Each day, over 2 billion people rely on harmful fuels like wood, charcoal, or even dung for cooking, contributing to global carbon emissions, deforestation, and severe household air pollution. This practice is a leading cause of death and disease worldwide. In response to this pressing issue, EcoSafi, a champion for integrity around carbon markets, partnered with Enlisted Design to develop a sustainable and clean design language.

SERVICES
Brand Identity | Industrial Design | Packaging Design | Retail Experience

INDUSTRY
Household Appliances

The primary objective was to create an innovative, efficient, and clean biomass cookstove for emerging markets. The solution had to be affordable, user-friendly, and capable of significantly reducing household air pollution. Additionally, the design needed to cater to both home kitchens and commercial uses such as food carts, demanding a versatile and robust approach.

Enter BetterStove, the cleanest, most efficient biomass cookstove ever made. It delivers gas-like performance using sustainable biofuel, entirely reimagining traditional cookstove aesthetics with a bold and sleek design that families will be eager to use.

The BetterStove is powered by biomass pellets made from sugarcane waste in Africa, a sustainable alternative that preserves trees and cuts household air pollution by 95%. This innovative fuel source also makes food preparation safer and less time-intensive.

Our approach involved extensive prototyping, research, and field interviews in Kenya to ensure the stove met diverse user needs. Our process aimed to create the most fuel-efficient, thermally optimal, and portable pellet stove available, while remaining cost-sensitive. Each component and production process was optimized for affordability without compromising quality.

Prior to the launch of BetterStove in May 2024 at the IEA Summit in Paris, Enlisted developed the EcoSafi brand identity, packaging, and brick-and-mortar retail presence. It was crucial that the brand resonated with people in emerging countries, making them feel valued and understood, rather than feeling like an external solution was being imposed upon them. Enlisted focused on creating a brand that was modern, customer-friendly, and optimistic, with an emphasis on empowering local communities.

Operating in Kenya and Uganda, EcoSafi’s stoves are offered with a one-time $5 service fee and a subscription to EcoSafi’s affordable biofuel. This business model ensures accessibility and widespread adoption.

The BetterStove has received the first-ever ‘A’ rating for a clean cookstove project from ratings agency BeZero Carbon, highlighting its significant impact on sustainability and public health.

Through their multi-year partnership, Enlisted Design and EcoSafi have successfully created a groundbreaking brand experience to a critical global issue. The BetterStove not only addresses environmental and health concerns but also offers a modern, efficient, and affordable cooking alternative for millions of people in emerging markets.