Case studies

Collecting empty sachets of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF)

Integrated into their medical and nutritional activities, ALIMA and its partner NGOs, Alerte Santé, KEOOGO and SOS Médecins organised the collection of used sachets from malnutrition treatment programs (Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food – RUTF) in Chad and Burkina Faso. These efforts resulted in collection rates of empty sachets of up to 90.8 % and prevented the release of 3 tonnes of plastic waste into  the environment.

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Recycling water at mobile handwashing stations: Terre des hommes & the Gravit'eau system

Gravit’eau mobile handwashing stations recycle water automatically, safely cutting consumption by up to 99% per handwash compared with other methods. A foot pump discharges the water; wastewater is collected in a tank and filtered through a membrane fine enough to block bacteria and viruses. The whole system works by gravity — no electricity, no complex maintenance, no continuous chemical input — making it ideal for crisis and water-shortage situations. Other uses for larger volumes, such as treating domestic wastewater from cooking or personal hygiene, are being explored. 

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Integrating agroecology practices into programmes to strengthen their impact: lessons learnt from 2 local NGOs in the Sahel

Most local and national NGOs in Africa contribute very little to the humanitarian sector’s greenhouse gas emissions, yet remain strongly committed to climate and environmental action. This case study shows how two medical NGOs integrated agroecological practices into their day-to-day activities, strengthening the scope and impact of their work. In Burkina Faso, SOS Médecins set up a vegetable garden in a prison where it provides medical assistance to inmates. In Niger, BEFEN launched a project to plant trees in its health centres and establish vegetable gardens in surrounding communities. 

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Engaging suppliers to cut supply chain emissions: the case of the NHS

In October 2020 the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) announced its goal of becoming the world’s first net-zero national health service. Responsible for around 4% of Britain’s emissions, it generates 62% of its own footprint in the supply chain — mainly manufactured goods such as pharmaceuticals and chemicals and medical equipment). With over 80,000 suppliers, it identified three levers to drive action: more efficient use of supplies, low-carbon substitution and innovation, and supplier decarbonisation — the most impactful of all. By the decade’s end, the NHS will stop purchasing from non-compliant suppliers. 

Read more about this success story here.

Shifting from air to sea freight: the case of MSF France

MSF France has significantly reduced air transport in favour of sea freight. In the 2010s, 70% of goods were transported by air; in 2021, the share of air freight went down to 29%. This did not only save greenhouse gas emissions, but also cost savings as sea transport is far cheaper. The shift followed a joint review with medical management across the supply chain, which identified order planning as the main lever: many “urgent” air shipments served regular projects and compensated for foreseeable stock shortages. MSF developed “Lead Time Performance” sheets breaking the process into 10 key stages. Supply managers see further potential in refrigerated containers for cold-chain medicines. 

Read more about this success story here.