Richard Hartung

Richard is a freelance writer for The Asian Banker and Today as well as other media and companies. He is the author of Changing Lanes, Changing Lives. He supports start-ups, including as a co-founder of Asia Sustainability Angels and a member of E8, and he is also a consultant with a focus on payments strategy with an extensive retail banking background. Richard has a BA from Pomona College and an MBA from Stanford University. He volunteers with non-profits, serving on boards including at the Centre for a Responsible Future. Richard is based in Singapore.

20th September 2023

Burning Pineapple Leaves Inspires Innovative New Fabrics

A Start-up Story: ECOSOI, Vietnam While seeing farmers burn pineapple leaves might leave many people in despair, the sight inspired Vu Thi Lieu to create new fabrics. Her invention of a machine that turns leaves into pineapple yarn creates new fabrics, mitigates climate change and raises farmers’ incomes.

Solar Washington • 11th September 2023

Alternatives to Desert and Cropland offer Promising Solar Farm Sites

While development of solar power in Washington state continues to grow, the biggest need for electricity is in the more populous western half of the state and much of the development is on large solar farms in the sunnier eastern half. Solar farms are becoming increasingly difficult to site. Highly attractive locations can be home to endangered species and critical habitat, or they can be very attractive for farming, residential development or recreation. It turns out that there are a variety of alternatives to deserts or croplands.

6th September 2023

Start-ups Clean up Clothes – The Whole Fashion Industry, not Just the Shirt

When we put on our clothes in the morning, we probably don’t think about their environmental impact. It’s enormous, as the clothing industry causes 10 percent of global greenhouse gasses and 20 percent of water pollution. Start-ups in Southeast Asia have sustainable solutions.

24th August 2023

Can Tapioca Solve the Plastics Problem? A New Source for Bioplastics

A Start-up Story: Greenhope , Indonesia “Microplastics are poisoning and choking the ecosystem,” said Greenhope CEO Tommy Tjiptadjaja. “It affects our health, our existence.” To solve the problem, Greenhope produces both compostable plastics made from agricultural crops such as tapioca and also a plastic additive that speeds up decomposition of conventional plastics.

23rd August 2023

Revival and Impact: The FoodXervices Evolution | Impact Entrepreneur

FoodXervices Inc has a storied history that encompasses humble beginnings, a rise to prominence, a fall from grace, and an impressive resurgence. While the third-generation leaders of the company continue to manage the business, they dedicate the lion’s share of their time to a food bank that serves over 100,000 families and 300,000 individuals through a network of beneficiary organizations.

17th August 2023

Solving the Plastic Crisis – A Bioplastic that Actually Dissolves in Water

A Start-up Story: Invisible Company, Hong Kong When Invisible Company co-founder Devana Ng started hiking regularly in 2018, she was startled by the amount of plastic she saw along the trails - packaging, food wrapping, plastic bottles, energy bar wrappers and more. She realised she needed to do more to solve the plastic crisis and started looking for alternative packaging. “I set up Invisible with a bag that is biodegradable,” she said

16th August 2023

From Container Ships to Climate Leadership

After inheriting X-Press Feeders from his father, Tim Hartnoll transformed the company into the world’s largest feeder ship operator. Now, as the next generation rises within the firm, he’s noticing a shift in values. “The younger generation, when they go to work for a company, they feel the company has a social responsibility and should be giving back,” he observes. Embracing this perspective, X-Press Feeders is taking a leading role in decarbonizing the shipping industry and supporting social

Solar Washington • 16th August 2023

Initiatives Underway to Help with Hiring Solar Energy Workers

The good news for anyone who wants to work in the solar energy industry is that workers are in demand. It’s a different story for employers who need staff, though, as many face a shortage. Creativity will be needed to find enough people to support growth within the industry.

Payments Consulting Network • 14th August 2023

Texas Cowboys Can Teach Us How To Use Payments To Protect The Planet

To drive meaningful change that positively impacts people and the planet, payments companies need to go beyond just providing data or suggestions and running standard ads. One example of a highly successful and enduring campaign is Don’t Mess with Texas.

4th August 2023

Origo’s Plastic Alternatives are Compostable, not just Biodegradable - A Start-up Story: Origo, Malysia

As alternatives to plastic start to come onto the market, it might seem that biodegradable and compostable products are about the same. It turns out, though, that they are vastly different. Origo only products compostables.

Building a Brand to get rid of Plastics made with Fossil Fuels A Start-up Story: EQUO, Vietnam EQUO’s goal is to get rid of plastics made with fossil fuels and replace them with naturally- derived alt

EQUO’s goal is to get rid of plastics made with fossil fuels and replace them with naturally-derived alternatives. “You use a piece of plastic for less than 15 minutes,” said EQUO founder Marina Tran-Vu, and “it lasts up to a thousand years. It boggles my mind.” EQUO takes a different approach to solving the issue than many companies by working to create a brand, Marina explained, rather than by producing alternative plastics itself.

CNA • 26th July 2023

Commentary: The cold reality of Singapore's offices even as the nation hits record-high temperatures

Sitting comfortably in my work-from-home office, I started a conversation on Zoom with my client. Then, I had to stop. “The office is freezing,” he said. “I have to get a jacket.” While it won’t solve every problem, setting temperatures higher can make workers healthier, increase productivity and help save the planet.

Technology Makes Palm Oil Plantations Sustainable | Impact Entrepreneur

A fundamental problem for plantations, Ferron explains, is that owners and managers cannot easily track what happens on their land. Ferron founded eKomoditi in 2015 to distribute software that digitizes palm oil, durian, sugar, and rubber plantations, which enables the owners to plan harvesting, track workers’ attendance, trace products and more – all digitally.

A Radical Solution to Eliminate Plastic Waste

Buyo was set up to do something radical, said Buyo co-founder Hanh Do, by solving the problem of plastic waste at its root cause. While there are different solutions in the market, “our in-house technology can address both the plastic crisis and climate change. The material we use is waste.”

Southeast Asia Start-ups Lead the Way in Alternative Plastics and are Growing Fast

While plastic is ubiquitous in millions of useful products, it also causes damage by polluting land and oceans, ending up in landfills, and harming human and animal health with microplastics. Production of compostable or biodegradable plastic alternatives is growing, with start-ups in Southeast Asia looking to become industry leaders globally.

CNA • 13th July 2023

Commentary: Healthcare in Singapore is world-class - and under-utilised

SINGAPORE: From polyclinics and private practices to general hospitals and specialised facilities such as the National Heart Centre, Singapore’s healthcare quality is superb. Despite the tremendous advances, however, there is still a significant gap in Singapore’s healthcare. The issue is not the staff or the technology. It’s not budgets. Instead, it’s the people.

A Family Jewel: Inspiring Change with B.P. de Silva Jewelers

B.P. de Silva’s narrative begins in 1869 with the arrival of Balage Porolis de Silva from Ceylon. This intrepid founder birthed a small jewelry business in 1872 by selling Sri Lankan gemstones door to door, gradually nurturing it into a thriving shophouse storefront. He leveraged his design acumen and access to Sri Lanka’s finest gemstones to create masterpieces for the world, from royals to commoners, alongside adding the trading of quality tea to the business and serving tea in the shop.

Solar Washington • 10th July 2023

Solar Power Transmission in Washington

While Washington State has some of the most aggressive climate goals in the United States, the inadequacy of the current electricity transmission infrastructure and slow permitting processes threaten the state’s ability to achieve its objectives. Action is needed.

Swapping E-Motorbike Batteries Delivers Power and Swaps Out Emissions

The fundamental goal for Mo Batteries is reducing carbon emissions, said co-founder Tom Streitberg, and “one of the easiest ways is electrification of vehicles.” When he and his partners looked at electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe and North America, however, they realised that the electrification model in those markets would not work in Southeast Asia. "The model must be tailored to the needs of Southeast Asia. That’s where we can make a difference.”

Designing Motorbikes In-house gives Dat Bike a Competitive Advantage in Vietnam

Dat Bike differentiates itself in Vietnam by designing and manufacturing its own motorbikes. Backed by investments from large VCs, it plans to scale up in the huge motorbike market in Vietnam and then expand throughout Southeast Asia. It produces no carbon emissions.

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