When people think of eco-friendly solutions, they usually picture solar panels, electric cars, or recycled materials. But some of the most powerful tools for sustainability are invisible—hidden in the way apps and products are designed.

This is where green nudges come in. A green nudge is a subtle design choice that encourages people to make environmentally friendly decisions—without force, guilt, or even noticing. It’s based on behavioral science, and it’s surprisingly effective.

Design That Changes Habits

Let’s say you’re using a map app. If biking, walking, or public transit shows up first—before driving—you’re more likely to choose that route. Why? Because what we see first matters. It feels like the “default,” even if other options are available.

Now imagine a car-sharing app. It seems sustainable, right? But what if it constantly offers you driving routes, promotions, or shortcuts—even when walking or cycling would work? That’s a design backfire. Instead of reducing car use, it encourages more of it.

That’s why intentional, ethical design is so important. Designers have the power to steer choices—quietly but powerfully—just by how an app is structured.

What the Research Says

A study by the Behavioral Insights Team in the UK found that changing the default printer setting to double-sided reduced paper use by up to 40%, without telling users to do anything differently.
In Austria, when a bike rental app made cycling the default option, usage rose by 15%—simply due to the order of choices.
In Sweden, eco-labeled groceries placed at eye level saw significantly more purchases than those placed lower—even when both had the same price.

Design Tricks That Work

Here are some common nudging techniques in green interface design:

Choice Architecture: The way options are arranged influences what we choose. (e.g. putting "Bike" first in a route planner)
Default Settings: Most people stick with defaults. If the default is eco-friendly, so is their behavior.
Visual Cues: Colors, icons, and symbols can signal what’s “better” or “recommended” (e.g. green leaves, Earth icons).
Feedback Loops: Apps that track emissions or show energy savings help users feel the impact of their choices.

Fun Fact

BJ Fogg, a behavior design expert, found that people change best when they feel motivated and able—and when the new habit is made easy.

Great design helps increase both! It doesn’t just tell people to go green. It makes the green option the easiest, most appealing, and most natural choice.

So next time you’re using an app, ask yourself: Is this interface gently nudging me toward a better habit—or pushing me in the wrong direction?