Burn Design Lab
Organization Details
Burn Design Lab (BDL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Vashon Island, Washington. We believe that people everywhere, no matter their means, should be able to cook their meals without harming their health, their children's health, or the environment. To this end, our mission is to improve lives and the environment through the research, design, and development of outstanding cookstoves and fuels. We do our work by partnering with local manufacturers and implementers in developing countries, to address issues of cooking traditions, user engagement, and culture as an integral part of the design process.
Impact Story
Burn Design Lab is committed to improving health outcomes for women and families in low-resource settings by designing and deploying sustainable clean cooking technologies. Across the developing world, reliance on traditional cookstoves and biomass fuels exposes women to hazardous indoor air pollution, a leading cause of respiratory illness and premature death.
BDL addresses this critical public health issue by engineering efficient cookstoves that significantly reduce harmful emissions, fuel use, and cooking time. Through collaborative partnerships with local organizations, governments, and community stakeholders, BDL ensures its designs are culturally appropriate and meet the unique needs of women as primary users.
By reducing exposure to smoke and toxic pollutants, BDL’s innovations improve respiratory health, alleviate chronic illnesses, and contribute to longer life expectancy for women and children. Additionally, the time and labor savings from efficient stoves empower women to pursue education, income-generating activities, and other opportunities that promote gender equity.
