ENVIRONMENT IN HUMANITARIAN ACTION (EHA)

TRAINING

Module 10:
Managing Environmental
Impacts of Humanitarian
Supply Chain
Name of Facilitator:
Venue:
Date:
Module Outline

01 02 03 04
Introduction to Strategic Future trends Case studies
supply chain supply chain and and best
environmental planning for innovations practices
impacts environmental
sustainability
01 Module Learning
Outcomes
By the end of this module, you should be
able to:Analyze the environmental impacts of procurement, transportation, storage, and disposal
activities within humanitarian operations.

Develop and apply sustainable supply chain management strategies that incorporate
principles of green logistics, sustainable procurement, and resource efficiency.

Implement advanced practices in energy management, sustainable warehousing,

and facilities management to minimize the environmental footprint of supply chain
activities.

Evaluate the potential impact of emerging trends, innovations, and technologies on

the sustainability of humanitarian supply chains.

Integrate reverse logistics and end-of-life management strategies to promote circular

economy practices in humanitarian contexts.

Learn from real-world case studies and best practices, applying lessons learned to
enhance the sustainability and efficiency of their own supply chain operations.
02 Session 1: Introduction to
supply chain environmental
impacts
Introduction
• Humanitarian supply chains play a
critical role in delivering aid to
beneficiaries but can contribute to
environmental degradation if not
managed sustainably.
• By implementing sustainable
practices, humanitarian
organizations can reduce emissions,
conserve resources, and enhance
operational efficiency.
• Each component of the supply
chain—planning, sourcing,
production, distribution,
return/disposal—has environmental
impacts that need mitigation.

Source: Plan
Humanitarian Supply Chain Components and
Environmental Impacts
Planning: Involves forecasting needs, managing donations, and
optimizing logistics to minimize waste.

Environmental impacts: Inefficient planning can lead to excess

inventory, overuse of airfreight (high carbon footprint), and
wasted resources.

Real-world application: Thoughtful planning minimizes waste

by reducing overstock and optimizing transport, leading to fewer
emissions.

Benefits from the Environment: Reduces unnecessary

emissions and resource use by choosing less carbon-intensive
transport modes.
Humanitarian Supply Chain Components and
Environmental Impacts
Sourcing/Procurement: The process of selecting and acquiring goods and
services needed for humanitarian aid, focusing on responsible procurement.

Environmental impacts: Unsustainable sourcing can lead to deforestation,

biodiversity loss, and increased carbon emissions from long-distance
transportation.

Real-world application: Local sourcing and sustainable procurement

minimize the environmental footprint and ensure resources are responsibly
sourced.

Benefits from the environment: Helps preserve natural ecosystems and

reduces the need for long-haul transportation, lowering emissions.
Humanitarian Supply Chain Components and
Environmental Impacts
Production: Refers to the creation or assembly of goods, such as
food kits or emergency shelters, customized for local contexts.

Environmental impacts: High energy consumption, pollution,

and waste if production processes are not environmentally
managed.

Real-world application: Environmentally responsible production

supports local economies, uses less energy, and produces minimal
waste.

Benefits from the environment: Reduces overall energy use

and minimizes pollution, benefiting local environments and
communities.
Humanitarian Supply Chain Components and
Environmental Impacts
Transportation: Movement of goods from suppliers to
Distribution (Includes
storage or distribution points.
Transportation, Warehousing, Last-
Warehousing/storage: Storing goods efficiently in
mile delivery): energy-efficient facilities.
Last-mile delivery: Final delivery to affected
populations, often in challenging environments.

Environmental impacts: Transportation emits high levels of carbon dioxide, especially if using
trucks or planes. Warehousing uses significant energy, and inefficient routing in last-mile delivery
increases fuel consumption.

Real-world application: Optimizing transport routes, using energy-efficient warehouses, and

employing low-carbon transportation options reduces emissions and fuel consumption.

Benefits from the environment: Preserves local ecosystems by minimizing air pollution and
conserving fuel resources.
Humanitarian Supply Chain Components and
Environmental Impacts
Return/Disposal (Includes Reverse logistics): Managing unsold, unused,
or expired goods, including recycling or environmentally responsible disposal.

Reverse Logistics: Processes involved in returning goods for disposal,

recycling, or repurposing, ensuring a closed-loop supply chain.

Environmental impacts: Improper disposal of packaging and expired items

leads to pollution and health risks.

Real-world application: Responsible recycling, composting, and proper

waste disposal protect the environment and ensure the safety of
communities.
Benefits from the environment: Reduces pollution and supports waste
management systems, promoting healthier ecosystems.
Key Principles of Sustainable Supply Chain
Management
Resource Efficiency: Using resources efficiently to minimize waste and the
environmental footprint.
⚬Responsibility: Managed by the buying organization through inventory management and operational
practices that conserve resources.
⚬Real-world application: Inventory management tools help reduce overstock, minimizing waste in aid
distribution.
Green Procurement: Prioritizing environmentally friendly products and services to
reduce the carbon footprint of procurement.
⚬Responsibility: The buying organization sets environmental procurement standards, and suppliers comply.
⚬Real-world application: Prioritizing suppliers with green certifications reduces emissions and supports
eco-friendly supply chains.

Energy Management: Implementing energy-efficient practices in supply chain

activities to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
⚬Responsibility: Managed by the buying organization, integrating energy-efficient technologies into
logistics and storage operations.
⚬Real-world application: Installing solar panels in warehouses cuts down on electricity use, promoting
sustainability in storage.
Key Principles of Sustainable Supply Chain
Management
Waste Reduction: Reducing waste generation through recycling, reuse, and better
inventory management.
⚬Responsibility: Organizations implement waste reduction practices, and suppliers provide sustainable
packaging and materials.
⚬Real-world application: Adopting refillable containers and sustainable packaging reduces plastic
waste and pollution.
Livelihood Generation and Local Market Support: Promoting sustainable
livelihoods by supporting local economies and using eco-friendly, locally sourced
materials.
⚬Responsibility: The buying organization promotes local market integration, while suppliers offer locally
sourced, sustainable products.
⚬Real-world application: Collaborating with local artisans to produce eco-friendly shelter materials
supports local livelihoods and reduces environmental impact.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Evaluating the environmental impact of a product

from creation to disposal, guiding sustainable procurement decisions.
⚬Responsibility: Conducted by the buying organization, with suppliers providing data on environmental
impacts.
⚬Real-world application: Comparing biodegradable versus conventional plastic packaging helps select
the option with the least environmental impact.
 Session 2: Strategic
03 supply chain planning
for environmental
sustainability
 Introduction
Hierarchy of actions in
humanitarian supply chains: High-impact strategies: Prioritize Strategic supply chain
Inspired by the 5R principles, actions with the greatest planning: Focus on holistic
humanitarian supply chain planning environmental benefits, such as planning, resource allocation, and
should emphasize reducing waste and reducing reliance on air freight and contingency strategies that
emissions as the priority, followed by shifting to greener modes of minimize environmental impacts
reusing, recycling, recovering value, transport like sea and rail. while ensuring efficient operations.
and redesigning processes to be eco-
friendly.

Green logistics: Fuel-efficient Sustainable procurement: Sustainable warehousing:

vehicles, route optimization, and Environmental criteria should guide Emphasize energy efficiency, waste
multi-modal transport reduce the the selection of suppliers to minimization, and the use of
environmental footprint of transport promote responsible sourcing of renewable energy in storage
activities. goods and services. facilities.

Reverse logistics and end-of-life Innovations: Electric vehicles,

management: Ensure responsible sustainable packaging, and IoT
handling, recycling, or disposal of technologies are transforming the
materials after use, minimizing supply chain, reducing emissions
waste and environmental harm. and improving operational
resilience.
Steps in strategic supply chain planning

Demand forecasting Resource allocation Contingency

• Predicting the needs • Assigning planning
for goods and resources to • Preparing for
services to minimize maximize unexpected
overproduction and efficiency and disruptions such as
waste. minimize disasters or
• Real-world environmental transportation
application: impact. delays.
Forecasting shelter • Real-world • Real-world
materials in disaster application: application:
zones ensures Allocating Developing
efficient use of resources to prefer alternative transport
resources and avoids sea freight over air routes during
unnecessary freight where seasonal floods
overstock. possible, reducing prevents delays and
carbon emissions. minimizes
environmental harm.
Steps in strategic supply chain planning

Supplier evaluation Monitoring and reporting

• Assessing suppliers based • Tracking supply chain
on their environmental performance to ensure
performance and alignment with environmental
sustainability practices. goals.
• Real-world application: • Real-world application:
Partnering with suppliers Implementing tracking
that use eco-friendly systems to monitor fuel
materials reduces the consumption and optimize
overall environmental delivery routes to reduce
footprint of the supply emissions.
chain.
Steps in strategic supply chain planning

Risk management Collaboration and

• Identifying and mitigating stakeholder engagement
environmental risks in the • Engaging with stakeholders,
supply chain. including suppliers, local
• Real-world application: communities, and
Establishing protocols for environmental groups, to
managing hazardous align supply chain practices
materials during with sustainability goals.
transportation and storage • Real-world application:
to avoid environmental Engaging local communities
contamination. to co-develop supply chain
practices that are both
environmentally and
culturally sensitive.
Sustainable procurement strategies

Green supplier selection Ethical sourcing

• Choosing suppliers based • Ensuring goods are sourced
on environmental from suppliers adhering to
performance and ethical labor and
sustainability practices. sustainability standards.
• Real-world application: • Real-world application:
Sourcing from suppliers Procuring fair-trade certified
using eco-friendly products for humanitarian
packaging and materials. aid.
• Responsibility: The • Responsibility: The buying
buying organization sets organization enforces ethical
environmental criteria for sourcing criteria.
supplier selection.
Sustainable procurement strategies

Local sourcing
Sustainable contracting
• Procuring goods and services
• Including environmental
from local suppliers to reduce
and sustainability criteria
transportation emissions and
in supplier contracts.
support local economies.
• Real-world application:
• Real-world application:
Contracts mandating
Using local suppliers for
reduced packaging and
shelter materials to minimize
eco-friendly delivery
carbon emissions.
practices.
• Responsibility: The buying
• Responsibility: The
organization prioritizes local
buying organization
suppliers.
ensures environmental
clauses are part of
contracts.
Sustainable procurement strategies

Green procurement Life cycle costing

policies • Evaluating the environmental
• Developing procurement and financial costs of goods
policies focused on eco- over their lifecycle.
friendly products and • Real-world application:
practices. Choosing energy-efficient
• Real-world application: equipment that reduces costs
Mandating biodegradable over time.
packaging for all • Responsibility: The buying
procurements. organization considers long-
• Responsibility: The term environmental impacts
buying organization when making procurement
implements green decisions.
procurement policies.
Sustainable procurement strategies

Supplier development Environmental product

• Working with suppliers to specifications
improve their • Defining environmental
environmental practices. criteria for products, such as
• Real-world application: recyclable or eco-friendly
Providing training to materials.
suppliers on sustainable • Real-world application:
farming methods. Specifying recycled materials
• Responsibility: The for shelter construction in
buying organization contracts.
supports suppliers in • Responsibility: The buying
meeting environmental organization sets product
goals. specifications.
Sustainable procurement strategies

Sustainable materials
• Prioritizing materials with lower environmental
impacts, like recycled or renewable materials.
• Real-world application: Using biodegradable
plastics or recycled materials in humanitarian
logistics.
• Responsibility: The buying organization
sources sustainable materials.
Green freight and transport strategies

Electric vehicles Biogas-powered Route optimization

(EVs) vehicles • Using software to
• Using EVs to • Using biogas as a optimize transport
reduce emissions renewable fuel to routes, reducing
during logistics reduce carbon travel time and
operations. emissions. fuel consumption.
• Real-world • Real-world • Real-world
application: Using application: application:
electric vehicles for Employing biogas- Implementing
urban deliveries of powered trucks for route optimization
aid supplies. logistics in rural to minimize
areas emissions during
aid deliveries.
Green freight and transport strategies

Multi-modal Hybrid vehicles Telemetry and

transport • Using hybrid telematics
• Combining various vehicles to reduce • Monitoring vehicle
transport modes fuel consumption performance and
(road, rail, sea) to and emissions. driver behavior to
reduce • Real-world optimize fuel
environmental application: efficiency.
impact. Deploying hybrid • Real-world
• Real-world trucks for last-mile application:
application: Using deliveries in Tracking fleet fuel
rail and sea remote areas. usage and adjusting
transport for long- driving practices to
distance aid lower emissions.
delivery,
minimizing air
freight.
Green freight and transport strategies

Cargo consolidation Reduce freight and Shift from air to sea

• Grouping mileage freight
shipments to • Minimizing the • Switching from air
optimize vehicle distance goods freight (high
loads, reducing the travel and overall emissions) to sea
number of trips freight volume to freight (lower
and fuel usage. reduce the carbon emissions).
• Real-world footprint. • Real-world
application: • Real-world application: Using
Consolidating application: sea freight for non-
shipments to Prioritizing local urgent supplies to
minimize trips in sourcing to reduce emissions.
delivering medical minimize
supplies. transportation
needs.
Sustainable warehousing and facilities
management practices
Energy-efficient Use of renewable Sustainable building
lighting energy materials
Installing LED lighting Powering warehouse Using recycled or
to reduce energy use operations with solar sustainable materials
in warehouses. panels or wind for warehouse
Real-world energy. construction.
application: Real-world Real-world
Retrofitting storage application: application: Building
facilities with LED Installing solar panels warehouses with
lighting systems to on warehouse roofs recycled steel and
lower energy to power operations reclaimed wood to
consumption. sustainably. minimize the
environmental
footprint.
Sustainable warehousing and facilities
management practices
Water Waste Green warehouse
conservation management design
• Implementing programs • Designing
water-saving • Establishing warehouses for
technologies such recycling energy efficiency,
as rainwater programs and utilizing natural light
harvesting. responsible waste and ventilation.
• Real-world disposal systems. • Real-world
application: • Real-world application:
Installing application: Constructing
rainwater Recycling warehouses with
harvesting packaging skylights and
systems in materials like energy-efficient
warehouses to cardboard, HVAC systems.
reduce reliance on plastics, and
municipal water metals in
supplies. warehouses.
Sustainable warehousing and facilities
management practices
Sustainable Temperature Energy-efficient
inventory standards in HVAC systems
management warehouses • Installing energy-
• Using practices • Optimizing efficient heating,
that minimize temperature ventilation, and air
waste and settings to reduce conditioning
optimize the use energy use while systems.
of resources. preserving goods. • Real-world
• Real-world • Real-world application: Using
application: application: energy-efficient
Implementing just- Using energy- HVAC systems to
in-time inventory efficient maintain optimal
to reduce waste temperature warehouse
from expired controls to temperatures.
goods. preserve goods in
storage with
minimal energy.
Sustainable warehousing and facilities
management practices

Low-emission Biodiversity-friendly
refrigeration landscaping
• Using refrigeration • Incorporating native
systems that emit fewer plants and sustainable
greenhouse gases and use landscaping around
eco-friendly refrigerants. facilities.
• Real-world application: • Real-world
Installing low-emission application: Using
refrigeration for perishable native plants for
aid supplies. warehouse landscaping
to reduce water use and
support biodiversity.
 Reverse logistics and end-of-life management
strategies

01 02 03
Product return Safe disposal of Recycling programs
Managing the return of hazardous materials Collecting and recycling
unused or surplus goods to Ensuring hazardous materials like packaging and
suppliers for reuse or resale. materials like batteries are outdated equipment.
Real-world application: disposed of in Real-world application:
Returning surplus medical environmentally friendly Implementing recycling
supplies for redistribution in ways. systems for plastic
other humanitarian settings. Real-world application: packaging in disaster
Safely disposing of expired response.
or damaged medical
supplies.
Reverse logistics and end-of-life management
strategies

Remanufacturing and Asset recovery

refurbishment
Recovering and reusing assets like
Extending the lifecycle of products vehicles and equipment after
through refurbishment and operations.
remanufacturing.
Real-world application:
Real-world application: Refurbishing temporary shelters for
Refurbishing medical equipment to use in future disaster response
prolong its use in humanitarian efforts.
settings.
Reverse logistics and end-of-life management
strategies

Decommissioning and site Donation of surplus goods

rehabilitation Donating surplus goods to other
organizations or communities, reducing
Safely dismantling and rehabilitating waste.
sites after the end of operations. Real-world application: Donating
surplus food supplies to local
Real-world application: communities post-operation to avoid
spoilage.
Dismantling temporary shelters and
restoring land used for refugee
camps to its natural state.
 Session 3: Future trends
04 and innovations
Introduction
Future trends and Keeping up with these Innovations in technology,
innovations are changes helps materials, and processes
continuously shaping the organizations remain can significantly reduce the
landscape of sustainable competitive and environmental footprint of
supply chain management. sustainable. supply chain activities and
improve efficiency.

Global environmental These frameworks While these innovations

policies, such as the Paris emphasize the urgency of offer benefits, there are
Agreement, and emerging adopting sustainable challenges to
regulations on practices. implementation, including
sustainability and carbon technology costs,
emissions are influencing resistance to change, and
trends in supply chain the need for new skills in
management. supply chain management.
Digital technologies

01 02 03
Big data analytics Blockchain technology Digitalization and IoT
Analyzing vast datasets to Integrating blockchain to Utilizing digital tools and the
gain insights into supply chain ensure transparent, secure Internet of Things (IoT) for
performance and identify transactions within the supply real-time tracking, predictive
areas for improvement. chain. maintenance, and automated
Potential Impact: Improves Potential Impact: Provides inventory management.
decision-making, increases enhanced traceability, Potential Impact: Enhances
transparency, and boosts reduces fraud, and builds supply chain visibility and
efficiency in supply chain trust among stakeholders, efficiency, leading to more
management through better leading to more secure and responsive and streamlined
resource allocation and risk reliable processes. humanitarian operations.
management.
Sustainable practices

01 02 03
Advanced recycling Green supply chain Electric and autonomous
technologies financing vehicles
Leveraging technologies like Accessing capital tied to Utilizing electric and
chemical recycling to break down sustainability autonomous vehicles for
complex materials into reusable performance, encouraging logistics and transportation
resources. the adoption of eco- operations.
Potential Impact: Increases friendly practices. Potential Impact: Reduces
recycling rates, reduces waste, Potential Impact: emissions, lowers fuel costs,
and recovers valuable materials, Incentivizes organizations and enhances efficiency,
preventing environmental to scale sustainable making logistics more
pollution. practices, ensuring long- sustainable and resilient.
term environmental and
financial sustainability.
Operational efficiency

01 02
Artificial intelligence (AI) Telemetry and telematics
Applying AI to optimize demand Using advanced vehicle tracking
forecasting, inventory management, systems to optimize fuel consumption
and logistics planning. and reduce emissions.
Potential Impact: Increases Potential Impact: Lowers operational
operational efficiency, reduces waste, costs, improves fuel management,
and improves decision-making, and enhances environmental
enhancing supply chain sustainability. performance across fleets.
Innovative manufacturing
3D printing

⚬Utilizing 3D printing for on-demand production, particularly in

remote areas.
⚬Potential Impact: Reduces the need for extensive inventory
storage, minimizes transportation costs, and decreases waste.

Decentralized manufacturing

⚬Localizing manufacturing processes to reduce transportation

emissions and increase responsiveness to community needs.
⚬Potential Impact: Reduces carbon footprint, strengthens
community resilience, and enhances adaptability in disaster-
prone regions.
Resource management

Supply Innovations aimed at enhancing the resilience of supply

chains, especially in response to climate change and
chain disasters.
resilienc Potential Impact: Ensures continuity and adaptation
through real-time data and risk management, making
e supply chains more robust against disruptions.
05 Session 4: Case studies and
best practices
Green logistics in
Lebanon
Context: Implementation of sustainable
logistics practices by the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
after the Beirut port blast.
Environmental Challenge: Reducing
waste and the environmental impact of
logistics operations.
Humanitarian Response: The ICRC
provided seedlings in plastic trays to
affected communities and later collected
and returned the trays for reuse, supporting
home-scale planting initiatives.
Lessons Learned: Reusing materials can
significantly reduce waste and operational
costs while promoting sustainability.
Collaborating with suppliers to establish a
return system for used trays can effectively
manage resources and minimize
environmental impact.
Source: ICRC
 Context: Distribution of NFIs (Non-Food Items) in
prisons by the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC).
Sustainable Environmental Challenge: Reducing plastic
waste in packaging.
procurement in Humanitarian Response: Replaced plastic bags
Afghanistan with cardboard, saving more than 60,000 plastic
bags annually.
Lessons Learned: Simple changes in packaging
materials can lead to significant reductions in
plastic waste, providing both environmental and
operational benefits.
Waste reduction in Kenya

• Context: Shelter Box's response to the ban on single-use plastics

in Kenya.
• Environmental Challenge: Complying with local environmental
regulations and reducing plastic waste.
• Humanitarian Response: Removed unnecessary plastic
packaging from six frequently used relief items, avoiding nearly
200,000 plastic bags since 2021.
• Lessons Learned: Engaging suppliers in sustainability discussions
can lead to significant waste reduction and compliance with local
regulations, demonstrating the importance of aligning procurement
strategies with environmental policies.
Fleet optimization in Costa Rica

• Context: The Costa Rica Red Cross, the largest ambulance

service provider in Costa Rica, optimizing fleet usage.
• Environmental Challenge: Reducing fuel consumption and carbon
emissions.
• Humanitarian Response: Implemented vehicle tracking systems,
introduced fuel-efficient driving techniques, and optimized
routes.
• Lessons Learned: Efficient fleet management can result in
substantial cost savings and reductions in carbon emissions,
highlighting the value of integrating sustainability into
transportation logistics.
Reusable packaging in
Sierra Leone
• Context: EMERGENCY's initiative to
switch from plastic bags to reusable
plastic boxes for pharmaceutical products
in Sierra Leone.
• Environmental Challenge: Reducing
plastic waste from packaging.
• Humanitarian Response: Transitioned
to heavy-duty plastic containers for
distributing health commodities, reducing
the use of more than 1 million plastic
bags over 10 years.
• Lessons Learned: The switch to
reusable containers demonstrates how a
small initial investment can lead to
significant environmental benefits and
long-term cost savings, showcasing the
importance of sustainable packaging
solutions in humanitarian supply chains.

Source: EMERGENCY/USAID
From Waste to Wheels: Transforming
Jordan’s Transport Sector
• Context: Jordan’s initiative to convert its waste collection fleet to bio-CNG.
• Environmental Challenge: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport
and managing landfill methane emissions.
• Humanitarian Response: Although not directly within a humanitarian context,
this project addresses key environmental and public health challenges by
improving air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and managing waste. It
indirectly supports humanitarian principles by enhancing the resilience of urban
communities, including vulnerable populations.
• Lessons Learned: Collaborative, context-specific approaches that leverage local
resources can successfully address environmental and public health challenges,
demonstrating the potential for broader application in enhancing urban resilience
and supporting sustainable development in humanitarian settings.
Key takeaways

Understanding impacts: Humanitarian supply chains, including procurement and

transport, have significant environmental impacts. Reducing these impacts is
essential for sustainability.
Sustainable principles: Key principles like resource efficiency, green procurement,
and waste reduction are crucial for minimizing environmental footprints.

Strategic planning: Effective planning across all supply chain stages ensures
waste reduction and optimizes environmental performance.

Sustainable procurement: Choosing suppliers based on environmental and

ethical practices supports long-term sustainability goals.

Innovative transport strategies: Electric vehicles, biogas-powered vehicles, and

route optimization reduce emissions and improve efficiency.
Key takeaways
Sustainable warehousing: Renewable energy, efficient lighting, and water
conservation help minimize the environmental impact of warehousing.

Reverse logistics: Reusing, recycling, and responsible disposal promote a

circular economy, reducing waste.

Future trends: Digitalization, IoT, and blockchain are transforming supply

chains, enhancing sustainability and transparency.

Case studies: Real-world examples from Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Kenya

show successful sustainable supply chain practices.

Application in humanitarian contexts: Sustainable strategies reduce

environmental impacts and improve efficiency, requiring ongoing learning and
collaboration.
 Thank you
Any Questions?