Mar 25, 2016

Feature Story

Panasonic Has Now Donated More Than 50,000 Solar Lanterns under Its "100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project"

The cumulative number of donated solar lanterns under the "100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project" implemented by Panasonic Corporation exceeded 50,000 on March 10, 2016, topping 50% of its numerical target.

Panasonic Corporation's "100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project" has passed its halfway mark with the cumulative number of solar lanterns donated exceeding 50,000 on March 10, 2016. This project began in February 2013 with a donation of 3,000 units to Myanmar, followed by donations to other areas in Asia and Africa without access to electricity. The number of solar lanterns donated was 10,000 for 3 countries in FY2013, 14,114 for 10 countries in FY2014 and 20,364 for 11 countries in FY2015. And in FY2016, Panasonic continued to donate solar lanterns, and on March 10, 2016, 702 units were donated to Yen Bai province in Vietnam. With this, the sum total of solar lanterns donated exceeded 50,000. After this, in mid-March 2016, Panasonic donated 2,400 units to Cambodia and 760 units to Bangladesh. Furthermore, donations to Indonesia, India, and the Democratic Republic of Congo will be made by the end of March 2016, bringing the sum total to more than 60,000 units.

The "100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project" is one of Panasonic's corporate citizenship activities (social contribution activities) that utilize "products" it manufactures. More than 1.2 billion people* worldwide still live without access to electricity. Lack of electric lighting severely impacts health, education, income-generation and safety at nighttime. Panasonic hopes to help alleviate the social challenges people in developing and emerging countries living off-grid are facing, and to bring positive change to their lives by donating small lighting devices powered by solar energy. Panasonic has also donated solar lanterns to give relief to communities stricken by large-scale natural disasters or by epidemics.
*Source : International Energy Agency (IEA)、World Energy Outlook 2015

Panasonic aims to donate 100,000 solar lanterns under this project by 2018, the 100th anniversary of the company's founding. In principle, recipients are non-profit, non-governmental, humanitarian and international organizations. So far, 80 organizations in 16 countries have received these solar lanterns.
Reports from these organizations have indicated that these solar lanterns have been put to effective use for various activities including children's studies, literacy education for adults, safer child delivery and medical treatment, and income-generation, and have helped improve the quality of life of people living in rural, off-grid areas.

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Solar lanterns donated exceeding 50,000

Panasonic will further accelerate its efforts under the 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project so that it may successfully donate 100,000 units by 2018, its 100th anniversary, and strengthen efforts to contribute to the achievement of "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." adopted by world leaders at the United Nations in September 2015.

Products currently being donated

- Solar Lantern (BG-BL03)
- Solar LED Light (BG-BL04)
Learn more at http://panasonic.net/sustainability/en/lantern/products.html

Sum total of solar lanterns donated: Total: 53,260 (as of March 25, 2016)

  1. Myanmar: 9,464
  2. Cambodia: 8,914
  3. Vietnam: 1,332
  4. Philippines: 5,814
  5. Indonesia: 2,020
  6. Malaysia: 69
  7. Thailand: 100
  8. India: 14,006
  9. Bangladesh: 760
  10. Kenya: 6,008
  11. Uganda: 100
  12. Burundi: 1,233
  13. Niger: 200
  14. Liberia: 1,240
  15. Guinea: 1,000
  16. Sierra Leone: 1,000
SolarLantern50000_list_en.jpg

The Cumulative Number of Solar Lanterns Donated

Join the Movement

Even today about 1.2 billion people worldwide live without electric light and face a variety of education, health, medical, and other challenges. We invite you to join us in providing solar lanterns and the light of hope to these people.

* FY2013 : Apr. 2012 - Mar. 2013
* FY2014 : Apr. 2013 - Mar. 2014
* FY2015 : Apr. 2014 - Mar. 2015
* FY2016 : Apr. 2015 - Mar. 2016

Media Contacts:
Panasonic Corporation
Global Communication Group
Public Relations Office
E-mail:presscontact@ml.jp.panasonic.com

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