3 Cheat Codes to Persuade Anyone on Sustainability

Overview

Convincing people to act on sustainability can feel like an uphill battle—kind of like trying to get your parents to go vegan or your friends to give up plastic straws. But it doesn’t have to be so hard! Behavioural science offers some pretty amazing hacks (yes, scientifically proven cheat codes) to make people more likely to take action. Whether you’re trying to persuade your team to adopt circular economy strategies or encouraging customers to buy your eco-friendly product, these tactics work like magic!

Here are three powerful ways to persuade anyone—backed by science.

Related: How to get more buy-in for your sustainability initiatives

Play the Future Card

We all love putting things off. It’s called “temporal discounting,” which basically means we’re much more likely to commit to something if it’s scheduled for the future.

If you want someone to sign up for your sustainability initiative, try asking them to commit for next quarter or next season. It’s way easier to say “yes” when it feels far off!

Use the Fresh Start Effect

Ever noticed how everyone’s super motivated to set goals on New Year’s Day? That’s the power of a fresh start date.

Research by Professor Katie Milkman in The Fresh Start Effect shows that people are more likely to act when they tie it to a landmark date—like the first day of spring or the start of a new week.

If you’re trying to get your team on board with a new green initiative, why not start on the first day of a new quarter or Earth Day? The fresh start effect gives a little extra motivational nudge.

Related: Influence and Persuasion – The role of social proof

Show Them the Crowd Is Doing It

Humans are pack animals—we love to follow the crowd. This is called social proof, and it’s a game-changer in persuasion.

Robert Cialdini’s study on hotel guests reusing towels proves this point: Simply telling people that “most guests reuse their towels” boosted participation by 45%!

So, when you’re trying to convince people to adopt a sustainability behaviour, show them that everyone’s already on board. Whether it’s slapping a “bestseller” label on your eco-friendly product or telling your team that most companies in your industry are adopting green practices, social proof can seal the deal.

Wrap Up: Science-Backed Persuasion for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Persuading people to act on sustainability doesn’t have to be a struggle.

By leveraging these three science-backed techniques—asking for future commitments, tying actions to fresh start dates, and using social proof—you’ll be well on your way to turning skeptics into sustainability champions.

Want to learn more?  Try these resources.

Others who liked this post also liked these…

Can Lab-Grown Cotton Save the Future of Fashion? Here’s What You Need to Know

Discover lab-grown cotton: a sustainable, resource-efficient alternative transforming fashion with less water, no pesticides, and pure, high-quality fiber.

How to design a circular economy product into your business model

This article provides a case study of how to design a new sustainable or circular economy product into your existing business model using the business model canvas.

How to design a Circular Business Model – Netflix shuts down its DVD by mail service

Virtualisation is a type of circular business model used by Netflix that is about replacing a physical product with a virtual or digital solution.

How to Create Circular Economy Outcomes with these 6 Innovative Business Models

In a world dominated by linear business models, where the extractive “take-make-waste” approach prevails, circular business models emerge as a beacon of hope for a sustainable future. These 6 innovative models stand at the forefront of a circular economy.

How to design your Sustainability Strategy – The three types of initiatives you should have

Moving to Net Zero is going to take some time and therefore businesses need to balance short-term and long-term priorities. This post discusses the three types of initiatives you should have in your sustainability strategy to manage this balance.

How to Design a Winning and Sustainable Business Model

A business model is basically how a company creates value for itself while delivering products or services for its customers.

What manoeuver warfare theory taught me about sustainability and innovation

Manoeuvre warfare is characterised by an uncertain environment, access to imperfect and incomplete information, and significant barriers to achieving the mission. Sound familiar? As sustainability innovators we are often trying to create new innovative products...

Sustainable Business Model Innovation – Project Turns Ghost Fishing Nets into Carpet

How you can use business model innovation to develop sustainability strategies to support an existing business’ core product offering through a case study on one of the world’s leading sustainable companies, Interface.

Business Model Innovation – The Secret Weapon of your Sustainability Strategy

In this post you will learn about the 11 key building blocks of a sustainable business model and how business model innovation can become your sustainability strategy secret weapon in the fight to deliver positive social and environmental impacts. But remember – with...

11 STEPS TO CREATING A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL THAT WORKS

Sustainable business model design In this post you will learn how to use a tool called the business model canvas to develop effective and impactful solutions for environmental and social impact. The post also includes real word case studies to demonstrate how you can...

The Science of Persuasion and Influence for Sustainability Webinar

Join our webinar to master the Science of Persuasion in sustainability. Learn how to effectively communicate and overcome objections, gaining buy-in for your eco-friendly products or services. Perfect for professionals and entrepreneurs who want to influence decision-makers and drive sustainable change.

How to Win an Argument for a Sustainability Initiative

Neuroscientist Tali Sharot offers strategies to persuade people to support sustainability initiatives. Key approaches include starting with common ground, highlighting majority behavior, giving a sense of control, pairing data with narratives, and addressing confirmation bias. These methods help create more compelling arguments and foster greater support for sustainability efforts.

The Untold Secrets to Selling Sustainable Products

Despite high consumer interest in sustainability, eco-friendly products struggle with low actual purchasing rates. Marketing expert Edwin Stafford suggests focusing on product benefits beyond sustainability, providing specific environmental claims instead of general ones, and targeting mainstream influencers rather than just eco-conscious groups. This balances eco-friendliness with customer priorities, increasing the chance of successful sales.

How to get others to take action on sustainability

Whether tackling global issues like climate change, challenges within your own organisation, or even scaling your sustainable business the key to getting action is the ability to influence behaviour.

The most important leadership skill for sustainability professionals

The article discusses the most important leadership skill every sustainability professional should have – the ability to influence and persuade others.

How to get more buy-in for your sustainability initiatives

This article will help you learn a simple technique to uncover reasons for people to “buy-in” to your sustainability initiative.

How to win more sustainable projects for your architecture practice

This post will give you a simple 5 step sales framework to help you win more projects in your architecture practice.

Why your sustainable building company needs a sales process

In this post you will learn a step by step sales process for your building and construction company.

The 7 parts of the ultimate presentation or proposal

The ultimate 7 part pitch formula that will help you create the best, most memorable, most compelling and most engaging presentation or proposal you have ever put together.

We are Making a Lifestyle TV Show to take Sustainable Housing to a Mass Audience

Our New Lifestyle TV Show to take Sustainable Housing to a Mass Audience In this post you will learn about the latest behavioural science insights associated with consumers attitudes towards sustainability and how we are using this to create a new lifestyle TV show to...

How to use the Blue Ocean Strategy to scale Sustainability Solutions

Applying the Blue Ocean Strategy to your sustainability strategy can help your organisation to reduce costs, generate new profit streams, and deliver sustainability goals.

The most important leadership skill for sustainability professionals

The article discusses the most important leadership skill every sustainability professional should have – the ability to influence and persuade others.

Unlocking Sustainability Success: The Hidden Flaw in Gantt Charts and How to Overcome It

In this article I explain a hidden flaw in gantt charts that is sabotaging your sustainability initiatives. You’ll also discover a method to overcome this flaw.

4 Sustainability Mistakes to Avoid and How to Fix Them

This article identifies four practices that are likely sabotaging your sustainability efforts and how to fix them.

How to be innovative in sustainability

For many businesses, innovation means getting together for a brainstorming workshop to come up with ideas out of the blue, in the hope that one of these ideas will stick. But there is more to it than that.

How to design your Sustainability Strategy – The three types of initiatives you should have

Moving to Net Zero is going to take some time and therefore businesses need to balance short-term and long-term priorities. This post discusses the three types of initiatives you should have in your sustainability strategy to manage this balance.

What manoeuver warfare theory taught me about sustainability and innovation

Manoeuvre warfare is characterised by an uncertain environment, access to imperfect and incomplete information, and significant barriers to achieving the mission. Sound familiar? As sustainability innovators we are often trying to create new innovative products...

Business Model Innovation – The Secret Weapon of your Sustainability Strategy

In this post you will learn about the 11 key building blocks of a sustainable business model and how business model innovation can become your sustainability strategy secret weapon in the fight to deliver positive social and environmental impacts. But remember – with...

Want to Deliver a Successful Sustainability Strategy? Then Stop Talking About the Environment

Why understanding that nobody cares about you sustainability plan is a good thing and the three things you should consider next time you come up with your next sustainability plan if you want it to succeed.

How to Experiment Like a Startup to Deliver Amazing Sustainability Outcomes

Learn how a young man asking a simple question trying to get home for Christmas turned this hypothesis into the world’s leading carpooling platform, connecting millions people going the same way…

Please Share with your Network Because...

...it might be just the solution someone else needs today to change the world.