Panasonic Group's Social Contribution Activity "LIGHT UP THE FUTURE" Delivering Light to Unlit Areas Wins International Award "AREA 2026"

Panasonic Holdings Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the Panasonic Group) has received the "Social Empowerment" award at the "Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) 2026" for its corporate citizenship activity "LIGHT UP THE FUTURE," which donates solar lanterns made by the Panasonic Group to areas without electricity. The awards ceremony was held on June 26, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where representatives of the Panasonic Group received the award.

This award recognizes the efforts of companies that contribute to solving social issues and realizing a sustainable society, with the aim of promoting responsible corporate management in the Asian region. "LIGHT UP THE FUTURE" was recognized for delivering solar lanterns to people living in areas without electricity, as well as creating opportunities for education, health, and income improvement, thereby contributing to the revitalization of local communities.

The judging panel highly praised the initiative for being meticulously planned and executed based on a clear strategy, and for bringing direct impact to the beneficiaries. "This is a highly significant initiative that expands the possibilities for education, health, safety, and living in areas without electricity through 'light,' which is the origin of the Panasonic Group. It is an excellent example of corporate citizenship where the company's core business technology is naturally linked to solving social issues, and we highly value that this has continued for 13 years and spread to 36 countries worldwide. We hope that this award will further increase the recognition of the significance of this initiative," commented Naoki Adachi, Representative Director of Response Ability Co., Ltd., and an AREA 2026 judge.

Project Background

<Support Activities for Areas Without Electricity by the Panasonic Group>

Since 2013, the Panasonic Group has been engaged in activities to deliver "light" to "areas without electricity" where people cannot escape poverty due to the lack of light and electricity. To date, in collaboration with approximately 160 partners, including NPOs/NGOs and international organizations, the Group has delivered approximately 130,000 solar lanterns to 36 countries. These activities go beyond simply donating solar lanterns; by combining them with development support programs led by collaborative partners, they contribute to creating mechanisms that lead to the self-reliance of individuals and communities by fostering opportunities for education, health, and income improvement for people living in areas without electricity.

As part of these global activities, particularly in Asia, the Group is responding to challenges such as underdeveloped power infrastructure and economic disparities that remain despite economic growth, by implementing initiatives in schools in mountainous areas of Northern Thailand, fishing villages in the Philippines without grid access, and rural farming areas in Cambodia.

Furthermore, these activities are supported by many people in Japan. Since 2018, in collaboration with group companies, local governments, universities, and events, the "AKARI Action for Everyone" has been promoted, involving employees and the general public. This initiative collects used books, CDs, DVDs, etc., as donations, and converts the proceeds into solar lanterns to be delivered to areas without electricity. It constructs a participatory and circular scheme that encourages many people to pay attention to social issues in areas without electricity and to make behavioral changes they can undertake. This award recognizes not only the development support initiatives in the field but also the citizen participation and social ripple effects of these programs.

Going forward, the Panasonic Group will continue to create opportunities for education, health, and income improvement in areas without electricity and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by collaborating with various stakeholders, including United Nations agencies and NPOs/NGOs.

<Related Information>

・【LIGHT UP THE FUTURE】Project to Illuminate the Future of Areas Without Electricity

https://holdings.panasonic/jp/corporate/sustainability/citizenship/lutf.html

・Panasonic Group Corporate Citizenship Activities

https://holdings.panasonic/jp/corporate/sustainability/citizenship.html