And on the First Day the Social Entrepreneur said “Let
There be d.light!
In
rural villages and townships in places such as India and Africa there are young
children who depend on kerosene lanterns as a light source to complete their
homework at night. In these same places there are also people depending on kerosene
lanterns as a night light for productivity. While the use of the kerosene
lanterns can be seen as a resourceful way to provide a light source, if we take
a closer look we see that kerosene emits unhealthy fumes and it often ends up accidentally
burning people and or their homes. While kerosene’s hazardous and flammable
nature is known by its consumers- who make up the 1.6 billion people around the
world without access to regular electricity[i]-
it is their only source of light.
Electrical
insecurity, as I would like to call it, is a pervasive issue for many
communities that make up the “base of the pyramid” (BOP)[ii].
While these communities want sufficient and safe sources of light, the reality
is that there are very few options. The lack of options has much to do with few
companies attempting to bring the BOP into the formal market structure.
However, one of the brave few that have made the effort to service the BOP is
d.light design-a company that was founded by graduates of the Stanford Business
School and is based in New Delhi, India.
d.light
design is a for-profit social enterprise and through its product line is a
driver of social innovation and human-centered design thinking. The inspiration
for d.light design stems from the co-founder Sam Goldman’s experience in the
Peace Corps service in Benin, Africa, where his neighbor’s son was badly burned
by an overturned kerosene lamp.[iii]This
tragic incident and Goldman’s knowledge of the billions of people in the world
without reliable electricity inspired him to participate in the Entrepreneurial
Design for Extreme Affordability course at the Standford Design School. This is
where he and his co-founder developed their initial prototype solar lantern and
an ambitious plan to bring safe, bright, and renewable lighting to people
around the globe.[iv]
The
company has developed a trio product line, which provides bright and clean
light for families living without adequate electricity where conditions are
harsh and sunshine is not abundant.[vi] From
2008 to 2013, d.light has made the following impact: 20,935,103 lives empowered,
5,233,776 school-aged children reached with solar lighting, $560,002,954 saved
in energy related expenses, 5,697,800,886 productive hours created for working
and studying, 1,369,323 tons of CO2 offset, and 23,678,755 kWh generated from
renewable energy source. It is very evident that d.light products are raising
the welfare, productivity and income of BOP household, which then enables them
“to find their own routes out of poverty.”[vii]
Much of this companies impact is largely due to a “market-based approach to
poverty reduction”[viii]
which recognizes that being poor does not eliminate commerce and market
processes.[ix]
BOP
consumers have responded favorable to the d.light product line and have
explained that some of the benefits of using the product range from improved
health, safety, performance in school, to the ability to generate more income.
Based on these numbers and customer feedback one cannot deny that this company
has a strong focus on BOP households as consumers and on solutions to
electrical insecurities that plague many rural communities around the world in
a sustainable manner.
d.light
is championing frugal
engineering as it addresses the needs of BOP
consumers with a “bottom-up approach”[x]
through its low-cost product-selling for $15 to$30. This company understands
its customers as it produces a built to last product that is tough and weather
resistant, along with rechargeable by solar energy. These products also have a dual
function as they are capable of charging mobile phones, which have been noted
by the World Resources Institute as a growing and substantial product used in
BOP populations.[xi]
Overall,
d.light design has got it right when it comes to providing a solution to
systemic problems such as electrical insecurity. This company is providing low
cost, quality products-that functions optimally within the context of the lives
of its customers, and is a safe pathway out of poverty. This product line and
company highlights that there is a way to provide innovations that are
solutions to complex societal issues, earn a profit, and bring the billions of
consumers in BOP households into a formal economy.
[i] Dolan
A. Kerry. Lighting Up Rural India. Forbes. 2008
[ii]
The Next 4 Billion: Market Size and Business Strategy At The Base Of The
Pyramid. Executive Summary. World Resource Institute.
[v]
Social Impact Dashboard (Video). d.light design. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xocWf6qQBvI#t=14
[vii]
The Next 4 Billion: Market Size and Business Strategy At The Base Of The
Pyramid. Executive Summary. World Resource Institute.
[viii]
The Next 4 Billion: Market Size and Business Strategy At The Base Of The
Pyramid. Executive Summary. World Resource Institute.
[ix]
The Next 4 Billion: Market Size and Business Strategy At The Base Of The
Pyramid. Executive Summary. World Resource Institute.
[x]
The Next 4 Billion: Market Size and Business Strategy At The Base Of The
Pyramid. Executive Summary. World Resource Institute.
[xi]
The Next 4 Billion: Market Size and Business Strategy At The Base Of The
Pyramid. Executive Summary. World Resource Institute.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.