Title page
Contents
Abstract 4
Acknowledgements 5
Executive Summary 8
Sintesi 10
1. Introductory concepts 12
1.1. Behavioural biases 12
1.2. Behavioural insights in policy making 12
2. Main behavioural biases and instruments relevant to the circular economy transition 14
2.1. Bounded rationality biases 16
2.2. Bounded willpower biases 17
2.3. Bounded self-interest biases 18
3. Review of evidence on the motivations affecting behaviours relevant to the circular economy transition 21
3.1. Motivations affecting waste prevention and waste sorting behaviours 21
3.2. Motivations that affect behaviour towards the use of repaired/second-hand products 25
4. Review of case studies of existing behavioural interventions targeting consumer waste management choices 28
4.1. Reducing waste 29
4.1.1. Plastic waste reduction 29
4.1.2. Paper waste reduction 32
4.1.3. Food waste reduction 33
4.2. Promote reuse of plastic, clothing, and electrical and electronic equipment 34
4.2.1. Reuse of plastic containers 34
4.2.2. Reuse/repair of clothing 36
4.2.3. Reuse/repair of electrical and electronic equipment 37
4.3. Promoting waste sorting 38
5. Conclusions and proposals for pilot projects in Italy 42
5.1. Key takeaways and knowledge gaps from the literature review 42
5.2. Selection of pilots from the literature 44
Pilot suggestion 1: Exploring the use of voluntary commitments to waste sorting 45
Pilot suggestion 2: Exploring the use of normative feedback to encourage waste reduction 46
Pilot suggestion 3: Exploring the use of social norms to stimulate waste sorting 47
5.3. Moving forward with the implementation: key steps and issues to discuss with stakeholders for piloting the interventions 49
References 53
Annex A. Agenda of the workshop on behavioural interventions for the circular economy transition in Italy 61
Table 1. The five steps of the OECD BASIC Framework 13
Table 2. Examples of behavioural biases and their possible impact on consumer decisions across the product life cycle 15
Table 3. Examples of nudges based on social norms and social identity 20
Table 4. Available evidence on the effectiveness of nudges to address/exploit biases to drive consumer behaviour toward a circular economy 28
Table 5. Normative messages tested by Salazar et al. (2021) 29
Table 6. Normative messages tested by Loschelder et al. (2019) 30
Table 7. Key elements of pilot suggestion 1 45
Table 8. Key elements of pilot suggestion 2 46
Table 9. Key elements of pilot suggestion 3 48
Figure 1. Overview of the next steps of the analysis 49
Boxes
Box 1. Criticisms and Good Practice Principles for the ethical use of BIs 15
Box 2. Impacts of public policies on non-monetary motivations 22