Exploring barriers to circularity in humanitarian supply chains

Abstract

Nearly 60 % of humanitarian assistance is provided as in-kind goods through humanitarian supply chains (HSCs), which can result in waste and adverse environmental impacts. Despite growing interest in circular economy principles, their implementation in humanitarian contexts remains limited. This study identifies and prioritizes barriers to circular HSCs through combining literature review, expert focus groups, and interpretive structural modeling (ISM). Our findings highlight funding gaps, unpredictable demand, and insufficient training as critical barriers. We develop a structured understanding of barriers and their relationships in a hierarchical model that provides humanitarian organizations with a strategic roadmap for enhancing circularity while operating within existing resource constraints. We propose feasible circular economy approaches –reusing, repairing, repurposing, and recycling – that require minimal additional infrastructure while delivering environmental benefits and operational efficiencies. Our study contributes to the literature by offering context-specific insights for more sustainable aid delivery systems.