BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGE: Encouraging employees to act and think water-smart
In the autumn of 2019, Laholmsbuktens VA took a decisive step: they wanted to inspire their employees to adopt more water-smart behaviours not just talk about them. The goal? To lead by example and create positive impact for customers, partners, and the local community.
Together with Nudgd, we conducted a behavioural analysis followed by a campaign designed to make sustainable habits both easy and fun.
SMART NUDGE: Cake party and friendly reminders
The core of the campaign was to highlight concrete, everyday water-smart actions. Employees were encouraged to submit examples, their own or a colleague’s, of clever ways to use water responsibly.
The ideas that received the most votes won, and the reward was a cake celebration for the winning team. The celebration was documented and showcased internally on the intranet and digital screens, building pride and visibility.
In parallel, we placed playful stickers in unexpected locations featuring “water-dwelling animals” greeting employees at the coffee machine, sinks, and showers. Small visual nudges offering light-hearted hints and friendly reminders to act water-smart, without any finger-wagging.
RESULTS: Increased awareness and engagement around water-smart behaviour
The campaign generated strong engagement among employees and clear indications that water-smart behaviour was becoming more top-of-mind. Many employees reported that they both act more water-smart and view it as increasingly important in their daily routines.
The insights were collected through six voting screens placed in staff areas. While the study was intentionally small-scale, the results still offered valuable directional evidence: the nudges successfully captured attention, sparked conversations, and encouraged employees to reflect on their own habits.
Just as importantly, the initiative created cultural momentum. Employees began sharing ideas, noticing each other’s good examples, and discussing water use more openly, a key step toward long-term behavioural change.
Even modest interventions can have a meaningful ripple effect, and this project clearly showed how small nudges can activate curiosity, pride, and everyday action.
“The cake campaign encouraged employees to submit their best water-smart actions and the winners were celebrated with cake.”
"The stickers gave employees playful cues and friendly reminders right in the moment, exactly where water-smart choices are made.
"
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?
Do you have questions about the project, or do you want to find out how your organization can do something similar?
Contact Katharina Paoli Brunat, CEO at Nudgd.
THANK YOU
We would like to thank Laholmsbuktens VA for your willingness to test nudging and behavioral design as a method to help your employees make sustainable choices.
We would also like to give a big thank you to all the dedicated staff at Laholmsbuktens VA who made it possible to implement the campaigns with their involvement.