- What behavior did you try to change or initiate? (5%) What was your goal? (5%)
I tried to change the behavior of using paper cup and instead opted to bring my own cup for Starbucks coffee every day.
My goal was to encourage personal responsibility that could not involve me in environmental degradation but rather sustain a clean environment.
- What strategies did you use? (5%) Why do you think the strategies would work? Explain the psychological principles or rationales behind your strategies. (5%)
I used the strategies of carrying my cup to Starbucks for coffee, cleaning it thereafter and carrying it back home whenever I was through. I thought these strategies would work because the paper-cups used for coffee are disposed after consumption and the wastes are so much. I then saw it rational to carry a cup that would not require disposal after taking coffee because the cup would be used over and over and this would limit the amount of paper-cups disposed. With the use of my cup throughout recycling would be in action avoiding environmental degradation.
- What were the challenges that occurred to you? (3%) What problems did you run into? (2%)
I encountered challenges of inconvenience, discomfort and forgetfulness. I often felt discomfort whenever I was carrying my cup of coffee because I was forced to always carry my bag to accommodate the cup. Also, I could sometimes forget to carry my cup and this could not allow me to keep a good record of what I wanted to achieve. Some of the problems I encountered was disagreement with the waiters who never wanted to serve me coffee in my cup but rather their paper-cups, other customers could wonder why my cup was different from theirs and the size of my cup was smaller than the usual which served me less coffee.s
- How did you track your behaviour? (5%) What data did you collect? (10%)
I tracked my behavior by the use of my alarm reminder whereby it rang every morning to remind me of parking my cup into my bag before leaving the house.
I noticed that I could manage to carry my cup every day after the first three days and it became a routine later. The first week was not that accurate because I could sometimes wait for my reminder to ring before I could pack my cup but as from week two the routine became normal and could sometimes pack my cup even without waiting for a reminder. This was now my behavior and even the waiters could no longer disagree with me. I also observed other coffee customers getting attracted to my behavior and a few too started coming to Starbucks with their own cups. By the end of March 28th I had fully changed my attitude towards using disposable cups and was so much into using my non-disposable cup. I noticed that the behavior of carrying my cup was incorporated in me and an absence of my cup in my bag could show me that something was missing.
- How was your progress throughout the 4 weeks? (3%) Did you reach your goal? (2%)
Throughout the four weeks I would easily carry my cup to Starbucks with no shame and upon reaching the place I would shamelessly get it out for its purpose. Unlike the first three days that I could forget my cup, I progressed into having to carry it in mind.
I would say I reached my goal because I stopped using paper-cups and to me it was an achievement towards changing into a behavior that was environmentally sustainable.
- What made you succeed or fail? (4%) Were your strategies effective? (1%)
My persistence to use my cup even with all the challenges I went through made me succeed. I also had the spirit of making change and leading a responsible life and targeting towards this was a source of success. My strategy was very effective and I ensured my cup was carried to Starbucks on a daily basis.
- How is this behavioural intervention relevant to environmental sustainability? (10%) What are the implications of this intervention? (10%)
This behavioral intervention is relevant to environmental sustainability because the disposal rate was reduced when I used my non-disposable cup. The use of this cup gave a chance to reuse what was available and that which could not be disposed any soon. After use of this many people adopted voluntarily which was even more pleasing and further, the environment was more conserved.
The implications of this intervention were positive and it meant that the owner of Starbucks would later require less cups to serve its customers as most of them could have their own. Also, the quantity of garbage in the area reduced since less cups were disposed after use except for those who were not lured by my activities.
- If you were to do it again, what would you do differently? (5%)
I would first ensure that use of disposable cups at restaurants is discouraged by raising concern for environmental sustainability. Then, I would ensure that every customer is encouraged to carry their own cups for their consumption at eatery places and if possible their plates.
- How to make this behavior long-lasting (beyond the 4-week period)? (5%)
This behavior can be made long-lasting by ensuring maintainance of the little things that add to it like increasing urge for environmental responsibility of which is long lasting.
- If you were to apply this intervention to a larger population (e.g., the entire campus students, or Vancouver residents), how would you engage other people? (5%) How do you make sure they also engage in this behaviour? (5%)
In applying the intervention to a larger population, I would engage other people by creating awareness as possible and ensuring the goals are reasonable. I would then call for assistance from other bodies like NGOs for further activities that would be necessary.
I would ensure the larger population also engages in this behavior by acting first and being a leading example.
Please attach your daily record on the second page, either as a table or a figure. (10%)
Note: x stands for “carried cups”
