Is Engagement the Key to Reduce Empty Snus Containers in Nature? - Comparing Motivational Strategies for Reducing Snus Container Plastic Waste

Abstract

Plastic waste continues to pose a significant environmental challenge. With incorrect disposal contributing in pollution in both urban and natural environments. In Sweden, disposable snus containers represent a recurring plastic waste stream due to high user consumption rates and their frequent disposal in combustible waste or incorrectly in public spaces. Existing recycling systems often rely on digital applications and additional user effort, which could result in unnecessary mental load, which can cause friction and reduced participation. This thesis explores how interaction design and behavioral motivation strategies can be used to encourage more engaging recycling behaviors for empty snus container recycling in public spaces. The research was grounded in research through design and followed an iterative design process which involved literature studies, surveys, prototyping, testing, and public deployment. Two different motivational strategies for recycling were explored: gamification and nature-based, which resulted into two high-fidelity prototypes: the Snus Ballot Voting prototype and Gacha Machine prototype. User feedback and field observations indicated that playful, physical, and socially visible interactions contributed to user engagement and participation during recycling activities. Indicating that the importance of intuitive and tangible interactions could have an impact in public recycling systems. Due to the practical constraints and limited research duration, the monetary and charity based incentive could not be fully implemented or evaluated. Future work should further investigate long term deployment and the motivational strategy that this thesis did not cover to be fully implemented within the scope of this research.