Circular strategies and waste management in the humanitarian context

Purpose Humanitarian organizations face increased pressure to include circularity in their operations. Residual waste from the material flows of a humanitarian operation should be properly managed or strategically avoided using circular waste management processes. A review of academic and grey humanitarian supply chain (HSC) literature assesses the application of these processes in the humanitarian context, while literature on waste management in the Global South and disaster studies informs the humanitarian context. Based on this review, this paper aims to assess the current state of applications of waste management processes in the humanitarian sector, and suggest a research agenda for their further development. Design/methodology/approach This review combines academic and practitioner literature on circularity and waste management in the humanitarian context. Literature from the disaster management and Global South context is used to inform the humanitarian research stream. As a theoretical framework, the authors use material flows to indicate the need for waste management and circular strategies in the HSC. Academic literature has been identified through keyword searches and complemented with grey literature from humanitarian organizations and think tanks/research institutes working in the context. Findings Waste management and circular strategies are being discussed in the humanitarian context, both academically and in practice, but more research, data and direct action is needed. Procurement is in a strategically relevant position to act as a gatekeeper for harmful materials and items, but also as a gateway for choices that enhance circularity. High-level decisions made upstream in the supply chain have significant consequences at the grassroots level in terms of for example waste management. Disaster studies and waste management research in the Global South informs the humanitarian context of circularity approaches. Practical implications This paper provides avenues for implementing waste management and circular strategies into humanitarian operations. Originality/value This paper includes both academic and grey literature in the review. Thereby the findings extend to both research and practice and can be used by researchers as well as humanitarian organizations to understand the state of the art of circular approaches to waste management in this context.