Law Commons^™

Private Environmental Nudges, Anthony Moffa

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

A few years ago, before the onset of a global pandemic, I noticed that my preferred Portland, ME coffee shop—Tandem Coffee Roasters—implemented a new policy. Upon ordering a beverage, the barista asked if I brought my own mug. They informed me that, if had I not, I could purchase a paper, disposable vessel from the shop for twenty-five cents. Some might (understandably) ask, “Does coffee not come in a cup anymore?” The shop implemented what this paper dubs a “private environmental nudge,” a subset of policies that define private environmental governance (PEG)—the actions taken by nongovernmental entities to achieve traditional …