Nudging for Sustainability (NfS)

Result

still pending

Description

CO₂ emissions from tourism are set to double in the coming decades. The Swiss hotel industry has an opportunity to reduce its environmental impact by conserving resources such as water, electricity and food. Current energy and water shortages further emphasise the need for action.

Guests play a key role in encouraging sustainable behaviour. 'Nudging' — making small changes to the decision-making environment — can encourage guests to adopt environmentally friendly behaviour without coercion. Examples from the hotel industry demonstrate this: shorter shower times (-20%) through smart devices, and less food waste (-20%) through smaller plates and social cues.

The planned project aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of nudges in promoting sustainable guest behaviour and the associated economic savings potential through resource conservation in the holiday hotel sector. This will facilitate the selection and implementation of effective measures. The focus will be on influencing guest behaviour during their stay with regard to consumption, energy and water usage, and recycling.

The project results will be made available to the hospitality industry in the form of a practical toolbox guide. Clear information on implementing the nudges and the results achieved (e.g. cost savings and resource efficiency) is intended to enable individual selection and address the following challenges:

• Reducing environmental impact by conserving resources (water, electricity, food and consumables).
• Reducing costs by cutting water, electricity and food consumption.
• Improving the sustainability of the business.
• Enhancing the hotel's appeal to guests and staff by improving its image and reputation.
• Enhancing the guest experience while maintaining the same standard of service.

Key data