Leaders Perception Magazine is currently running an interview series called – Navigating AI’s Impact On Business
Today, we had the opportunity to interview Ben Hardman who is a Founderat Tiny Eco Home Life.
Welcome to our interview with Ben Hardman, founder of sustainability website Tiny Eco Home Life. Growing up in Manchester, an industrialized city in the north of England, Ben developed a fascination with the natural world and all things green. After studying Animal and Plant Science at the University of Sheffield, he combined his knowledge and passions to start Tiny Eco Home Life in 2019. In this interview, Ben shares how his company has worked to reduce its environmental impact, including offsetting more carbon emissions than they generated in 2021 and switching to a green website hosting provider. He also discusses the challenges they faced in implementing sustainable practices and his policy not to work with companies looking to greenwash.
Interviewee Name: Ben Hardman
Company: Tiny Eco Home Life
Ben Hardman’s favourite quote: Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world – Nelson Mandela
The Interview
Thank you so much for joining us today! Tell us a little bit about yourself. What is your backstory?
Ben Hardman : Hi, my name is Ben Hardman and I’m the founder of sustainability website, Tiny Eco Home Life. There’s a long story that got me to this point, but I’ll give you the condensed version!
I grew up in Manchester, an industrialized city in the north of England. It’s these parts which formed the heartlands of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th century.
Despite growing up in a rather grey and concrete environment – or maybe because of this – I’ve always had a fascination with the natural world, animals and all things green.
After leaving school, I studied Animal and Plant Science at the University of Sheffield where my eyes were well and truly opened. I was like a sponge soaking up information on evolution, ecology, Earth history, conservation, the environment and the climate disaster we face.
Fast forward a gap year of travelling and a few years at work and my career in digital marketing and online writing is underway. In 2019, I then decided to combine all my knowledge and passions to date by starting Tiny Eco Home Life to help spread the word on living a cleaner, greener life.
In what ways has your company worked to reduce its environmental impact, and what results have you seen from these efforts?
Ben Hardman : For a number of years I’ve been working with Ecologi to reduce my environmental impact. Ecologi fund certified carbon reduction projects across the world, as well as planting trees.
In 2021, Tiny Eco Home Life offsetted more carbon emissions than we generated. We’re aware that carbon offsetting isn’t everything and shouldn’t be relied on. What we really need as a planet is to reduce emissions at source. As a digital company, I’ve switching our website hosting across to a green partner (Eco Web Hosting). All companies should switch though as all websites come with a carbon footprint. Despite being on a screen, all websites require processing power and data needs to be stored on servers, which need electricity to run and water to cool!
We’re also a completely paperless company and any contractors are able to work remotely.
It’s important to note that I have a policy not to work with any companies who are looking to greenwash! I’m contacted on a regular basis by not-so-green businesses who are trying to dip their toe into the sustainability market. Not out of passion, but for financial reasons.
I came across an interesting term recently called ‘carbon shadow’. Instead of a pure carbon footprint, a carbon shadow takes into account a wider perspective including financial investments, bank choices, which companies you support and voting habits. I like my work so far has impacted many, many people to make environmentally friendlier choices.
What challenges have you faced in implementing sustainable practices, and how have you overcome them?
Ben Hardman : Our challenges really have all been from a technical perspective. Switching website hosting providers wasn’t the simplest of processes but it was worth it in the end.
As a streamlined company, I can make decisions and turn the ship fast. This is a major benefit that helps implementation – no decision by committee here!
Leaders Perception would like to thank Ben Hardman and Tiny Eco Home Life for the time dedicated to completing this interview and sharing their valuable insights with our readers!
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