Disaster and Emergency Logistics: Sustainable Solutions from a Social, Ecological and Economic Perspective

Dear Colleagues,

It is well known that disasters and disaster response activities usually generate massive amounts of waste. Contaminated debris and waste often exceed an affected area’s treatment capacity (e.g., the Asian tsunami in 2004, the Haiti earthquake in 2010, and the Japanese earthquake in 2011). Sometimes, waste and debris are just ignored without receiving proper management. Untreated debris and waste negatively impact current and future residents’ health, as well as the global environment. Post-disaster management includes reverse activities related to end-of-life and end-of-use relief goods and equipment. On the one hand, the disposal of relief goods and/or equipment is a predominant way of dealing with them (as there are often no alternatives); on the other hand, the reuse of relief equipment has started attracting stakeholders’ attention. Although a substantial number of research papers deal with debris management, previous academic literature that has shed light on aid agencies’ reverse logistics activities is scarce.

The research methodology for papers in this Special Issue includes but is not limited to analytical and/or simulation models, conceptual papers, empirical studies, and case studies. Analytical and/or simulation models should have a clear motivation in real problems and a solid practical foundation—for example using real-world data or showing evidence of communication with humanitarian practitioners. The topics of interest of this Special Issue include but are not limited to the following.

• Factors which affect aid agencies’ choice of reuse, product recovery or disposal;
• Comparison of reverse logistics management in the commercial and humanitarian sectors;
• Coordination/collaboration mechanisms which enhance aid agencies’ end-of-use activities;
• Product designs of relief items and/or equipment which facilitate stakeholders’ reverse flow management;
• Health care waste management in disaster and emergency logistics;
• Debris management in disaster and emergency logistics.

Prof. Dr. Toyasaki Fuminori
Guest Editor

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• Sustainability
• Reverse logistics in disasters and emergencies
• Sustainable partnership between the commercial and humanitarian sectors