Carbon footprint of humanitarian logistics : Case the Finnish Red Cross

Abstract

This thesis was written on the basis that despite all studies and analyses companies, governments and industries have about pollution and carbon footprint voluntary organi-zations have very little information about that. This will serve as background informa-tion for the Finnish Red Cross for the procurement operations. Although many relief item deliveries to areas suffered from natural disasters are very urgent, certain factors allow planners to take environmental impact and carbon emissions into account.

The Finnish Red Cross has its logistics centre in Tampere, from where all logistics op-erations are organized. Majority of the products never come to Finland as they are pro-cured internationally from where they are directly transported to the destination. This thesis proves that relief items purchased as close to the destination and are transported by truck or train produce significantly less emissions than items purchased from distant countries and are transported by plane. This decision can significantly reduce carbon emissions and the products should be procured locally and transported by train or ship when and wherever possible.