THE PUNCH • PEOPLE
Meet Sean Nino:
Co-Founder of Eco-Mantra
Meet Sean Nino:
Co-Founder of Eco-Mantra
Eco-Mantra is an environmental engineering company with a deep commitment to sustainability. The company's work involves measuring and monitoring environmental indicators such as heat, groundwater availability, and biodiversity. Specializing in the design and planning of large properties and estates, Eco-Mantra also collaborates with villages and communities to improve their environmental conditions. With a team of 25 dedicated professionals, Eco-Mantra prides itself on being a thriving and sustainable enterprise.
August 2024 • Words & Photography by The Punch
INTERVIEW
"Falling in love with Bali and witnessing its destruction has had a profound impact on us and is a driving force behind our work."
HOW DID YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES GROWING UP IN BALI DURING THE '80'S AND '90S INFLUENCE THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES AND MISSION OF ECO-MANTRA?
"Growing up in Bali, we deeply appreciated the community and the way people lived together, which was quite different from what we knew in Germany or the West. Our parents, who were idealists seeking something different, thoroughly enjoyed the art, complexities, and culture they discovered here. Falling in love with Bali and witnessing its destruction has had a profound impact on us and is a driving force behind our work. Thus, our past experiences are crucial to how we envision the future."
CAN YOU SHARE SPECIFICS SUCCESS STORIES WHERE ECO-MANTRA'S SUSTAINABLE DESIGN PRINCIPLES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND BENEFITED BOTH CLIENTS AND COMMUNITIES?
"We recognize that the government is not effectively protecting the environment, and while we believe in their efforts and the power of local villages, one of our main success stories involves working with prominent businesses and hotel operators. We specifically chose well-known entities like Waterbom and Potato Head. Over the past five years, we have collaborated with them to share stories, design principles, and create management frameworks, primarily working with their leaders and owners to develop a clear vision.
The results include Potato Head being listed among the 50 Best Hotels and Waterbom receiving the PATA Gold Award for sustainable tourism. These properties have achieved significant success, and the industry is now looking to them as models for future success. For us, this represents a major success story and a planned multiplying effect across the industry."
CONSIDERING YOUR EXPERTISE IN AREAS LIKE ENERGY, CARBON, WATER, WASTE, AND BIODIVERSITY, HOW DO YOU SEE THE ROLE OF BUSINESSES EVOLVING IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY IN THE COMING YEARS?
"For businesses to be effective, they need to work collectively within a network, sharing data and investing resources in building a joint platform for collaboration. Additionally, having third-party and even fourth-party professionals and individuals involved is crucial. Building trust across diverse people, cultures, and religions is one of the most challenging aspects businesses can address. To continue leading, businesses must find the right narrative and approach.
The environment is measurable; factors such as physics, biodiversity, water, energy, carbon, emissions, and pollution can all be quantified and improved. For instance, heat in tropical cities can be reduced with better design and planning, rather than accepting high temperatures as an unavoidable outcome."
"We consider physical, proven, and demonstrated solutions to be highly valuable because people often trust what they can see."
HOW DOES ECO-MANTRA CONTRIBUTE TO MITIGATING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY GIVEN YOUR DEEP CONNECTION TO THE ISLAND?
"We consider physical, proven, and demonstrated solutions to be highly valuable because people often trust what they can see. Therefore, we focus on building showcase properties that illustrate what is possible. For example, we can reduce a property’s waste by up to 95% and manage food waste on-site, as demonstrated by Potato Head and Waterbom.
We can also lower a property’s temperature by 7 degrees Celsius; it doesn’t have to be unbearably hot. High temperatures often result from poor design and planning. Additionally, we can cut groundwater consumption by 50% and reduce energy consumption by over 40%. Most energy use goes toward cooling and air conditioning, which is also a result of inadequate design and planning.
Our approach involves continuing to build showcase properties that serve as proof of these possibilities. We want to work with Aman, Alila, Banyan Tree and Mandarin Oriental and we want to become the leading design and engineering company in south east asia, offering unique boutique custom services for the next generation of visionary leaders."
WHAT PIVOTAL MESSAGE WOULD YOU ADDRESS TO BOTH BUSINESSES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO COLLABORATIVELY BUILD A BETTER FUTURE IN BALI?
"In Bali, it is important to revive the banjar system and reinstitute community meetings. We should work towards integrating people of diverse nationalities, beliefs, and backgrounds into the banjar, rather than limiting it to just the Balinese. A more inclusive approach to sharing and gathering opinions is needed, so that we can effectively take action and make a direct impact on our villages and our lives.
We must move beyond the expectation that large governments or businesses will solve our problems for us. Instead, we need to take action at the local level and organize collectively in an effective manner. The banjar can serve as a strong starting point for this effort. My vision is to increase community meetings and actively engage in our communities to drive improvements together."
COULD YOU ALSO SHARE A MESSAGE FOR BUSINESSES ON WHAT THEY CAN DO TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT?
"Businesses have cash flow, which is a powerful resource. They can take on leadership roles, invest in their communities, overcome challenges, and drive change. Every business should appoint an eco-champion—someone who can serve as an environmental spokesperson, understand social and environmental issues, and navigate associated complexities.
One key piece of advice is to choose someone who is personable and has strong character traits, as these qualities often make for effective eco-champions. Such individuals can inspire and lead change within their organizations and beyond."
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