AccScience Publishing / DP / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/dp.5015
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REVIEW ARTICLE

Sustainable and eco-conscious UX design: Promoting sustainable behavior and reducing digital waste through user experience

Akanksha Ghai1* ,  Anuj Modgil2
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1 Department of UX and UI, Chitkara Design School, Chitkara University, Chandigarh, UT, India
2 Department of Customer and Operations Consulting, KPMG India, New Delhi, India
DP, 5015 https://doi.org/10.36922/dp.5015
Received: 1 October 2024 | Revised: 1 March 2025 | Accepted: 17 April 2025 | Published online: 7 May 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
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Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital technology has markedly expanded its environmental footprint, emphasizing the critical need for sustainable and eco-conscious user experience (UX) design. This paper explores the intersection of UX design and sustainability, demonstrating how UX principles can encourage sustainable user behaviors and reduce digital waste. Through a targeted review of existing literature and an analysis of effective design principles, this study unveils actionable strategies for integrating sustainability into UX practices. Sustainable UX design extends beyond traditional usability, emphasizing energy efficiency, digital minimalism, and the promotion of eco-friendly interactions. Critical principles include designing for energy efficiency, enhancing product longevity, and utilizing methods such as gamification to foster sustainable behavior. Case studies from leading organizations – such as Google, Ecosia, and Dropbox – demonstrate tangible outcomes, including reductions in energy use and digital waste, providing measurable benchmarks for industry-wide adoption. While the advantages are compelling, challenges remain. These include technical constraints, user resistance, and difficulties in quantifying environmental impact. To address these issues, we highlight future directions such as integrating artificial intelligence and blockchain, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to drive innovation. Ultimately, this study positions sustainable UX design not as a fleeting trend, but as an essential progression toward a more accountable digital domain. By adopting these practices, UX professionals can lead the transition to low-impact digital solutions, cultivating eco-conscious UXs and contributing meaningfully to global sustainability efforts.

Keywords
Sustainability
Eco-consciousness
UX design
Digital waste
Environment
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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