The Impact of SampApp: Measuring Change that Matters

At first glance, launching an education app seems straightforward: release it, drive downloads, watch the numbers rise. But anyone working in behavior change knows that downloads are not the real metric of success. The real question is: What meaningful change did the app create?

In the schoolyard, a teacher wonders whether students are simply playing a new game or actually thinking twice before using plastic bags. In the boardroom, a CSR manager wants to know whether their organization’s support is driving measurable environmental impact. 

These are the questions that drive Veritas Edukasi Lingkungan (VEL), a name that, in English, translates to “Veritas Environmental Education”. With support from Greiner Packaging, the NGO makes monitoring and evaluation central to everything it does.

SampApp is a gamified learning app designed to make waste literacy accessible, engaging, and fun. Users move through short, animated video episodes that unpack the story of plastic: how it’s produced, used, and responsibly managed. After each episode, they complete interactive quizzes to unlock new levels and badges. 

The app incorporates familiar gaming elements: 

• Experience points and coins for completing modules 
• Avatars and ranks (from “Polluter” to “SampAssador”) 
• Streaks and leaderboards that foster friendly competition  

By blending education with play, SampApp helps learners internalize habits such as waste separation and reducing plastic use without it feeling like homework. But the critical question remains: Is it working? 

VEL measures SampApp’s impact by combining quantitative and qualitative methods, including pre- and post-tests, user interviews, and app analytics that track engagement and behavioral signals. The evaluation follows the IOOI framework, linking digital education tools (inputs) and user activities (outputs) to behavioral changes (outcomes) and broader environmental benefits (impact). 

So far, SampApp has been downloaded more than 20,000 times. To assess its effects, VEL has surveyed over 370 users and conducted more than 40 in-depth interviews. The results show concrete behavior changes among users, such as reducing excessive packaging consumption and choosing alternatives to burning waste. These findings provide evidence that the app not only raises awareness but also supports real shifts in everyday environmental practices. 

SampApp is showing clear signs of inspiring real behavioral change among its players. Survey findings show notable improvements across several areas: 

• Waste sorting improved by 28% 
• Use of official waste collection services increased by 13% 
• Littering and waste burning declined by 12% and 5% respectively 

Interviews also reveal that learners actively discuss waste-management options within their communities. This supports the notion that the app’s influence extends beyond individual habits. 

Together, the quantitative data and qualitative insights point to a compelling conclusion: SampApp is driving meaningful change in both communities and the environment. Users are becoming more aware of overconsumption and pollution and are translating that awareness into more mindful and responsible waste practices. At the same time, some attitudes remain areas for continued engagement, highlighting opportunities for deeper learning. 

The cooperation with SampApp reflects Greiner Packaging’s commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices. By supporting initiatives that combine education, innovation, and engagement, the company has helped turn awareness into measurable impact. 

After one year, the partnership stands as a testament to how thoughtful collaboration can drive real environmental change. It demonstrates that creative, interactive approaches to learning can inspire communities, influence behaviors, and contribute meaningfully to reducing plastic pollution across Indonesia.