Does providing information about cleaning increase people’s willingness to (re)use bowls that show signs of previous use?

Systems for reusing containers (e.g., for takeaway food) represent one way to reduce waste. However, evidence suggests that people are relatively unwilling to reuse containers, especially if they show signs of previous use. The present research investigated the hypothesis that providing information about cleaning would increase willingness to reuse containers for takeaway food and reduce concerns about contamination. Study 1 found that information about cleaning decreased, rather than increased, participants’ willingness to reuse visibly stained bowls. Study 2 found no effects from the information about cleaning on willingness to reuse bowls or the accessibility of contamination concerns, although information about cleaning reduced self-reported concerns about hygienic contamination. Taken together, the findings suggest that exposure to information designed to reassure users that containers are properly cleaned is not an effective way to increase engagement with reuse systems for takeaway food. Further studies are therefore needed to test alternative ways to increase people’s willingness to reuse containers that show signs of prior use.