Table A1.

Supporting data for the typology of Four practice states

ParticipantInterview dataFB dataObservation (authors’ reflection)1234Empirical illustrations
MayaInterested in reducing packaging waste through creative craftingEngaged in creative reuse, such as painting paper plates and repurposing sauce containers into vasesJoined the campaign to learn from others’ hobbies, skills, and ideas for reducing waste - believing it benefits family, community, and the planet √  2: Maya’s packaging waste practices are in-transition, shaped by her actions and beliefs
Wanted to explore creative ways to reduce food waste. Tried bulk cooking to save ingredients and energy, but found it conflicted with cultural norms and family’s preference for freshly cooked mealsShared ideas for creating new meals by reusing leftoverHighly engaged in learning and applying new waste reduction practices√√ √1: Always keen on reducing waste - a mindset shaped by childhood teachings from family and Chinese schooling, which emphasised healthy, low-waste habits. as she says, “Maybe this thinking is from my childhood when I am child, my husband and my parents just teaching me and also you know Chinese schools will teaching us to reduce waste and to just keep more healthy habits”. 2: Has begun turning leftovers into refreshed meals for the next day 4: Tried bulk cooking as a new practice, but gave up due to cultural values favouring freshly cooked food
Learned through the campaign that being organised helps reduce raw food waste   √  2: Started meal planning and shopping accordingly, resulting in less raw food waste
AdrianAdrian joined the campaign already practising sustainable living, shaped by his upbringing and family routines. He was already engaged in actions like turning off taps while brushing, reducing water use, and avoiding food waste Appeared less engaged overall, but shared more when topics related to family practices√   1: Adrian’s water-saving habits stem from childhood teachings. His Indian cultural background views food as sacred and wasting it is considered bad luck and morally wrong. “… I come from India, which is basically where you worship food as you do worship God, so you’ve got, right. So in my experience and my culture, if you, you know, throw out any, you know, leftover food, it’s considered to be a bad omen”
Adrian resisted certain practices often linked to convenience or personal discomfortAdrian made three posts during the campaign: used cruise control, tried public transport to university despite initial reluctance, and dried clothes outdoorsAdrian didn’t contribute to the food waste challenge. In the interview, he suggested this was because his family already did enough and he didn’t see what more he could add  √ 3: “I guess one thing I’m really “eh” [disgusting expression] about is composting” “Yeah, worms and all that. Yeah, I’m just too much. I’m the guy who’s scared of spiders…” Adrian described composting as “too dirty”, expressing fear and disgust (of worms and spiders)
AndyThe campaign prompted Andy to reflect on and reconfigure taken-for-granted routines. He monitored habits like showering and ordering UberEats, and experimented with more sustainable alternativesAndy’s post revealed both intention and slippage. He planned to visit the French Markets for sustainable produce but ended up driving into the city for a café instead – “Our thoughts were in the right place… but they were shut down” this dual-layer example highlights how fragile pro-sustainability intentions can be when routines are disruptedFelt weak on embodied quadrant. While Andy mentioned “Our family doesn’t waste food…” and send extra to cousins or neighbours - this reflects ingrained practice but were not central to his narrative √  2: To shorten his showers, he initially used a timed YouTube video: “I automatically…don’t need to stand in the shower and contemplate life for the next 10 minutes”. This shows reflexive monitoring and re-embedding “I haven’t spent like $40 this week on Uber eats, which is, which is great … routine of coming down to have food or, like, even just eating with mum some days …” This shows conscious reflection and small but significant reconfigurations of routine, often anchored in familial or socialised values
 Andy demonstrated moments of genuine intention to adopt new practices but factors like comfort, predictability, and time pressure eventually pulled him back to old routinesAndy showed strong effort in trying new practices, though not always successfully; his environmentally conscious girlfriend was a key influence   √4: His holiday “failures” – opting for Ubers and convenience food illustrate genuine intent but difficulty sustaining new habits. Anticipated reversals, like longer showers in winter or slipping back into Uber Eats, further highlight the fragility of these habits under comfort and situational pressure
DavidThe campaign helped david to reflect on small, taken-for-granted routines like leaving the tap running while scrubbing dishes, which had long been unconscious but became visible as wasteful during the campaign. He describes this as “fighting my unconscious mind”. He linked these reflections to lessons from his mother, who instilled water-saving habits and eco-conscious routines during his upbringing. As he put it: “I think the most significant thing has just been kind of a big growth in my awareness of my own habits and the sustainability of kind of my lifestyle… I just started to notice the little things, pay more attention to how I behave on a daily basis and what the consequences of that are on the environment and my use of food or water or electricity or whatever”David shared a FB post that captured his awareness of a values-action gap: “here I am taking an environment course – with all the resources online – but I’m using refill paper for notes! …” This post reflects his recognition of misalignment between his sustainability ideals and daily actions, prompting reflection on ordinary habitsDavid seems knowledgeable about sustainable living, strongly influenced by his mother’s role in council recycling. He noted that recycling was “big time” in his family and shaped his outlook. At the same time, he reflected on the dissonance “between who I thought I was and what I actually did”, acknowledging gaps between his sustainability ideals and his everyday routines √  2: David described his dishwashing habit change as “fighting my unconscious mind… when it is in my mind and I’m thinking about it, I will remember to shut off the tap”, noting steady improvement by week three. He linked this shift back to his mother’s influence and early family lessons about resource use. He also reported success in adopting paperless study, saying “I’ve completely stopped using refill paper for my university notes and I’ve all got it online now”
Family socialisation shaped David’s long-standing routines, including brand preferences, recycling, composting, and careful meal planning. His mother’s work in Council Waste Solutions reinforced these practices, which became normalised in his household  √   1: David linked his product preferences to family influence: “It’s kind of a habit I actually picked up from my family and my mum in particular … fair trade bananas… eco-friendly washing powder…” Similarly, his approach to meal planning and storage - shopping in bulk every 2–3 weeks, freezing food, and using Tupperware was shaped by routines normalised in his household
In several areas of daily life, David defaulted to convenience and efficiency as ends in themselves, even when aware of more sustainable alternatives. These choices highlight the tension between his sustainability knowledge and his preference for ease    √ 3: David acknowledged several lapses where convenience prevailed over sustainability. For instance, he admitted, “…it gets late. I know I could cook, but I can’t be bothered doing it”, and reflected on forgetting containers at work: “I know I could be bringing stuff from home and I don’t. That’s not great… Just this once…” Although he knew how to recycle soft plastics and e-waste, he confessed it was “very disruptive” and often left them piling up at home. He also adopted his flatmate’s paper towel habit, saying “it’s just really convenient… I kind of picked it up and now I do it as well”. Ultimately, he justified some behaviours as “costs or actions I’m willing to accept as OK”, reflecting a selective acceptance of non-sustainable practices
NoahThe campaign prompted Noah to reflect on habits like leaving the tap running or washing denim too often. These changes built on lessons from his family home, where his father used a sink of soapy water for dishes and laundry was line-dried. He explained, “that’s all a habit is really right. It’s the process that you used to do things. But if you change the way that you do that thing by changing the process and you just do it enough times that you change the habit…” Noah’s story illustrates how the campaign helped him rediscover sustainable routines learned in his family home, translate them into conscious practices, and begin to stabilise them as new habits √  2: Noah described his shift in dishwashing routines as a return to family practices: “Yeah, I don’t think it would be too hard to switch to it. I have done it before though, like obviously my like I said, my family does that. That’s what they did. And my dad Yeah, he do the dishwasher and fill up the sink with hot, soapy water and watch everything else and there and then drain it at the end”. He also highlighted a clothing care change that came easily: “…not washing my denims is one thing that I never used to do. That one wasn’t hard to switch because that’s just less effort. So it’s easy to not do that”
Noah also displayed moments where intent did not translate into sustained actionDuring a trip, Noah admitted in a FB post, “Failed already… road trip coffee stop…” This lapse mirrored his interview reflections that practices like shorter showers, keep cup use, or switching off devices were hard to sustain when disrupted by travel or comfort. These moments revealed the fragility of his new routines    √4: Noah admitted that he often forgot his keep cup when routines shifted and sometimes disposed of food scraps in the rubbish when the compost bin was full. He also experimented with cold showers and turning off devices before going out, but ultimately abandoned both, preferring the comfort of warm showers and the convenience of leaving his computer on for remote access
Pamela Pamela highlighted her preference for cloth kitchen towels over disposable rolls, describing them as economical, sustainable, and easy to reuse. This reflects embodied practices instilled by her mother, who normalised cloth use in the household. She also favoured using a broomstick and dustpan rather than a vacuum cleaner for wooden floors, another embodied practice shaped by her family home where simplicity was part of everyday routines √   1: Pamela traced many of her embodied practices to her mother’s influence. She explained that reusing tins and takeaway containers was “a very Indian trait” and recalled, “…if I tell my mom I’m throwing away boxes, she would give me the dirt. She would be like, what is wrong with you?” Similarly, she described how cloth kitchen towels came naturally to her: “I don’t wash it every single time… it comes a little bit naturally because I’ve seen my mom using [them]”. She also noted her preference for a broomstick over a vacuum, a simpler routine normalised in her family home
The campaign encouraged Pamela to reconsider everyday routines she had never thought of as sustainable. This reframing enabled her to see herself differently and to make more deliberate changes Pamela admitted she had not recognised some of her everyday routines as sustainable until the campaign made her more aware. Although she still hesitated to describe herself as highly responsible, she became more conscious of her actions. Her story reflects both rediscovery (reframing family-taught practices such as lid cooking and water saving as sustainable) and repair as she acknowledged her own efforts and began to rework her identity as someone who contributes to sustainability √  2: Pamela explained that several of her changes came from family lessons in frugality, such as water saving and cooking with lids. She recalled, “I did not realize that one, but I have been doing that - close the pan with a lid while cooking it”. Through the campaign, she reinterpreted these habits as sustainable. She was also influenced by peers in the group, noting, “I wasn’t aware that you could do that with your food containers as well. That is something that I only recently learned on the group”
Convenience, comfort, or infrastructure constraints limit adoption despite motivation Keeping long hair does have deep cultural and traditional roots in India  √ 3: Pamela explained that she “wants to compost” but apartment living with no outdoor space makes it impractical, though she had composted at work through a rostered system. She also anticipated that heat pump use in winter would likely persist. On hair-wash days, she admitted that shorter showers felt unrealistic, saying it would require her to “cut my hair really short”. Weekend takeaway meals, while valued as a couple activity, created a dilemma by producing extra container waste
SandyThe campaign raised Sandy’s awareness of taken-for-granted routines, enabling her to reframe them as sustainable and re-anchor them as part of her identity. This process also allowed her to reconnect with positive emotions such as pride, draw on family practices, and strengthen her self-narrative around sustainabilitySandy described one of her actions as “accidentally sustainable” when she practised watercolour painting and gave her artwork as gifts instead of buying presents. What began as a creative, low-cost activity became reframed as waste reduction. Her posts often captured small shifts in everyday life, such as energy use, rinsing recyclables, and food storage, with one example showing how “practicing sustainability together with partner’s mom” reinforced these meaningful changes.Sandy was one of the most active participants, sharing numerous stories that reflected her strong environmental awareness. She showed clear motivation and effort in experimenting with new practices, demonstrating sustained engagement throughout the project √  2: Sandy previously relied on dryer (washing late at night). The campaign prompted her to restructure her laundry routine in the mornings so she could air dry clothes which she now sees as “new normal”. “It felt like a sacrifice at first, but now that I look back, I think it’s actually made me have much better habits… But then I got over it”. She described how the campaign prompted her to restructure routines: “it felt like a sacrifice at first, but now… it’s actually made me have much better habits… and now it’s my new normal”. She admitted she had “never thought to switch off lights before the campaign” but explained that “every day there is a little voice in my head… that wasn’t as loud before. That’s a bit louder now”. She also shared food-saving hacks like keeping avocado in water and air-sealing salad leaves. These experiences helped her reframe waste guilt into empowerment: “I’ve definitely got enough guilt and enough feeling empowered that I can do it, that I’m making change”
These examples show how her genuine intent being disrupted by her attachment to comfort (e.g. showers) and situational pressures which made some new practices hard to sustain. These examples showed how sandy’s intent was disrupted by comfort and circumstance. She admitted that some practices, particularly showers, were hard to give up, and acknowledged that situational pressures often made new routines difficult to sustainSandy admitted to “accidentally leaving half the house lights on” and struggling with water use in showers. She also reflected on a road trip where she slipped back into convenience behaviours, producing excess food packaging because she and her partner were unprepared and hungrySandy already practised thrifty, family-rooted routines such as reusing leftovers for meals and helping her mother freeze fruit and juice from their orchard. These habits shaped her self-narrative and awareness of consumption. Yet, despite her strong motivation and conscious effort to adopt new practices, some routines proved difficult to sustain, highlighting the tension between intent and comfort and the fragility of change even for highly engaged participants   √4: She described showers as her toughest challenge: “I think the showering is definitely the one that required the most conscious effort out of everything I did… because I had the most emotional attachment to that”. She also admitted lapses in unplanned moments, such as on a road trip: “I was hungry. We’re on the road… it just did not trigger even when I went to order it… I didn’t even think about being sustainable until after”. Reflecting on convenience food, she explained, “if it’s happened spontaneously and I don’t have a container, I feel really bad ordering it and order it anyway… I probably could have planned ahead… but in the moment it was definitely… unrealistic”
DianneDianne described how she began noticing everyday actions she had not considered before, including turning off lights, bringing a takeaway container, and carrying a reusable water bottle. She explained, “these are the new things that I just adopted after the campaign” and added, “…it’s not really like big things to me until I come to know sustainability from the campaign”. Unlike others who drew on family practices, her shifts were mostly new learnings influenced by the FB groupDianne’s posts illustrated how the campaign nudged her to experiment with new practices she had not previously tried. She treated small acts as learning opportunities, such as unplugging devices once charging was complete, reusing cutlery, accepting a second-hand bag from a friend, and sharing recycling tips she had searched online. She framed these as practical, manageable tweaks she could incorporate into daily lifeDianne actively monitored her everyday routines, paying closer attention to lights, water, plastics, and fashion choices. She introduced small substitutions such as carrying a water bottle and bringing a container for meals, and reworked existing resources by upcycling a keychain and remixing outfits from clothes she already owned √  2: Dianne explained that she found fashion changes practical and doable, saying she was “trying to match clothes that I already have and then make it myself like my old style… I just make it look good. Even if the old clothes”. She also described her pride in upcycling: “I just think maybe I can just make myself [a key chain]… really personalise, really me, and I don’t have to buy new things… I’m quite proud because it’s the first time that I’ve made something handmade”. These creative acts helped her realign her identity as someone who can live more sustainably
Despite her good intentions, Dianne struggled to maintain changes when habits were tied to comfort. Long hot showers and reliance on the heater in winter were routines she anticipated would be difficult to give up once comfort needs took priorityThe same fragility appeared in Dianne’s FB posts, such as when she shared an attempt to reuse a yoghurt container, adding “thinking ways to re-use this one” with a [Graphic]emoji. This combination conveyed both effort and hesitation, implying the practice might not last    √4: Dianne tried to reduce her shower length but admitted it was difficult, as long hot showers made her happy. She rated her motivation to continue with shorter showers at only 3-4 out of 10, and she also anticipated struggling to cut back on heater use during winter
VivianAfter joining the campaign has thought of all the paper waste occurring due to online shopping practice No childhood exposure to sustainability  √ 3: Vivian acknowledged knowing of alternatives to reduce paper waste from online shopping but admitted she did not act on them: “but if I can buy things in shop, this kind of stuff will be avoided. But in the circumstances right now, I don’t think it is possible to go to the store to shop because I just feel like I’m uncomfortable to go out”
Realised about a lot food wastePosted pictures of empty plates at restaurants, or take away parcels to be consumed later    √4: The practice of consuming the take aways did not last as, “I think I kinda sacrificed my happiness a little bit because when I eat She acknowledged that consuming leftovers was not sustainable for her personally, explaining, “I think I kinda sacrificed my happiness a little bit because when I eat leftovers, I feel unhappy. Honestly, I feel unhappy”
Isabelle“To be honest, I never really thought about it. I don’t even know much about on the topic of food waste” She explained that after she began working, she became more cost-conscious and often shopped at clearance stores and op shops for savings. She noted that the campaign made her reflect more deeply, saying, “for me it really gets you thinking a lot… every little thing that I did, I was always kind of like what does this mean in terms of sustainability?” √  2: She described how she adjusted her cooking routine to minimise waste: “So now it’s like, OK, we gotta finish… we still got leftovers in the fridge.” Alongside this, she engaged in other small practices, such as saving water from rice washing and switching to reusable makeup remover wipes. She reflected that rinsing cans was a simple habit she was willing to maintain: “I remember we had the discussion about the recycling thing. So I have been rinsing out the cans… I would keep on doing that. I don’t really see the harm doing it… I think I can definitely do that”
Talks about difficulty with recycling efforts, “you normally eat pizza because you don’t want to cook, and you’re probably tired. Then you’re like, can’t be bothered going into the kitchen. Let’s just get pizza. And then if I’m required to cut the box of our them, like that’s it’s not going to happen” This example illustrates how simplified recycling regulations can promote sustainable practices more effectively than complex systems. It highlights the importance of combining individual motivation with supportive regulation in driving behaviour change  √ 3: She acknowledged her frustration with complex recycling rules, saying, “I just… I can’t be bothered. Unfortunately… if we had a better system then we as the end consumer can figure it out. But now I’ll just put the whole thing in the bin”
In relation to composting, she admitted uncertainty, saying, “I don’t know if my household would even care… might even not know how to even start one. I wouldn’t mind having one. I just don’t know where to begin”    √ 3: Shows resistance even with the mention of trying it
Maggie  A conscious consumer trying to buy less, waste less and support local communities√   1: She reflected on the roots of her sustainability orientation, saying, “also if I reflect, I think it also goes back to my grandparents and their way of life and I like it because it’s more sustainable as well, supporting farmers, local farmers”. Already engaged in many sustainable practices, she was particularly focused on reducing consumption and waste
 She posted about receiving strawberries from a friend, explaining, “I realised I won’t be able to finish them before they get rotten. So decided to make strawberry jam”, which allowed her to save the fruit for later use    √4: Reflecting on her jam-making, she acknowledged, “But with this one it will 90% sure it will not become my habit like regular thing. I did not enjoy preparing it to be honest. It’s time consuming. Dirty kitchen. I need to clean lots of stuff afterwards. Yeah. I just didn’t like the actual process”
Nancy  She became increasingly aware of the waste generated from food packaging and questioned the role of infrastructure and markets in creating these problems √ √2: Stops buying individually wrapped snack packs. 4: She acknowledged that individually wrapped Malaysian coffee posed a challenge, explaining, “Then there comes a psychological resistance to adopting it. ’Cause you’re like I’m already far away from home. Like what? I can’t deserve my Malaysian coffee every once a week”. This highlighted the tension between sustainability ideals and comfort attachments
She acknowledged her limited use of public transport, explaining, “I rarely take public transport, especially with lockdowns I’m constantly inside anyway” Understands the sustainable option of using public transport  √ 3: She described trying public transport but explained how convenience often won out: “I’m putting my makeup on and then when I get out, I’m like, well, by that time I wait for the bus. By the time the bus comes and I have to change, let me just catch an Uber”
Rachel Rachel Posted a picture of creatively using food that may become waste, by making muffins made from overripe bananas    √4: She recalled trying to reuse food by baking banana muffins: “I think it was like reusing some like old food… I made banana muffins once. I think I wouldn’t really be able to do that again ‘cause it just took really long for me… So I don’t really think I would do that again”
  She described learning more about sustainability and associated processes, particularly recycling rules √√ 2: She had begun recycling, composting, and engaging in a variety of other sustainable routines, particularly around reducing food waste. 3: She acknowledged the challenge of relying on public transport, saying, “I couldn’t wake up early. I think that is one thing… I would take the bus to school if I could. But the thing is, I’m really bad at waking up early, so I always have to get, like, driven there by car”
JacobTalks about conflicts with sustainable consumption, “ My consumption practices, aren’t where my ideology is sitting, and that’s probably out of convenience and time and my, you know, my lifestyle”. He admitted tensions between his values and actions, explaining, “My consumption practices aren’t where my ideology is sitting, and that’s probably out of convenience and time and my, you know, my lifestyle”  √√  1: Reflecting on others’ posts, he said, “I have to laugh… I’ve seen a few times people have posted a picture… they’ve finished their food and it reminds me of a little kid where they’re like, look, I ate all my dinner… I actually said to Cordelia, I had to laugh”. 2: He engaged in meal planning to minimise food waste and became increasingly mindful of everyday consumption behaviours. This included adopting more sustainable routines such as switching off power when not in use and storing raw food in ways that extended its shelf life
AidenHe explained that his recycling habits developed after moving to New Zealand: “Well, only since after I’ve moved to New Zealand… we really practiced recycling to the tee with our landlords there. We used to always have like a thing… an unknown territory… we would debate over it… then we download PDFs from Auckland Council [to] check that where it goes and so on” This recycling practice was something he had only just started before the campaign, but it illustrates his position in a more “mature” phase of pro-transition  √ 3: Aiden’s position in a pro-transition phase was supported by his community, his natural curiosity, and his motivation to keep learning. These factors helped him maintain new sustainable practices and avoid slipping back into old routines
He described trying a timer to reduce shower length: “First day, I was not able to do it within 4minutes. Second, third day worked really good… I kind of finished too early and was like oh, I didn’t know I could do that.” However, he admitted the practice quickly faded: “But no, it just lasted three days and… time plus comfort always takes over”     √4: The shower-timing routine lasted only a few days before comfort and convenience took over, showing how difficult it was to sustain the practice in the face of daily pressures
He explained that certain practices were easy to maintain, including using the washing machine on a cold cycle and turning off his computer monitor. As he noted, “I also think the laundry machine would be a good example of what are the changes which I will definitely continue because it doesn’t really interfere with my time and comfort principles”   √  2: This practice reflects a pro-transition state because it does not require him to compromise on comfort or time. Unlike other efforts, such as timing showers, which failed due to these pressures, using the cold cycle and turning off his monitor fit easily into his routine and were therefore more sustainable
Using fruit bags   √  2: He described using reusable bags as a pro-transition change he embraced enthusiastically: “It went really well… I was very, very, very determined to make sure that I take my bags along. I kind of double check before I left the house… telling my wife, make sure you got the bag, make sure I got the bag… It felt really positive because… how did I not see this?”
He explained the frustration of food waste with spinach: “I think I should mention also… when I say inevitable food waste, I think one of them is leafy vegetables expiring very soon. You buy a bag of spinach… expiry says four days. I’m not really a big fan… there is always at least 1 / 4 of a bag of spinach going into waste just because it’s gone too stale”   √  2: He described his success in extending spinach use: “I think I still remember 23rd of March the spinach was expiring, and we definitely got a week more out of it… it was smelling fresh, no crumble leaves, nothing. So, I think that worked… another bonus and another learning.” He contrasted this with his use of fruit bags, saying, “the bags I might forget one out of ten times. But spinach is something you can’t [forget] because now you know you get more life out of it and the containers are right there to be used.”
AdamNot buying new clothes, and pro-longing the life cycle of the clothes he does have  √   1: He described his family’s approach to clothing as a natural cycle: “the natural progression of clothes goes from things I wear outside, to things I wear to the gym or around the house, to things I wear in the garden… and then eventually… they usually make cloths out of them to wash things”. Growing up, he recalled, “when I was a kid… I have a little brother and my parents just passed down my clothes to him”. He reflected that these patterns became ingrained and now form part of his subconscious habits, making him “just not big on consumerism”
Turning off PC monitors     √4: He reflected on trying to turn off his second monitor: “So, I turn my computer off a lot when I’m not using it. But even now, like my second monitor is on at the moment. I did try it, I tried it for about a week and its just not functional. I guess I’m just always using the second monitor so something no matter what I am doing.   Uhm, it is also pretty inconvenient to be turning it on and off to too many times because you start losing little windows and stuff unless you unplug the cord and unplugging the cord is a lot of work as well especially if you’re doing it often. 
 Shorter showers was not something he was prepared to try for the sake of the campaign    √ 3: He acknowledged that showers were a personal challenge: “I guess, and one thing that I struggle with is I could definitely afford to take shorter showers, but unfortunately that just not a sacrifice I’m willing to make. They’re like 15 min, probably and I could probably get that down to like 10 or five on some days if it’s supposed to be a quick shower, but I don’t know it is. It is just very important for me to be able to stand  in the in the hot water for a while.  
Turning off lights  √   1: He explained his irritation at wasted energy: “Like even stuff like turning off lights, I mean, I’m a chronic light turner offer. It really irritates me when there are lights in the house and nobody in them. So I will go around in the evenings and make sure that they’re all switched off”. He added that this was “just something my parents did, and that’s passed on”
Reducing temperature and length of showers   √  2: He reflected on experimenting with shorter, cooler showers: “I have made an attempt over the last week, maybe week and a half, to have significantly shorter showers and [turn] the temperature down… that was probably the biggest change in my day-to-day life. I like taking long, hot showers”. He admitted it “took a bit of time and getting used to”, but added, “for the most part I tried to keep them short… I still sometimes take slightly longer, slightly warmer showers depending on the day”
Reducing braking when driving   √  2: He recalled how a campaign slide on driving made him more aware of his own habits: “I have been trying a little bit to work on that, keeping an eye on how often I’m pressing the brake and the accelerator… I really like to speed up and then slow down fairly often”. This showed his effort to connect everyday routines like driving with more sustainable practices
KingstonRecycling   √  2: He reflected on the influence of his landlord, saying, “my landlord is a very environmentally friendly person. So, he told me quite a lot of such change when I just come here and uh yeah, I have a good habit from that”. He added, “he gave me quite a lot of instructions. For example, where to throw the recycle bottles and throw the leftovers… I remember my landlord gave me images… about the instructions how to categorise these things.”
 Walking to campus He adopted a new practice during the campaign by replacing bus trips with walking, which he has managed to sustain and now enjoys. This became the change he felt most proud of, serving as a strong source of motivation. However, he also acknowledged in his second interview that the practice was weather dependent, and therefore not always consistent √  2: when I search it in google maps, I think the distance is around 2 kilometres, so the distance is not very far and I think I can have a try. We should post something everyday so I think it is a good practice to be a sustainable person and so I tried it and I think yeah, it is really good. He explained how he started walking instead of bussing: “when I search it in Google Maps, I think the distance is around 2 kilometres, so… I think I can have a try… we should post something every day so I think it is a good practice to be a sustainable person and so I tried it and I think yeah, it is really good”. He described the benefits: “it’s a good exercise and you know I can reduce my carbon footprint”. But he also recognised drawbacks: “it will take some time… if you walk long distance, you will be very tired and you cannot focus on your study after.” Despite this, he concluded, “the advantages over[weigh] the disadvantage… before I was so lazy. Now I like to walk and run”
Turning off PC screen He didn’t keep up with this practice even though it was something he committed to   √4: He explained why he usually left his computer on: “we normally don’t like to turn it off because we have quite a lot of work… if we turn it off and we need to reopen it and find this document every time, this will take quite a lot of my time. So, we prefer just to leave it on”. He added that “every time we restart the computer, and we need to download the data again… it will take half an hour, sometimes one hour.” The main issue, he concluded, was that “it takes too long to re-open all documents and programs again”
JessieTries to stay persistent in using left overs to cook dinner She felt strongly committed to reducing food waste and cooking at home but often gave in to her partner’s preference for eating out. This tension left her frustrated, as it pulled her away from practices she wanted to maintain   √4: She described the challenge of balancing her intentions with her partner’s influence: “My husband is shocking, I love him to death, but… I used all the leftovers out of the pantry to make that lovely pasta… he suggested we get pizza… I said no, I’ve made dinner and we’ve got leftovers for lunch next day… but… I am weak if he is like, let’s take a look… and we end up succumbing”. Jessie also explained that working between home and office, plus exhaustion, made dinner planning difficult: “The dinner… have been on the fly a bit.” Illness compounded this, as “getting sick with COVID pushed her back” into takeaway routines
JessieShe reflected on her intentions around soft plastic recycling, saying, “Probably… the things I wanted to do the most that I didn’t put a lot of thought into was the soft plastic recycling because it is, it is an inconvenience for me, but it is something that I want to do.”She reflected on the impact of the campaign, noting: “but now whatever I’m consuming, I’m always looking at the back of where it comes from. You know where the ingredients [were] grown, where they’re actually packaged and [who] the suppliers are”. She also described becoming more observant of how others deal with soft plastic, linking her awareness to the campaign experience  √  2: She explained how she incorporated soft plastic recycling into her routine: “I’ve just kind of got them sitting on my desk… once I finish something like this, then I’m gonna clean it and then I’ll just store the bags all on this until it gets near full and then take it when I do my next food shop in town.” She added, “I’ve got it sitting here on my home desk and my work bag right next to me… whenever it’s really full, I’ll just shove it in my work bag… by the time I’m searching for my wallet, I remember before I leave I should do the soft plastics”. She reflected that this was easy to implement because it required no major adjustment
Composting   √  2: She reflected that composting reduced her guilt: “it’s actually been a lot better. It’s been easier… just have a bucket next to the sink and when you’re chopping up veggies just chuck it in the bucket and deal with that later”. She described her setup: “an ice cream container… and the main one… constructed using two containers that captures the liquids to then use on my plants”. She linked these practices to her context, saying she was surrounded at work by people who care about food waste, and also to family influence: “I’ve always grown up around gardeners… it makes me want to grow my own fruit and veggies… my mum’s big on recycling… she’s always done a big compost bin”
MelissaMany of her food-related routines were carried over from her parents, with whom she still lived at the time of the interviews. For example, her family used washing baskets in the back seat to carry groceries instead of bags  √   She also noticed that the food she chose to buy when living independently in Dunedin was almost identical to what her parents purchased, showing how strongly family socialisation shaped her habits
She reflected on her progress with portion control: “I have been doing well keeping up with using a smaller plate and ensuring I use my leftover… it entails thinking a bit more in terms of what I want to eat and also just not eating with my eyes”. She also described becoming more deliberate about waste: “I think it’s just been trying to keep consistent with the ones that I do have… my thinking around when I go to throw things out has changed, you know, I don’t just straight away chuck it in the bin, I’ll either keep it until I can bring myself to have the energy to do with it properly”   √  Melissa reflected positively on the changes she had begun to embed into her food routines (e.g. portion control, keeping up with using a smaller plate and ensuring she used leftovers), which required thinking more carefully about what she wanted to eat rather than simply eating with her eyes. This deliberate adjustment extended to food waste practices. These reflections illustrate a growing intentionality in her everyday consumption
 Melissa documented small but telling moments where sustainability ideals gave way to convenience e.g. she chose to drive to football rather than walk the 20 min; began using the stairs but ended up taking the elevatorHer post reflected some negotiation between ideals and practicality. While examples show her sustainability intentions were often reconsidered in the moment but convenience/efficiency often taking precedence  √ 3: She recalled earlier family attempts at sustainability: “we did try it a couple years ago at my place here but then we just got rats, so we decide to scrap that… we did try a veggie garden, but then the drought hit… now we’ve got a couple of fruit trees… but composting was just maybe a bit too much effort for all the trouble it was causing.” She added, “I find it hard to figure out what is it that can actually go into it”. On soft plastics, she explained that “finding a consistent rule is more energy than it is worth”. And she rejected the idea of shorter showers, saying this was not practical because of her hair type
 Admitted excessive paper use: “very aware of my borderline excessive paper consumption but planning neuroscience projects and doodling neuroanatomy don’t hit the same on a computer/laptop”    √4: She explained her struggle with switching off plugs: “I found one like that was particularly hard to consistently do… always turning off my switches for my laptop and my charger and my desktop when I am not using them. Because I will charge my phone overnight and I always forget to turn the plug back on”. One morning her phone had died and alarms failed, leading her to conclude, “I tried a couple of times, and I just could not bring myself to remember… so I kind of just gave up on that one”
MarieMarie recalled that as a child her brother insisted she finish every grain of rice in her bowl; she now makes sure her own plate is clean, often finishing friends’ leftovers so food is not wastedShow off her soft plastic bin on FBThese examples show how family socialisation solidified certain routines into non-negotiable practices that she now defends√   1: Marie traced her passion for recycling back to a trip to Japan and to the influence of her brother, who taught her the rules: “he is one of my biggest role models… when I was living with my brother, he taught me the rules and now these have become something I am passionate about.” She explained why it matters to her: “In my opinion, recycling is… the easiest to do… it’s just before you throw it in the bin, just think 5 seconds where you are throwing it… it’s really easy to achieve and then it plays a big role in the sustainability system like reuse, reduce, recycle”
Marie dismissed the idea of bringing containers to restaurants reasoning that it looked “ridiculous” in social settings; her choice to drive rather than walk short distances was justified on the grounds of time saving/convenienceAdmitted to driving instead of walking short distances, explaining that while walking was possible, driving “saves a lot of time”, illustrating how efficiency and comfort outweighed environmental considerationsMarie’s everyday decisions were consistently negotiated in favour of convenience/efficiency  √ 3: She explained her reluctance to compost, saying she was “super afraid of worms and insects” and therefore unwilling to try. Walking to the supermarket also felt unreasonable: “if I walked… I’m gonna have to take a shower because I sweat… I’m gonna waste water. But then if I just drive for two minutes then I don’t need to take a shower”. She resisted shorter showers too, claiming she “only takes the time [she] needs”. On the whole, she concluded, “I think I’m stuck with my behaviour already… I recycle everything I can, so I don’t know how I can improve… I’m already doing what I think is the best”
Note(s):

1: Constrained embodiment 2: Pro-transition 3: Negotiated continuity 4: In-reversal

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