My story
From a big family in Ampang to a military college, a family factory and a name that stuck.
From carpenter’s son to circular economy advisor.
Harith Ridzuan is a Malaysian entrepreneur, sustainability speaker and ESG consultant, known as The Green Carpenter. His journey started at ten years old, in his family’s carpentry business.
Where it started
As I grew older, so did my vision for sustainability. After university I joined the business and watched how our materials were sourced, used and often wasted. I started questioning how things could be done differently.
What began as an exploration of sustainable timber manufacturing in 2012 has expanded into circular economy solutions, material innovation and business transformation. As a green entrepreneur, I look at environmental sustainability through how materials are sourced, used and reused. Green technology and process changes need to bring benefits that suit real operations.
I’ve grown from carpenter to industry advocate, educator and consultant, but I kept The Green Carpenter name because it reflects the root of my green adventure.
Today I work with businesses, policymakers and communities to implement real-world sustainability solutions. This site is where I share what I’ve learned, and what’s still in progress.
Milestones
Dapo, Malaysia’s first PEFC-certified homeware brand
The Green Factory opens as a hub for green manufacturing, research and design in Ampang
Good Design Japan Award for the Green Factory Initiative
Europa Awards for Sustainability, Best Environmental Impact, SME category
MTCC Sustainability Awards, Innovation and Diversification
Tatler Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow honoree and Prestige Malaysia Top 40 Under 40
Malaysian Timber Council Industry Awards, Environment and Sustainability
PEKA Young Entrepreneur Award for Green Furniture
Sustainable Energy and Green Technology International Innovation Award
Certified Industrial Designer (CIDE), Malaysia Design Council
The Green Factor podcast, with more than 80 episodes
Explore the journey
Education
Mentoring, guest lectures and the podcast: sharing what works.
Advocacy
Standards committees, industry bodies and public awareness.
Achievements
Awards, certifications and recognition across Malaysia and abroad.
Who is Harith Ridzuan?
Who is Harith Ridzuan?
Harith Ridzuan is a Malaysian entrepreneur, sustainability speaker and ESG consultant based in Kuala Lumpur. He is known as The Green Carpenter. He runs The Green Factory and launched Dapo, Malaysia's first PEFC-certified homeware brand.
Who is The Green Carpenter?
The Green Carpenter is the name Harith Ridzuan uses for his sustainability work. He first branded himself Harith Green Carpenter in 2013 to separate his upcycled, sustainably made furniture from his family's traditional business. Today the name covers his talks, consulting and collaborations.
What is The Green Factory?
The Green Factory is Harith's manufacturing hub in Ampang, Selangor, for green manufacturing, research and design. It moved to a compact 13,000 sq ft factory in 2017, uses circular economy practice and upcycling, and welcomes visitors, including an annual open factory day. It won the Good Design Japan Award in 2018.
What is the difference between The Green Factory and The Green Factor?
The Green Factory and The Green Factor are separate brands. The Green Factory is the production side: it makes products and runs the factory in Ampang. The Green Factor is Harith's consultancy and expertise arm. It started in 2020, during Covid, as a podcast when corporates were home bound, and now covers consulting and expertise, building on more than 80 interviews with industry leaders.
What awards has The Green Carpenter won?
Awards include the Good Design Japan Award (2018), the Europa Awards for Sustainability, Best Environmental Impact, SME category (2018), the MTCC Sustainability Awards (2019), the Malaysian Timber Council Industry Awards (2022), the PEKA Young Entrepreneur Award for Green Furniture (2023) and the Sustainable Energy and Green Technology International Innovation Award (2024). In 2025 Harith became a Certified Industrial Designer with the Malaysia Design Council. He was also named a Tatler Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow and a Prestige Malaysia Top 40 Under 40 honoree in 2021.
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