The relationship between Humanitarian Logistics and Reverse Logistics: characteristics, actions, and singularities between both

Abstract

Situations that demand emergency actions, such as natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods), require special logistics posture, which is being called humanitarian logistics. This is still a new concept in Brazil, but it has been studied more and more in European countries and the United States. Humanitarian logistics is the branch of logistics responsible for processes that involve the mobilization of resources, knowledge, and people to support communities affected by emergencies, such as natural disasters, wars, or terrorist attacks. Reverse logistics is another branch of logistics that is concerned with the return of the goods and products flowing from the primary client and which may be sent to dumpsites, recycling, or reuse. However, when these materials are managed differently, they may reach people who were affected by natural disasters or not, characterizing the humanitarian logistics. This article seeks to define, compare and relate the single elements of traditional logistics (direct flow), humanitarian and reverse logistics. It also seeks to show the way to an effective integration between these three logistics branches in order to take advantage of the best to help victims of any disaster.