Take Me with You! Economic Incentives, Nudging Interventions, and Reusable Shopping Bags: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Little is known about the impact of policy interventions other than taxes and bans to reduce demand for single use plastic bags. More specifically, influence environmental nudges financial bonuses curb bag purchase consumption largely understudied. To fill this gap, we run an RCT with loyalty card holders one biggest supermarket chains in Yerevan (Armenia) test compare based on bonuses. We manipulate type intervention – either a bonus or nudge –, presence reusable provided free not size small big. Compared baseline setting no intervention, both serve as effective instruments disposable purchase. Moreover, bags combination are more alone. Finally, substantially nudge, irrespective absence/presence