Behavioural drivers for uptake of modern cookstoves

The report examines the 'customer journey' of households in Kiambu County, Kenya, adopting Philips advanced cookstoves distributed via the Visionary Empowerment Programme (VEP). It identifies that while trust in local microfinance partners drives initial sign-ups, actual adoption is hindered by a lack of user-centric value propositions, poor fuel supply chains for pellets, and a 'start-up phase' where users struggle with new routines. The study concludes that users often 'stack' stoves, using the advanced model only for specific tasks, and that a holistic approach considering the end-user's definition of 'improved' is essential for achieving health and climate goals.

• Local trust-based relationships are more effective for technology uptake than third-party quality assurance, particularly in markets where consumers have experienced fraud, such as purchasing adulterated spirits or half-full gas cylinders.
• The adoption of new cookstoves is driven by the user's own definition of 'improved'—often focusing on money saved, time saved, or social status—rather than the health or carbon emission benefits promoted by developers.
• Households typically engage in 'stove stacking,' using the advanced Philips stove as a complement to three-stone fires or rocket stoves for specific needs, such as heating water or cooking small meals, rather than as a total replacement.
• The 'start-up phase' immediately following acquisition is the most critical period for shaping habits; without guidance, users may adopt unsafe practices, such as using oversized logs or moving the stove while cooking.
• There is a significant gap between the intended use of biomass pellets and actual usage; many users are unaware pellets exist or perceive them as expensive, often using the advanced stove with traditional firewood or charcoal instead.
• Poor customer experiences during the acquisition process, specifically long delivery delays of five to eight months, risk turning potential brand ambassadors into detractors.
• The requirement to charge the stove weekly presents a behavioral barrier, especially for households without electricity who must travel to charging points.
• Some users experienced a 'step down' the energy ladder by replacing cleaner LPG stoves with the advanced biomass stove due to aggressive marketing and peer pressure within microfinance groups.

APA

Andersson, S., Lambe, F., Brolund, P., & Nissar, S. (2015). Behavioural drivers for uptake of modern cookstoves. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Initiative-Behaviour-Choice-Transformator.pdf

Chicago

Andersson, Sophie, Fiona Lambe, Per Brolund, and Susanna Nissar. Behavioural drivers for uptake of modern cookstoves. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2015. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Initiative-Behaviour-Choice-Transformator.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Andersson |first1=Sophie |last2=Lambe |first2=Fiona |last3=Brolund |first3=Per |last4=Nissar |first4=Susanna |title=Behavioural drivers for uptake of modern cookstoves |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=31 October 2015 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Initiative-Behaviour-Choice-Transformator.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{andersson2015behavioural, author = {Andersson, Sophie and Lambe, Fiona and Brolund, Per and Nissar, Susanna}, title = {{Behavioural drivers for uptake of modern cookstoves}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2015}, month = oct, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Initiative-Behaviour-Choice-Transformator.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }