Modelo de desarrollo de materiales de empaque sostenibles para su uso en logística humanitaria, aplicando los principios del diseño de productos y la economía circular

This document proposes a doctoral research project focused on designing prototypes for
sustainable packaging intended for use in humanitarian logistics. The project is motivated by the
increasing and significant need for humanitarian aid worldwide due to the rise in the frequency and
severity of natural disasters. Between 2015 and 2023, there were 3,555 natural disaster events
globally, affecting over 1.4 billion people, with 186 million affected in 2022 alone. Effective
humanitarian logistics are crucial for delivering essential supplies to affected populations, but the
environmental impact of packaging waste from aid efforts has been largely overlooked.
The proposed project will design a reusable packaging prototype for a priority category of
humanitarian supplies by conducting a thorough literature review to define the study's scope,
identifying critical packaging needs for humanitarian supplies, using agile methodologies for product
and service design; exploring reusable packaging solutions with sustainable product/packaging
design tools, developing at least two packaging options that meet the defined requirements, and
creating and validating a specific prototype through a case study.
Possible methods include a comprehensive literature review, followed by a design strategy based
on the product design process: identifying needs for a specific supply/region, divergent idea
generation, convergent concept analysis, prototype creation, and testing. Validation will occur
through the implementation of a case study.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a model for developing sustainable packaging that enables agile,
cost-effective, and sustainable logistics for humanitarian aid. This research aims to substantially
contribute to the knowledge of humanitarian logistics from the perspective of a developing country,
while also pioneering sustainable packaging design in Costa Rica. Its interdisciplinary nature covers
industrial engineering domains such as supply chain management, product development, and
sustainability. The results could reduce packaging waste from aid efforts and improve logistical
performance, supporting both environmental goals and life-saving operations.

Diseñar un prototipo de empaque para su uso en logística humanitaria, aplicando los principios del diseño de productos y la economía circular.

1. Gestión de operaciones y sostenibilidad.
2. Ciencia, tecnología e innovación