New platform paves the way for sustainable solutions in global aid and health sectors

A groundbreaking platform aimed at revolutionizing the use of sustainable solutions in the humanitarian and health sectors has been launched, offering a new way to tackle waste and promote eco-friendly products globally. The Biobased Solutions Catalo

By: helsinkitimes.fi

Oct 13 2024
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New platform paves the way for

A groundbreaking platform aimed at revolutionizing the use of sustainable solutions in the humanitarian and health sectors has been launched, offering a new way to tackle waste and promote eco-friendly products globally. The Biobased Solutions Catalogue, created through the Waste in Humanitarian Operations: Reduction and Minimization (WORM) Project, will help organizations access and utilize bio-based products in critical health and response efforts worldwide.

Coordinated by the HUMLOG Institute at Hanken School of Economics and supported by 16 European and international partners, the initiative focuses on reducing the environmental impact of humanitarian operations. The new platform, powered by Dutch social enterprise Solvoz, serves as an open-access portal where stakeholders can discover bio-based alternatives for commonly used medical and humanitarian supplies.

The platform is set to address the urgent need for sustainable procurement in sectors that generate billions of single-use items, such as gloves, syringes, and personal protective equipment (PPE). In 2020 alone, 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves were used globally, exacerbating the growing plastic waste crisis, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

The Biobased Solutions Catalogue initially focuses on five high-priority product categories, including PPE, syringes, sharps containers, body bags, and water storage solutions. Over time, additional categories will be added to meet the evolving needs of the sector.

"This platform is a vital step towards addressing the environmental impacts of humanitarian operations," says Professor Gyöngyi Kovács, lead investigator of the WORM project. "By bringing together humanitarian actors, suppliers, and sustainability experts, we are creating a space for innovation and cooperation to ‘green’ the sector."

In addition to providing a product catalogue, the platform also offers an integrated market assessment tool, enabling users to conduct comprehensive market evaluations, request quotes, and engage in sourcing activities. The tool ensures compliance with international standards, supporting organizations in making more sustainable procurement decisions.

The platform is designed to foster collaboration between the private sector and humanitarian organizations. Claire Barnhoorn, CEO of Solvoz, emphasized the importance of transparency and local manufacturing: “By creating this platform, we’re fostering public-private partnerships and enabling humanitarian and health actors to make informed decisions. We also aim to strengthen local manufacturing capacities, promoting sustainable development and resilient supply chains.”

As the humanitarian and health sectors continue to grapple with growing waste challenges, the Biobased Solutions Catalogue offers a timely and critical resource to support more sustainable and responsible operations globally.