Sustainability and ESG consultant in Malaysia.

Harith Ridzuan helps businesses turn waste into products, apply circular economy practice and build sustainability into how they operate. His advice comes from running a manufacturing business that stayed profitable.

Harith in discussion with participants at a workshop

The growing demand for sustainability expertise

Since 2012 I’ve implemented sustainable practice in my own business, and that work drew attention from media, industry leaders and corporations. What started as curiosity about how an SME could manufacture sustainably became interest from banking, telecommunications, manufacturing, agriculture, design and policymaking.

Organisations come to me to:

  • Turn their waste into new products or innovations
  • Understand how SMEs build sustainability into operations
  • Adopt sustainability features within their business models

My solutions are straightforward, cost-effective and scalable, starting with small, meaningful changes that grow into long-term benefits. With my factory and network of experts, I offer first-hand experience in material innovation, R&D and waste-to-product solutions.

Award trophies made from repurposed empty fruit bunches

Case study: Telekom Malaysia (TM), 2024

In 2024, Telekom Malaysia engaged Harith as the lead sustainability consultant for its first Sustainable Unifi Store at Muzium Telekom, Kuala Lumpur. His role was to develop the sustainability strategy, advise on material selection, and monitor the refurbishment to maximise material recovery and minimise waste.

399.3 kg
Plywood upcycled
1,769 sqft
Pinewood reclaimed and repurposed
30.52 sqft
Fabric upcycled
479.85 kg
Cables and metals recycled
  • Harith standing inside the finished Sustainable Unifi Store at Muzium Telekom, Kuala Lumpur
  • Unifi Business area of the store with reclaimed pinewood planters and retained window panels
  • Unifi TV wall clad in reclaimed pinewood panels
  • The meeting point and self-service area of the Sustainable Unifi Store

Retained materials included existing glass panels, lighting, air conditioning units and roller shutters, while optimising natural daylight to reduce reliance on artificial lighting.

The project demonstrated how thoughtful design and circular economy principles can give existing materials a second life, reducing renovation waste without compromising functionality or aesthetics.

Harith speaking to a group of participants during a workshop at The Green Factory

From manufacturer to sustainability advisor

My consultancy happened organically. Businesses first approached me for product development, then asked for strategic guidance as sustainability gained traction. Through talks, roundtables and panels I’ve shared what I’ve found.

Sustainability isn’t a competition. The more businesses adopt it, the greater the impact. As a manufacturer I bring an inside-out view of operations and solve problems bottom-up, so solutions are practical, achievable and results-driven.

Success stories

Clients gain more than insight. They gain access to product prototyping, R&D and new business opportunities, and identify new revenue streams, product innovations and stronger ESG strategies. A key shift I’ve seen is in sustainable procurement: businesses that once overlooked eco-friendly options now prioritise them.

  1. 2024

    ESG & Brands Forum

    Engaged to provide practical strategies for planning and running a more eco-conscious event: minimising waste, optimising energy efficiency and integrating sustainable practice throughout. Harith also moderated the panel on the role of technology in advancing sustainability goals.

  2. 2025

    University of Technology Sarawak: Industrial Advisory Panel

    Member of the panel for the BA in Industrial Design (Honours), contributing to curriculum development, skills enhancement and industry linkages. UTS is Malaysia’s largest platinum-rated green campus.

  3. 2024

    Asia School of Business and Maybank Human Capital

    Hosted 100+ of Maybank’s senior leaders at The Green Factory for an immersive session on sustainability, leadership and innovation, covering sustainable event planning, waste reduction, sourcing, carbon footprint reduction and impact reporting.

Harith speaking into a microphone while moderating a panel at the ESG and Brands Forum 2024
Moderating the panel discussion at ESG & Brands Forum 2024 on “The Role of Technology in Advancing Sustainability Goals.”

Circular economy for Malaysian businesses

The circular economy keeps materials in use for as long as possible, so less goes to landfill and less new material is bought. For a Malaysian business this usually starts with a look at what you throw away, what you buy, and where the two can meet.

Harith helps you map your waste, find uses for it, and link it to your procurement and ESG plans.

Waste to product: upcycling your corporate waste

Upcycling turns waste into something of higher value. Harith has done this with timber, pallets, crates and agricultural by-products.

Is going green expensive? Often the opposite. Harith's own factory saved on electricity and turned leftover wood into best-selling products. A clear example of waste to product is FGV Holdings Berhad. FGV first asked for corporate gifts for its 2024 Sustainability Framework launch. After talking about its waste, the team chose empty fruit bunches, a major by-product of palm oil operations. Harith's team mixed 67 kg of the fibre with polyester binding and made 28 trophies and 400 ornament boxes, paired with PEFC-certified wood.

Read the full guide: What is upcycling? It also explains recycling and upcycling and how the two differ.

Green technology and carbon footprint in operations

Green technology should be judged by the problem it solves. For a business, the first question is simple: where are energy and materials being wasted, and what change could reduce that? At my factory, a design that makes use of natural daylight helps cut electricity use, while leftover wood is turned into new products.

Energy use, material sourcing and transport also affect the carbon footprint. Start with records of current use so the results of any change can be measured. Choose solutions to fit your operations and bring in the right technical expertise when you need it.

Sustainable product design

Harith designs and makes products with sustainable materials at The Green Factory. Clients gain access to prototyping, research and development, and new product ideas. This can open new revenue streams and give your ESG story real objects to point to.

Sustainable manufacturing

Sustainable manufacturing means making products with less waste, certified or reclaimed materials and better processes. Harith built this at The Green Factory, where circular economy principles and upcycling are core practice. The same approach can apply to your production line.

How it works

The process

  1. Initial consultation to identify goals and challenges.
  2. Comprehensive analysis of current practices.
  3. Tailored recommendations and actionable strategies.
  4. Follow-up session to track progress and adjust.

What you receive

  • Expert analysis and recommendations
  • Actionable strategies and frameworks
  • Support for specific challenges such as waste reduction, material sourcing or supply chain optimisation
  • Sustainability reporting
  • Custom action plans

Frequently asked questions

How can a Malaysian SME start becoming more sustainable?

Start small. List your waste, look at what you buy, and pick one change that saves money or material. Harith's own path began when he asked how a family manufacturing business could change. His advice builds from small steps into long-term benefits.

What does a sustainability consultant do?

A sustainability consultant reviews how a business operates and recommends practical changes. With Harith you get an analysis of current practice, tailored recommendations, an action plan, help with specific problems such as waste or material sourcing, and sustainability reporting.

Is going green expensive for a small business?

It does not have to be, and not going green can cost more. Harith found three practical savings in his own factory. Designing it to use natural daylight cut electricity costs. Leftover wood became products such as phone holders, jewellery and accessories, and the wooden phone holder became one of the factory's best sellers. Moving the factory closer to home lowered fuel use and his commuting carbon footprint. Small, practical changes can reduce costs, improve efficiency and open new business opportunities. Read his article It's expensive to NOT go green.

How can a manufacturer reduce waste on the factory floor?

Measure what is wasted, then find a use for it. At The Green Factory, offcuts and salvaged timber become products, and the layout and processes follow circular economy principles. Harith can review your production line and suggest where waste can be cut or reused.

What is a circular economy, and how does it apply to Malaysian businesses?

A circular economy keeps materials in use as long as possible so less is wasted. A Malaysian business can apply it by reusing production waste, choosing certified materials and designing products to last. One example is The Datai Langkawi, where Harith's team made 200 timber covers from reclaimed pine for the resort's 2023 Impact Report.

How can a family business transition to sustainable manufacturing?

Harith did this in his own family's timber business. After learning in 2012 about Malaysia's high deforestation rate, he began working with reclaimed wood, launched a separate line to test new ideas, adopted PEFC/MTCS certification and moved to a compact factory in 2017. He advises family businesses on the same kind of staged change.

What is the difference between an ESG consultant and a sustainability consultant?

ESG consultants focus on environmental, social and governance reporting and risk. Sustainability consultants look at how a business operates day to day, such as waste, materials and products. Harith covers both, so your plans and your practice match.

Ready to tackle your sustainability challenges?

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