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Behaviour Change Consulting
Behavioural Change Consulting
Creating real change within the workplace, community or at a regional or national level is about more than a one-way conversation.
Traditional marketing mediums and communications just aren’t going to cut it, which means that you risk wasting time, money and effort AND ultimately end up with an ineffective campaign that doesn’t bring about the change that you need.
Behaviour change has a central role to play as we work towards a more sustainable future.
To bring about the change you need to have a realistic understanding of how and why people behave in the way that they do which isn’t a linear process, because, for the majority of people, knowing that you should do something and actually doing it are two very different things.
“There is a broad societal desire to become more sustainable, less wasteful and more efficient, however there are barriers to this becoming a reality. First, not everyone shares these desires. Second, those who do may not actually behave in accordance with these desires.” (Carl Hughes)
Behaviours are not straightforward, and we are often motivated by the action that takes least effort.
As Daniel Kahneman, author of “Think Fast and Slow” and Nobel Prize winner puts it:
“Humans are to thinking as cats are to swimming. We can do it when we have to, but we’d much prefer not to.”
One size does not fit all and each project requires developing insight to drivers and barriers to change. Once this is established it is a case of applying the most appropriate behavioural tools to help leverage change.
Behaviour change implementation requires a mix of science, experience and creativity, and it has a huge role to play in overcoming some of our greatest sustainability and societal challenges.
We have the expertise, experience and innovation to help you bring about the change that you need to see. Get is touch with Danielle on Danielle@triterra.co.uk to find out how we can help.
The Science of Sustainable Behaviour Change
Northern Ireland’s Only Behavioural Change Specialist for Sustainability
Most sustainability initiatives fail not because of poor planning, but because of human psychology. After 20 years implementing environmental programmes across Northern Ireland and Ireland, we’ve learned that the gap between intention and action is where most sustainability efforts die.
Triterra brings something unique to the sustainability sector: genuine behavioural change expertise combined with environmental knowledge and practical implementation experience. We don’t just tell you what needs to change—we understand the psychological mechanisms that drive change and design interventions that actually work.
This isn’t generic change management or corporate training. This is evidence-based behavioural science applied to sustainability challenges, delivered by Northern Ireland’s only environmental consultant with specialist behavioural change expertise.
Why Traditional Approaches Fail
The Sustainability Behaviour Gap: Understanding the Challenge
Research consistently shows that 70% of sustainability programmes fail to achieve their objectives. Why? Because they ignore fundamental truths about human behaviour:
The Awareness Myth Simply telling people about environmental impacts doesn’t change behaviour. If information alone worked, we’d all exercise daily, eat perfectly, and never procrastinate. Your employees knowing about sustainability doesn’t mean they’ll act sustainably.
The Motivation Fallacy Even motivated individuals struggle with behaviour change. We’ve seen passionate sustainability champions unable to shift their organisation’s practices because enthusiasm alone doesn’t overcome systemic barriers.
The Policy Pitfall Writing policies doesn’t change behaviour. We’ve reviewed hundreds of sustainability policies gathering dust whilst organisations continue operating exactly as before. Policies without behaviour change are expensive paper exercises.
The Technology Trap New systems and technologies fail when people don’t adopt them properly. That expensive waste management system or energy monitoring platform is worthless if behaviours don’t change to support it.
Our Behavioural Change Methodology
The Triterra Behaviour Change Framework: From Insight to Impact
Our approach combines established behavioural science principles with practical sustainability expertise:
Phase 1: Behavioural Diagnosis
- Identifying current behaviours through observation and data analysis
- Understanding the context, triggers, and rewards maintaining existing behaviours
- Mapping barriers preventing desired behaviours
- Discovering drivers that could motivate change
- Segmenting audiences based on behaviour patterns, not demographics
Phase 2: Intervention Design
- Nudge Techniques: Environmental changes that make sustainable choices easier
- Social Proof: Leveraging peer influence and social norms
- Commitment Devices: Building accountability and consistency
- Feedback Loops: Providing visible progress and impact
- Habit Formation: Creating automatic sustainable behaviours
- Choice Architecture: Restructuring decisions to favour sustainable options
Phase 3: Implementation & Testing
- Pilot programmes to test effectiveness before full rollout
- A/B testing different approaches to optimise impact
- Gradual scaling based on what works in your specific context
- Building internal capability for sustained change
Phase 4: Measurement & Refinement
- Behavioural metrics that go beyond awareness surveys
- Tracking actual behaviour change, not just intentions
- Continuous refinement based on data
- Long-term monitoring to ensure lasting change
Behavioural Change Applications
Transforming Sustainability Challenges Through Behaviour Science
Workplace Sustainability Behaviours
Transform your office into a model of sustainable practice:
- Energy conservation behaviours that reduce consumption by 20-30%
- Waste reduction through behavioural interventions, not just bins
- Sustainable travel choices through commute behaviour change
- Resource efficiency embedded in daily routines
- Meeting and email behaviours that reduce carbon footprint
Employee Engagement Programmes
Move beyond awareness campaigns to genuine engagement:
- Building intrinsic motivation for sustainability
- Creating sustainability champions who actually influence others
- Overcoming resistance and scepticism
- Embedding sustainability in company culture
- Making sustainability personally relevant to every employee
Supply Chain Behaviour Change
Influence behaviours throughout your value chain:
- Supplier engagement that drives genuine change
- Customer behaviour change for sustainable consumption
- Partner collaboration through aligned incentives
- Stakeholder behaviours that support your sustainability goals
Community & Public Behaviour Change
Scale impact beyond your organisation:
- Public behaviour change campaigns that deliver results
- Community engagement for environmental programmes
- Resident behaviour change for councils and housing associations
- Visitor behaviour in tourism and hospitality settings
Organisational Culture Change
Embed sustainability in your organisation’s DNA:
- Leadership behaviours that model sustainability
- Decision-making processes that prioritise sustainability
- Innovation behaviours that generate sustainable solutions
- Collaboration behaviours that break down silos
Sector-Specific Behavioural Solutions
Tailored Behaviour Change for Your Industry
Hospitality & Tourism We’ve helped major hotel groups like Galgorm Collection and Hastings Hotels address:
- Guest behaviours around towel reuse, energy, and waste
- Staff behaviours in housekeeping, kitchen, and front office
- Creating sustainable experiences guests actually want
- Balancing luxury service with environmental responsibility
Public Sector & Government Supporting all 11 Northern Ireland councils and government departments with:
- Citizen behaviour change for recycling and waste reduction
- Employee behaviours in government buildings
- Public engagement in environmental programmes
- Policy implementation through behaviour change
Manufacturing & Industry Driving operational sustainability through:
- Shop floor behaviours for resource efficiency
- Safety and environmental behaviour integration
- Lean and sustainability behaviour alignment
- Innovation behaviours for circular economy
Office-Based Businesses Creating sustainable workplaces through:
- Hybrid working behaviours for reduced emissions
- Digital behaviours reducing paper and energy
- Procurement behaviours favouring sustainable choices
- Meeting and travel behaviours cutting carbon
The Behavioural Tools We Use
Evidence-Based Techniques for Lasting Change
EAST Framework
Making sustainable behaviours Easy, Attractive, Social, and Timely:
- Reducing friction for sustainable choices
- Making sustainability appealing, not preachy
- Leveraging social influence and norms
- Targeting interventions at decision moments
COM-B Model
Addressing Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation:
- Building skills and knowledge for sustainable behaviours
- Creating environmental conditions that enable change
- Developing both reflective and automatic motivation
Nudge Techniques
Gentle pushes toward sustainable choices:
- Default options favouring sustainability
- Visual prompts and reminders at point of decision
- Simplification of sustainable choices
- Feedback on behaviour impact
Habit Loop Design
Creating automatic sustainable behaviours:
- Identifying cue-routine-reward patterns
- Designing new sustainable habit loops
- Breaking unsustainable habit cycles
- Building habit stacks for multiple behaviours
Social Cognitive Theory
Leveraging social learning and influence:
- Role modelling sustainable behaviours
- Peer influence and social proof
- Building self-efficacy for change
- Creating positive reinforcement systems
Measuring Behaviour Change Success
Beyond Surveys: Real Behaviour Metrics
Traditional awareness surveys tell you what people think, not what they do. Our measurement approaches capture actual behaviour change:
Behavioural KPIs
- Observation data on actual behaviours
- Digital analytics showing behaviour patterns
- Resource consumption linked to behaviour
- Participation rates in sustainable practices
- Habit formation indicators
Impact Metrics
- Carbon reduction from behaviour change
- Waste diverted through changed practices
- Energy saved via behaviour interventions
- Cost savings from sustainable behaviours
- Engagement scores showing cultural shift
Longitudinal Tracking
- Baseline behaviour measurement
- Intervention impact assessment
- Sustained change verification
- Decay curve analysis
- Long-term habit formation
Case Study Approaches
How We’ve Applied Behavioural Science for Real Results
Government Environmental Campaigns
Working with Tourism Northern Ireland and DAERA, we’ve designed behaviour change campaigns that:
- Moved beyond awareness to action
- Achieved measurable behaviour shifts
- Created lasting change in target populations
- Delivered value for public investment
Council Recycling Programmes
Supporting all 11 Northern Ireland councils, we’ve:
- Increased recycling rates through behavioural interventions
- Reduced contamination through targeted behaviour change
- Improved resident engagement without enforcement
- Created sustainable behaviour patterns
Hospitality Sustainability
With clients across the hospitality sector, we’ve:
- Changed guest behaviours without impacting satisfaction
- Transformed staff practices while maintaining service standards
- Embedded sustainability in operational behaviours
- Measured and demonstrated real impact
Workplace Transformations
Across diverse organisations, we’ve:
- Reduced energy consumption through behaviour change alone
- Eliminated single-use items through habit change
- Increased sustainable travel without mandates
- Built cultures where sustainability is the norm
Your Behavioural Change Journey
From Understanding to Implementation: How We Work With You
Initial Behavioural Assessment
We begin by understanding your specific behaviour challenges:
- What behaviours need to change?
- Who needs to change?
- What’s preventing change currently?
- What’s driving current behaviours?
- What’s already been tried?
Behavioural Strategy Development
We design a comprehensive behaviour change strategy:
- Evidence-based intervention selection
- Sequenced implementation plan
- Resource and capability requirements
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Success metrics and monitoring plan
Pilot Programme Design
Before full implementation, we test and refine:
- Small-scale trials to prove concepts
- A/B testing of different approaches
- Rapid iteration based on results
- Building evidence for scaling
Full Implementation Support
We support you through complete rollout:
- Launch planning and execution
- Stakeholder communication
- Progress monitoring and troubleshooting
- Continuous optimisation
- Capability building for sustainability
Long-term Embedding
Ensuring changes stick:
- Habit formation support
- Culture change reinforcement
- System and process integration
- Ongoing measurement and refinement
- Knowledge transfer for independence
The Investment Case
Why Behavioural Change Delivers ROI
Cost-Effective Impact
Behaviour change often delivers greater results than technology investment:
- 20-30% energy reduction through behaviour versus expensive upgrades
- Waste reduction without new infrastructure
- Improved efficiency using existing resources
- Cultural change that compounds over time
Risk Mitigation
Reduce the 70% failure rate of sustainability initiatives:
- Evidence-based approaches reduce implementation risk
- Pilot testing prevents costly mistakes
- Stakeholder buy-in reduces resistance
- Measurable results justify continued investment
Competitive Advantage
Lead your sector in genuine sustainability:
- Authentic sustainability that customers recognise
- Employee pride and retention
- Reputation enhancement
- First-mover advantage in your market
Lasting Value
Unlike one-off initiatives, behaviour change creates permanent value:
- Embedded habits that don’t require ongoing investment
- Culture change that survives leadership transitions
- Capability that remains in your organisation
- Continuous improvement mindset
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from change management? Change management focuses on process and structure. Behavioural change addresses the psychology of why people do what they do, using scientific principles to design interventions that actually shift behaviour.
How long does behaviour change take? Initial changes can happen within weeks, but lasting habit formation typically takes 8-12 weeks. Cultural change requires 6-12 months of consistent reinforcement.
Can you guarantee behaviour change? While we can’t control individual choices, our evidence-based approaches significantly increase success probability. Our pilot-test-scale methodology minimises risk and maximises impact.
Do you work with small organisations? Yes. Behavioural principles scale to any size. We’ve worked with small businesses through to government departments, adapting our approach to your context and resources.
What if we’ve already tried and failed? Previous failures often reveal valuable insights. We analyse what didn’t work and why, using these lessons to design more effective interventions.
How do you measure behaviour change? Through multiple methods: observation, digital analytics, resource consumption data, participation metrics, and longitudinal tracking. We measure what people do, not just what they say.
Start Your Behaviour Change Journey
Ready to Transform Intentions into Actions?
Stop wasting resources on sustainability initiatives that don’t deliver. With Northern Ireland’s only behavioural change specialist for sustainability, you’ll move from awareness to action, from policy to practice, from intention to impact.
Our unique combination of behavioural science expertise, environmental knowledge, and 20 years’ implementation experience means we understand both the psychology of change and the practicalities of sustainability.
Take the First Step:
Free Behavioural Assessment Call 30-minute consultation to discuss your behaviour challenges and explore potential solutions.
Behaviour Change Readiness Audit Understand your organisation’s capacity for behaviour change and identify quick wins.
Pilot Programme Proposal Receive a tailored proposal for a low-risk pilot to prove behaviour change impact.
Don’t let another sustainability initiative fail because you ignored the human factor. Contact Northern Ireland’s behavioural change experts today.