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Can interventions in supermarkets reduce household food waste? A randomised controlled trial of ‘nudging’ in grocery shopping

General Information

Project description

The study was conducted in collaboration with eight supermarkets from two of the largest Swedish supermarket chains. The stores provided the natural environment in which to conduct an experiment using real shoppers and real purchases, without shoppers being aware of the study. Four different interventions (different price displays) were designed, based on insights from behavioural science. These signs were tested in a randomised controlled study for two common and perishable vegetables – cucumbers and broccoli. Over two weeks, the participating stores randomly set up one of the displays at a time, while keeping the prices the same. The research team collected sales data to measure actual shopping behaviour and additional survey data to measure food waste during the experimental period.

Detailed information

Final report: Is there a final report presenting the results and conclusions of this project?

Yes

Final report

Hypothesis

The effect of four different interventions (different price displays) were tested to see whether they have an effects on consumers' intentions to make more deliberate decisions, and only buy as much as they need.

Who is behind the project?

Institution:
Team:

Project status:

Completed

Methods

Methodology: Field Experiment
Could you self-grade the strength of the evidence generated by this study?: 1

What is the project about?

Policy area(s): Sustainable Consumption
Topic(s): Consumption- Purchase behaviour, Decision-making
Behavioural tool(s): Framing, Prompts

Date published:

20 January 2023

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