Promoting sustainable behaviors through mobile apps: SBAM design guidelines

Environmental change must be addressed as an urgent matter that directly affects each one of us, rather than being viewed solely as a future concern. Indeed, when combined, the actions of individuals can make a significant difference in addressing the global cli- mate crisis. To achieve this, besides raising awareness about the issue and the potential impact each individual can have, a collective endeavor is necessary. This entails a shift, ranging from subtle to substantial, in people’s mindsets, behaviors, and habits concern- ing consumption, mobility, and other crucial facets of daily life. The design of interactive technologies, especially mobile applications, can play a pivotal role in this context. This is due to the growing dependence individuals have on these personal tools to enhance various aspects of their lives. Starting from an overview of key theories regarding human behav- iors and habits, we examine insights gained from persuasive technologies, interventions targeting digital behavior change, nudges, and gamification. Subsequently, we formulate design guidelines for mobile applications with the objective of cultivating more sustainable behaviors and habits (referred to as SBAM—Sustainable Behavior Applications for Mobile devices). We prototype an exemplary mobile application compliant with the guidelines and validate them in terms of their expected efficacy in fostering sustainable behaviors and habits by means of a focus group with 9 green users.