Overview
Here is what I am planning to write about and already got approved by professor 1. What is the Consumer Behavior problem you plan on writing about? 2. What is the behavior you plan on shifting? 3. What is the nudge or change in advertising you plan on proposing?
The problem I plan to address is food waste in restaurants. Many consumers tend to over-order food, leading to significant waste. This not only contributes to environmental harm but also represents a financial loss for both consumers and businesses.
The goal is to encourage consumers to order only the amount of food they can realistically finish, thereby reducing food waste. This shift would improve environmental sustainability and potentially save consumers money.
A potential nudge could be a visual reminder on menus or table tents that prompts consumers to consider portion sizes. For example, a message like:
- “Order Smart: Reduce Food Waste! Consider starting with a smaller portion—you can always order more!”
- Alternatively, restaurants could highlight half-portion options or add a “Waste Watch” label to encourage mindful ordering.
- Another nudge could be displaying real-time food waste statistics (e.g., “Yesterday, customers left behind 20 lbs of food. Let’s reduce waste together!”).