-oriented tool in enhancing our living environment.