Panasonic has set a goal of donating 100,000 solar lanterns to people in regions without electricity by 2018; the company’s 100th anniversary – and it has already made good headway.
The project has its roots in a letter sent by the Republic of Uganda’s Minister of State in 2006 containing details of the dire health implications for the many people without mains electricity access in the nation. These people mostly use kerosene lamps that are not only costly to fuel, but the smoke causes respiratory and pulmonary disease.
Panasonic then set about developing its own solar lantern products and the company has so far donated 10,000 compact solar lights to NPOs and NGOs in Cambodia, Myanmar, India and Africa.
"By capitalizing on our company’s technologies, solutions and expertise, we will continue to help resolve various social challenges facing local communities without access to electricity in developing countries," states the company.
"Toward 2018, Panasonic will continue to donate solar lanterns to developing countries. The company is striving to help improve living conditions in these regions and to help achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."
Panasonic has a substantial Corporate Citizenship program, based on the philosophy of education and coexistence while focusing on environment and the next generation.
"We carry out our corporate citizenship activities not as distribution of profit but as investment in society, and to ensure the sustainable continuation of activities in the two key areas."
The company has also lent a hand after various disasters, including the Great East Japan Earthquake; donating a substantial amount of money, 580,000 dry batteries, 50,000 flashlights, 10,000 pocket-sized radios, 4,000 solar lanterns and other appliances.
Panasonic’s other goal for 2018 is to be the "No. 1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry". As part of that ambition, Panasonic officially integrated SANYO Oceania’s solar panel division into its Australian operations in April of 2012; its flagship product being the HIT solar panel.
