Summary
This NFR captures the key takeaways and discussions from the global information session on improving humanitarian warehousing. It reflects agreed priorities on enhancing sustainability, operational efficiency, and cost-effectiveness across warehouse operations. The document consolidates insights, best practices, and identified gaps shared by participants. Overall, it serves as a common reference to guide future actions and coordination.
Content
Speakers: Michela EXT Balzino (Logistics Cluster - Waste Management and Measuring, Reverse Logistics, Environmentally Sustainable Procurement and Transport, and Circular Economy - WREC), Ingrid Beyegue (WFP), Tamby Libzo (DRC), Randa Alattar (DRC), Judith Okoli (UNICEF).
Number of participants: 95
Organizations: Action Against Hunger, Acted, Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Food and agriculture Organization (FAO), Humanitarian Logistics Cooperative (Hulo), Humedica, International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), International Medical Corps (IMC), International Rescue Committee, International Organization for Migrants (IOM), Malaria Consortium, Medair, Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Oxfam, Save the Children, Solidarites International, Shelter Box, Street Child, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Welthungerhilfe, We Are Light, World Food Programme (WFP), World Vision.
Agenda
- Circular and Sustainable Warehousing Measures
- Best practice from the field
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Q&A
- Circular and Sustainable Warehouse
The session opened with an overview of the increasing importance of integrating sustainability and circular economy principles into humanitarian warehousing operations. The discussion emphasized that sustainability should not be perceived as an additional burden but rather as an operational enabler contributing to efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The facilitator highlighted five key pillars, namely structural improvements, energy efficiency, storage optimization, waste management, and behavioural change. Each pillar was explored through practical measures such as insulation, reflective roofing, improved airflow, and the adoption of renewable energy systems. The importance of tailoring solutions to local contexts was stressed, recognizing the diversity of operational environments, including differences in infrastructure ownership, climate conditions, and energy availability.
The session further elaborated on the role of energy efficiency measures, particularly the transition to LED lighting, installation of motion sensors, and procurement of energy-efficient equipment. These actions were presented as low-cost investments with significant returns in terms of reduced operational costs and emissions. Participants also discussed renewable energy systems, particularly solar installations, as transformative solutions that provide long-term sustainability benefits despite higher initial investments.
The concept of optimizing warehouse space through improved layouts and inventory management practices such as FIFO and FEFO was highlighted as a critical element in reducing waste and resource consumption.
Waste management strategies focused on identifying waste streams, leveraging local recycling infrastructure, and avoiding environmentally harmful disposal practices.
The importance of behavioural change was underscored, with an emphasis on continuous training, awareness campaigns, and organizational culture shifts. It was noted that even incremental changes in staff behaviour could result in measurable reductions in energy consumption, cost, and environmental impact.
The discussion concluded by reiterating that sustainability initiatives should be integrated into core warehouse operations and aligned with broader organizational strategies.
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Best practices from the field
a. Circular Warehouse – WFP Chad
The presentation from WFP Chad provided a comprehensive example of a circular structure for warehousing in practice. The initiative involved the reuse of damaged and unused mobile storage unit components to construct a new warehouse facility. Through a structured process of inventory, redesign, and reconstruction, the team successfully transformed a significant volume of recycled MSU material into a functional warehouse designed with passive cooling features.
The designed warehouse structure measures approximately 10m by 44m and incorporated ventilation gaps, insulated walls, and reflective roofing elements that support improved airflow and maintain lower internal temperatures without relying on mechanical cooling systems.
The project illustrated the potential of local innovation and engineering capacity in advancing circular economy principles. By repurposing existing materials, the initiative reduced waste generation and minimized the environmental footprint associated with new construction. Additionally, modular and detachable heavy-duty shelving systems were fabricated using recycled materials, enhancing storage organization and efficiency within the warehouse. The project also emphasized the importance of evidence generation, with plans to conduct thermal mapping to validate performance and support replication. Overall, the WFP Chad case demonstrated how circular approaches can simultaneously achieve environmental, operational, and cost benefits while remaining adaptable to local contexts.
b.Space optimization and proper disposal - DRC Syria
The case study from DRC in Syria focused on improving warehouse efficiency through systematic inventory management, space optimization, and responsible disposal practices. The initiative began with a comprehensive physical inventory that revealed signifi cant inefficiencies, including the accumulation of unused and obsolete items.
Through a structured sorting process, items were categorized for donation, reuse, or disposal.
A significant portion of the inventory was donated to local institutions, including the Ministry of Education, resulting in the redistribution of valuable resources to communities in need. Disposal materials were repurposed through agreements with suppliers, exchanging scrap items for solar systems installed in organizational facilities. This innovative approach not only minimized waste but also contributed to the adoption of renewable energy solutions.
The optimization process led to a dramatic reduction in warehouse space requirements, decreasing from approximately 1,400 square meters to significantly smaller operational areas, thereby reducing rental costs and improving efficiency. The initiative highlighted the tangible benefits of circular practices, demonstrating how waste reduction, resource recovery, and operational optimization can be achieved simultaneously. It also showcased the importance of coordination, approvals, and sustained efforts in implementing large-scale changes within complex operational environments.
c. Solarization efforts - UNICEF Global
UNICEF presented its global approach to integrating sustainability into warehouse operations, with a particular focus on solarization initiatives. The organization’s strategy involves conducting energy audits to assess facility needs and design tailored renewable energy solutions. Case studies from Nigeria demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach, with solar systems significantly reducing reliance on diesel generators.
The results indicated substantial reductions in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, alongside improved cost efficiency and operational resilience. The use of battery storage systems ensured energy reliability, enabling continuous operations even in contexts with unstable power supply. The initiative also highlighted the importance of partnerships, leveraging technical support from external organizations to conduct energy assessments and implement solutions more efficiently.
The presentation emphasized that while solarization requires upfront investment, the long-term financial and environmental benefits justify the approach. Lessons learned included the need to align sustainability objectives with operational requirements, ensure proper planning through energy assessments, and adopt scalable models that can be replicated across different locations. UNICEF’s experience demonstrated that renewable energy transitions can be integrated into broader organizational strategies, delivering measurable impact across multiple dimensions.
- Sustainable and Circular Warehouse Guide
The session concluded with the presentation of a comprehensive guide aimed at supporting humanitarian organizations in adopting sustainable and circular warehousing practices. The guide consolidates practical measures across key operational areas, providing actionable recommendations tailored to diverse contexts. It includes a cost-impact matrix to help organizations prioritize interventions based on feasibility and potential benefits.
Participants were encouraged to start with low-cost, high-impact measures such as energy efficiency improvements and waste management practices before progressing to more complex initiatives like infrastructure upgrades and renewable energy installations. The guide also emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and collaboration within the humanitarian community.
Q&A
Q: What was the timeline for implementing the warehouse optimization initiative in DRC Syria?
A: The initiative took around 1 year considering the comprehensive process: requesting approvals, inventory, sorting and coordination activities.
Q: What are the most impactful entry points for sustainability in warehouses?
A: Low-cost measures such as energy efficiency, space optimization, and behavioral change are effective starting points with immediate impact.
Additional comment: Participants highlighted the importance of shared warehousing approaches and collaborative models to scale sustainability across the sector.
Recording
WREC Coalition - Improving Humanitarian Warehousing for Sustainability, Efficiency & Cost Savings.
Contacts
| Katherine Ely | WREC Coalition Project Manager | Katherine.Ely@wfp.org |
| Michela Balzino | WREC Circular Economy & Reverse Logistics Specialist | Michela.Balzino@wfp.org |
| Contact Us | Global.WREC@wfp.org |
