BRIGHT’s solar lamp Repair Program: Partnering on the leading e-waste management project in the humanitarian sector
In Uganda’s Bidibidi refugee settlement, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is leading several partners in pioneering the most comprehensive electronic waste (e-waste) management project in the humanitarian sector. At the heart of this project is BRIGHT’s solar lamp Repair Program which is training technicians who are turning e-waste into opportunity through the repair and refurbishment of solar lamps. These technicians have since the launch of the E-waste Management project in 2022 repaired 6,361 solar lamps and 341 solar panels, reduced e-waste, and significantly improved their livelihoods. By embracing a circular economy, improving product design, and centering community voices, BRIGHT’s Repair Program offers a sustainable model for handling e-waste in displacement settings, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
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![Image of the upgraded SunBell 2.0Y solar panel made with 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic and the Sol solar lamp with the new, lighter and more efficient monocrystalline solar panel using Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) plastic. Two latest innovations showcasing BRIGHT's approach to using circular product design to tackkle plastic pollution]()
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Tackling plastic pollution through circular product design, BRIGHT’s approach
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that globally more than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced annually. Half is used once and discarded, with less than 10% recycled. Around 11 million tonnes end up in water bodies annually, imposing a global environmental and social cost of between US$300 billion to US$600 billion.
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![BRIGHT solar lamp for emergencies glowing in a dark indoor space, ideal for emergency kits during power outages or severe weather.]()
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How to choose the best solar lamp for emergencies
Power outages are among the first consequences of natural disasters. Whether you are bracing for hurricane season in the Americas and the Caribbean, monsoon rains in Asia, or responding to government emergency preparedness advisories in Europe, a reliable solar lamp for emergencies is a must-have in every survival kit.
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![BRIGHT designs solar lamps to provide light that balances brightness and colour temperature]()
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Lighting the way: How BRIGHT designs solar lamps for comfort, efficiency & real-world use
Since 2014, BRIGHT has been at the forefront of solar lighting innovation, designing and delivering sustainable solar lamps to support off-grid communities, humanitarian aid missions, and disaster response scenarios. We have delivered 4.3 million lamps and illuminated more than 17 million lives, enhancing safety, supporting education, and preserving dignity in diverse settings. Behind every lamp we create lies a critical design philosophy: real-world use must shape technical choices. The light emitting diodes (LEDs) in our solar lights are meticulously engineered to provide optimal brightness and appropriate colour temperature. In this article, we explain how we choose brightness and colour temperature in our solar lamps, and why those decisions matter for the people we serve.
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![Humanitarian NGOs are switching to solar power in crisis zones ditching diesel generators for solar panels]()
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Why NGOs are switching to solar power in crisis zones
For years humanitarian aid operations have relied on diesel generators, which are costly, logistically complex, and environmentally damaging, as the main source of power in operations. Now, a growing number of humanitarian NGOs are replacing these machines with solar power or solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Why? Because solar energy offers a better way forward: it is more sustainable, more affordable over time, and easier to deploy in hard-to-reach areas.
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