Collaboration makes possible research and development of new line of solar-powered products for home for developed and developing countries
Source: Tomas Gislason/Little Sun/Artnet.com
The furniture giant Ikea showed interest in Olafur Eliasson’s project Little Sun – a yellow portable torch that gives people in third world countries access to free sustainable energy. The first models were produced five years ago and sold at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2013. The project, which was co-founded by engineer Frederik Ottesen, has expanded since then and now includes a table lamp and a mobile phone charger.
Ikea and Eliasson are going to combine their efforts and experience to sell products working on clean energy in 300 stores in 40 countries.
Source: Michael Tsegaye/Little Sun/Artnet.com
“I was keen to use the scale and the knowledge Ikea has on product development to create a relationship with Little Sun,” Eliasson told artnet.com. “Little Sun is primarily working with off-grid solutions and it’s about people at the very bottom of the pyramid who do not have access to clean energy. But Little Sun is also about learning how to have a relationship with sustainable energy in the so-called on-grid world.”
Eliasson also thanked the Ikea Foundation for helping children living in poverty get access to better education, healthcare and housing.
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