According to the latest U.N. reports, there were approximately 42.5 million refugees worldwide as of June 2025. Many have sought shelter in refugee camps or informal settlements where basic needs are scarcely secured and new challenges constantly arise. While many have fled their homes, others remain in armed conflict zones where livelihoods are under threat. Amid this turmoil, humanitarian nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide continue to work with vulnerable communities to restore hope by working directly on the ground, securing funds, pressuring governments to take action and developing innovative and cost-effective solutions and technologies to save and improve the lives of refugees.

Innovative, Sustainable Heating Solutions

In 2025, Sri Hollema, a graduate student from Loughborough University, won the Women in Innovation award by Innovate U.K. for her work with Mat Zero, which is revolutionizing humanitarian heating through sustainable energy. What started as a university project, Mat Zero is now a growing global movement with products commercially available. With a humanitarian mission to provide warmth for all, Mat Zero donates a heating unit to a family in need for every product sold.

The UNHCR previously shared stories highlighting how much warmth can impact the lives of those living as refugees, in conflict zones or in informal settlements.

• Warmth and Shelter: For many people, warmth means shelter. Many displaced families endure cold temperatures without adequate heating or shelter. Access to both can provide some comfort amid a life full of uncertainties.
• Human Connection: Warmth nurtures human connection, especially for those in war zones where homes are damaged and exposed to harsh weather. Access to warmth can create space for community as people are more likely to visit.
• A Slice of Hope: In many settlements, significant temperature drops during winter add to the challenges displaced communities face daily. Providing warmth during cold winter months can offer a slice of hope, which can go a long way.

The impact of having access to adequate heating extends beyond health concerns and many communities continue to be underserved in this area. With this in mind, Hollema founded Mat Zero.

Mat Zero

Mat Zero is a startup working on sustainable heating solutions to help the world’s vulnerable communities who have been forcibly displaced and continue to face challenges in meeting basic rights and needs, including access to warmth. Temporary settlements are heavily affected by severe weather conditions due to poor infrastructure. During winter, many communities face the cold, harsh winds and storms.

Founder Hollema developed the project with a simple belief: “Warmth is a human right, not a luxury.” Since its inception, Mat Zero has won and been shortlisted for multiple awards, including The Conduit’s Young Innovator Awards, the Santander X U.K. Awards in 2024 and Innovative U.K.’s Women in Innovation in 2025.

Its mission to “heat the person not the space” ensures underserved communities are kept warm in a safe and sustainable way. The mat comes with an energy hub and solar panels and relies on sustainable technology using carbon fiber heating, usable in all kinds of shelter. The group’s product ensures warmth comes in a safe form with no toxic fumes or risk of fires, an extremely important factor for crowded spaces.

The team continuously tests and improves the product’s effectiveness and recent field trials in Nepal showed 87% of users felt more comfortable at night. It does not stop there. Having tested the product’s effectiveness on the ground with clean, sustainable energy, Mat Zero can also benefit other humanitarian organizations.

Cost-Effective Solution for Humanitarian NGOs

Heating a household requires a lot of energy and can be costly. With its innovative heating solution, Mat Zero can potentially reduce the amount spent on providing heating by NGOs. Additionally, the heating mats are designed to last up to five years before the battery needs replacement.

Designed to offer clean and sustainable heating technology, Mat Zero provides a promising solution to ensure the world’s vulnerable communities stay warm and safe.

– Marine Baume

Marine is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr