In the wake of the climate crisis, sustainability is paramount to achieve. One way to achieve environmental sustainability is to improve waste management processes and integrate bio-circularity in humanitarian operations. There is enormous waste in the humanitarian field. What we inferred from our earlier data is that humanitarian organizations have an inbuilt responsibility endpoint when they distribute humanitarian aid to deserving people. How that aid is consumed, how much waste it produces, and how to manage circularity in waste management are the least concerns for HOs. Moreover, waste disposal has been emphasized, and incineration is considered the preferred disposal method. Contrary to this idea, bio-circularity can serve as a solution to tackle waste management issues, particularly in resource-limited settings. Instead of focusing on waste disposal, we can map it towards reuse or repurposing, or even to bio-based materials; we can also strive for rethinking and reduction.

In this effort, a bio-circular framework has been created for humanitarian operations, featuring its unique five building blocks and their elements. We will brief you on this framework and look forward to hearing your viewpoints. The format will proceed as follows:

“The session will begin with a 15-minute briefing on the framework. Participants in groups will then join discussions, each focusing on a single building block for 30 minutes. Afterwards, groups will share insights for 30 minutes. At the end, we will conclude with a 15-minute debrief to consolidate learnings”.