It is well known that acting on behaviors is an essential component of the transition towards sustainability.
Multiple disciplines study human behaviors and how to support effective and lasting behavioral changes. A challenging research issue is to develop approaches for their integration.
In particular, the diffusion of “good” behaviors can be supported by tools that allow to build awareness about the effects of one own’s actions and to make people responsible for lifestyle, common goods and the environment, thus catalyzing change.
Such tools can integrate technological components and aspects of communication, involvement and education. Examples include “community-based” systems of knowledge and action, game-reward initiatives, co-design techniques, decision aiding models.
There are today favorable and enabling conditions for the development of these tools thanks to technological progress and social innovation.
At Politecnico di Milano several research projects have tested or are testing innovative tools for behavioral change, often involving the competences of more departments and in partnership with other experts and stakeholders.
In 2018, we started identifying and analysing such projects and presented an overview of them. We have now created an online catalogue that allows to explore the variety of experiences by theme, SDGs impacted, targets addressed, kind of tools developed and applied.