One Earth Designs serves as a catalyst for social and environmental innovation. By working alongside people in rural communities, we unleash the potential of modern design thinking coupled with valuable, local knowledge. Our award-winning products enable a lifestyle that is not only convenient and accessible, but also in harmony with people and nature.
History
In 2009, our founders established One Earth Designs Foundation to support environmental education and health programs in rural China. Through their foundation work, they realized that hundreds of thousands of rural Chinese were dying from diseases related to pollution from their household stoves and that millions more were suffering either from the growing scarcity of fuel (caused by deforestation) or the high cost of coal.
In 2010, our founders established One Earth Designs Limited in order to develop and market technology solutions for the nearly three billion people around the world who lack access to clean and affordable energy.
Before starting One Earth Designs, Scot Frank, our CEO, founded two web start-ups, helped patent a novel method of detecting treatable breast cancer, and studied computers and electrical engineering at MIT. Our co-founder and COO, Catlin Powers, led environmental initiatives on three continents, developed remediation programs for contaminated soil and water in the United States, and consulted for renewable energy projects in India. She studied chemistry at Wellesley College and environmental health at Harvard University, where she conducted prize-winning environmental research.
Since its founding, One Earth Designs’ work has been recognized by the Dutch Postcode Lottery Green Challenge, St. Andrews Prize for the Environment, MIT $100k Competition, Clinton Global Initiative, Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Yunus Innovation Challenge. See a full list of our awards and accolades.
We welcome you to become part of our story by joining us in our efforts to improve the lives of millions.