The consequences of energy inefficiency are often not fully understood: every year in Kenya, according to a study conducted by the Clean Cooking Alliance, more than 3 million premature deaths are attributable to the excessive fumes produced by the old stoves in common use.
Burning wood or charcoal over an open flame in outdated appliances therefore not only has negative environmental consequences, but also causes serious health problems and, in turn, social repercussions. The inefficiency of old traditional stoves also translates into higher expenditure on larger quantities of fuel, in a country where three quarters of families live below the poverty line.

Against this backdrop, BURN Manufacturing's project in Kenya, which distributes efficient cooking stoves to rural families across Kenya, is delivering several positive impacts. The stoves being distributed are the Jikokoa, highly energy-efficient biomass appliances. By adopting these stoves, families can reduce their fuel consumption by 64 per cent, effectively slowing deforestation and saving money that is often reinvested in their children's education. On average, a family using this type of stove burns approximately 0.576 kg of charcoal per day (around 204 kg/year).

The benefits of the project

• Improved air quality (particularly indoors), with a reduction in respiratory diseases.
• Reduced consumption, cooking times and fuel costs.
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
• Reduction of the burden of firewood collection on women and girls, freeing up their time to pursue other important activities such as education.
• Reduction of deforestation and pressure on local forest ecosystems.
• New employment opportunities (production, distribution and sales of the stoves are all local activities).

Since 2022, Ecoa Climate Capital has been the project developer across all 47 counties of Kenya: from the production facility in Ruiru, a town in Kiambu county in the former Central Province, the stoves reach retailers and distributors spread throughout the African country. At present, more than 90 per cent of the population still relies on local biomass (wood or charcoal) for cooking, with alarming rates of deforestation, particularly in regions already facing arid conditions.

The efficient combustion of the stove reduces indoor air pollution by 65 per cent, with major health benefits. These advantages, combined with the time and fuel cost savings involved in sourcing combustible material, lead to an overall improvement in quality of life, while also helping to preserve the country's forests. In particular, they contribute to reducing gender inequality, since in Kenya it is typically women who are responsible for cooking and obtaining fuel.

Overall, the project's impacts are highly positive: to date, 293,444 Jikokoa stoves have been distributed to as many families, saving 381,830 tonnes of wood and reducing 495,949 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emitted. 96 per cent of families who adopted the Jikokoa reported an improvement in their perception of indoor air quality.

Cassa Depositi e Prestiti also contributes to the positive impacts

Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) supports BURN Manufacturing's project in Kenya through its participation in LifeGate's Climate Action programme. Through this initiative, CDP has offset its Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions (including business travel) generated in 2023, retiring 1,270 GS 5642-certified carbon credits.

The Agenda 2030 SDGs addressed by the project

• Goal 13: Climate Action – By adopting the Jikokoa stove, families can reduce their fuel consumption by 64 per cent. The reduction in charcoal demand contributes to cutting CO2e emissions and slowing deforestation, thereby reducing overexploitation and pressure on land resources and curbing the degradation of natural habitats.
• Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – The efficiency of the Jikokoa stove in the kitchen delivers weekly savings in terms of fuel quantity used, money and time for its users. The financial savings contribute to poverty reduction.
• Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being – The stove's efficient, smoke-free combustion reduces indoor air pollution by 65 per cent, with major health benefits. These advantages, combined with time and financial savings, lead to an overall improvement in quality of life.
• Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Burn's local production plant in Ruiru, Kenya, employs more than 400 people. Thanks to this project, 242 people (approximately half of whom are women) have found new employment in sales, marketing, distribution and monitoring activities.
• Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities – A significant 96 per cent of project households reported saving time after adopting the Jikokoa stoves. This time saving is particularly beneficial for women, who can now use the extra time to pursue other activities such as education or additional work. By reducing the burden of fuel collection and meal preparation, the project contributes to women's empowerment by providing them with the opportunity to participate in educational and economic activities, thereby promoting gender equality in the communities involved.
• Goal 4: Quality Education – The project ensures inclusive, equitable quality training (for young people, women and men) and promotes long-term learning opportunities for all.

Save the date: youth, innovation, sustainability

Sustainability topics and many other subjects will be at the heart of the new edition of the Forum Multistakeholder, the annual event on ESG themes organised by CDP, dedicated to dialogue and exchange with civil society, to be held on 30 January in Milan at the Borsa Italiana headquarters. Among this year's key themes: the role of innovation, ESG finance and young people in the ecological transition. The BVA Doxa research, conducted in collaboration with CDP, will also be presented; it explores the relationship between finance, technology and sustainability, with particular attention to young people.