The humanitarian sector faces growing challenges related to waste generation, resource use, and environmental impact. Introducing circular economy principles offers an opportunity to build more efficient, sustainable, and responsible operations in the field.
Rethinking waste in humanitarian response
Circular economy business models focus on reusing existing resources to reduce the need for extracting new ones. This approach helps minimize pollution, limit waste, and maximize the value of materials.
WORM policy brief provides an overview of innovative waste management business models and explores the potential to further develop more circular and sustainable approaches in humanitarian context. It also offers practical guidance and policy recommendations for scaling these models across the sector.
The analysis maps examines existing circular models with both downstream and upstream strategies:
- Downstream: reuse, repair, recycling, and repurposing materials to extend their lifespan.
- Upstream: reducing waste from the outset through better design, procurement, and planning.
The findings helped to identify the specific challenges, important factors and opportunities involved in developing circular economy solutions adapted to humanitarian settings.
Key barriers to overcome
However, the transition is slowed by several factors, including:
- Low awareness and training of humanitarian personnel on waste management,
- Limited local infrastructure for sorting, storage, and recycling,
- Lack of economic incentives and upfront funding.
Making the transition work towards more sustainable humanitarian action
These barriers can be addressed through solid partnerships, cross-actor collaboration, and adapted financing mechanisms.
- Financing upfront costs: moving from a linear to a circular model requires initial investment.
- Targeting high-impact interventions: prioritizing actions with strong environmental and humanitarian outcomes.
- Changing behaviors: involving end users is crucial to ensure adoption and long-term success.
By integrating circular economy principles, humanitarian operations can achieve long-term cost savings, improve local livelihoods, and reduce environmental harm. This shift requires strategic investment, shared responsibility, and collective action, but it is both possible and necessary for more resilient humanitarian systems.
To discover the full set of recommendations, read the deliverable here!