Designing for Sustainable Behaviour in High-density Space: Household and Community Participation in Waste Recycling in Hong Kong
Xiao Jia Xin (2017)
Environmentalists, researchers, designers and policymakers have made tremendous efforts to reduce and recycle waste. Yet, there is still a lack of systematic studies that investigate sustainable recycling behaviour in the field of design. With a contextual framework that encompasses the physical, social and socio-cultural contexts, this study addresses the significance of contextual factors for improving household recycling and design opportunities. Utilising the findings from a theoretical review and an empirical study on household recycling in Hong Kong, this research investigates the possible design opportunities for household recycling in high-density cities. The result identifies ‘intervention’ and ‘collaboration’ as two main approaches to influence human behaviour. The changing of human behaviour through design requires an in-depth understanding of people’s needs, acceptances and responses, and the social effects of the interventions in the context of their particular situation. This thesis concludes with four behaviour models with suggestions on the applicability of design interventions and collaboration to impact user behaviour.
