BoxWall at UN City: A Dual Mission for Impact and Infrastructure🇺🇳
- Paal Selnaes
- Jun 13
- 3 min read
We just returned from two impactful days at UN City in Copenhagen, where we participated in the Nordic UN Procurement Seminar. It offered invaluable insight into how the United Nations operates as a global system — coordinating efforts to deliver shelter, infrastructure, and critical services in crisis zones around the world. Battling severe budget cuts, sustainability challenges and rising global instability, the pressure on humanitarian systems is mounting. The need to engage in public-private partnerships has never been more urgent.
At BoxWall, we’ve engineered the world’s most sustainable and reusable interior wall system—built for speed, circularity, and low cost of ownership. But what if that same system could help make high-quality spaces accessible to everyone, everywhere?
Our first milestone as a company was delivering walls to a modern, high-sustainability school project here in Norway—a delivery we’re deeply proud of. But after listening to UNICEF, and all the other UN organizations present at the seminar, we left with a clear conviction: we want to help bring the same quality of space to children around the world who’ve lost access to classrooms, safety, and stability. Because every child deserves a place to grow, learn, and feel safe.
For millions displaced by conflict or disaster, speed, flexibility, and sustainability aren’t luxuries—they’re lifelines. That’s why we’re committed to delivering modular, rapidly deployable infrastructure for housing, businesses, medical clinics, schools, and more. All supported by our digital platform, which tracks every wall’s lifecycle, ensuring measurable ESG performance and circular value.
We were inspired by the open dialogue and strong interest from both UN representatives and Nordic government professionals. Their encouraging feedback about BoxWall’s potential in humanitarian settings was both motivating and humbling.
We also received strong validation for what makes BoxWall unique. While many appreciated the smart design and flexibility of the product, what truly resonated—especially with UN representatives and government stakeholders—was our ability to deliver full ESG traceability.
With 100% trackable lifecycle data embedded in every module, BoxWall removes the guesswork from sustainability reporting. It gives procurement teams and aid organizations the resolution and reliability they’re missing in the current market. This isn’t just about compliance—it’s about building trust and transparency into every square meter of infrastructure deployed.. Their encouraging feedback about BoxWall’s potential in humanitarian settings was both motivating and humbling.
Our key takeaways?
There is always need—but need alone doesn’t generate action.
We must work to build demand: demand for smarter, faster, and more sustainable solutions. The opportunity for private-sector engagement is significant—if solutions are deployed thoughtfully, with respect for local dynamics, and backed by public-private partnerships (PPPs) that recognize and help mitigate the risks involved. IP protection, fair procurement, and local empowerment must go hand in hand.
What we bring is a platform that’s ready and traceable—but what’s needed is collaboration.
To build with local communities, using local labor and materials wherever possible.
To enable community-led assembly and skill-building, especially in support of the UN’s mission to empower women.
To create safe, calming spaces for children—where learning and healing can begin again.
Sincere thanks to all the UN staff, government officials, and Nordic partners who generously shared their time, insights, and experience. It was a privilege—and a catalyst for what comes next.
Of course, BoxWall is still young—and we recognize that addressing challenges of this scale requires collaboration. But the conversations in Copenhagen left us hopeful: there’s a growing network of people and organizations ready to make a difference.
Well done!.
Im cincerely impressed over what you and your comany are achieveing. Sustainability is a key-word in so many ways. From my personal experience from refugee camps, it is very important that housing / schools and other ifra structure can be built within hours and days, not months and years.
I do hope that you showcasing this in Copenhagen may be a breaktrough both for your company but even more important (to me): For all those people in dire need.