Julia Hailes MBE
" I wear many hats, but they're all green."
News
Speeches
Writing & Media
Consulting
E For GoodMarks & Spencer
I first started working with Marks & Spencer in 2002 when I was commissioned to do a report on sustainability issues relating to the food sector. And I’ve worked with them on numerous projects since, including:
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Judging M&S your green idea competition (May10)
The £100,000 winning prize will need to be spent on greening an organisation of your choice, such as a school or a charity. The Your Green Idea competition was launched alongside M&S's announcement that it aims to become the world's most sustainable retailer by 2015... -
M&S Suppliers conference on Plan A (Mar10)
M&S suppliers came to be briefed on the M&S's groundbreaking Plan A initiative. Sir Stuart Rose announced that M&S planned to be the world's most sustainable retailer by 2015... -
Expert Panel on Packaging (2008-2010)
Since 2008 I have sat on a expert advisory panel on packaging at M&S. This is run by Rowland Hill, Helene Roberts and Mark Caul from M&S... -
M&S Plan A
M&S launched their Plan A scheme in 2006. CEO, Stuart Rose heads the team and they have a very impressive list of actions and initiatives covering issues across the board from transport, packaging and re-usable hangers to food waste, refrigeration and laundry labels in their clothes... -
Packaging - Consumer fact sheets - 2008
Public concern about over-packaging so often misses the point that we should be looking at how to reduce the environmental impact of producing, distributing, storing, selling and consuming food, rather than the amount of packaging waste we have to throw away.
Consider the fact that overall the carbon emissions from wasted packaging is one tenth of that for food waste...
E for Good 
In 2011, I set up E For Good, with Melinda Watson .We’re campaigning to reduce the amount of electrical waste (e-waste) as well as setting up systems to increase repair, reuse and efficient recycling. This is the focus of my work in 2012.
Hot Topics 
Carrier bags – Fact sheet and video – 2008
M&S took a lead in charging for carrier bags and have subsequently reduced the amount handed out by a staggering 80%. My view is that this is a good initiative but that the issue of carrier bags has been given far too much attention, given the relatively small impact they have.
Early in 2008 I was asked by M&S to write a briefing paper on carrier bags, which they published on their website. They also recorded a video podcast of me talking about the subject. Click here for the video.
Food Advice (Oct07)
In 2007 I was asked by M&S to help them in developing their food strategy, thinking creatively about what innovations they might consider. Clearly, sustainability issues relating to food are becoming increasingly important. And, as M&S says, they may need to think the unthinkable. Topics covered included climate change and food crops, vegetarianism, local sourcing, wild and farmed fish and food waste.
Report on sustainability issues in the food sector (2002)
I first started working with Marks & Spencer in 2002 when I was commissioned to do a report on sustainability issues relating to the food sector. The brief was to look at the broad drivers for change, to prioritise the key issues affecting food, identify the key organisations shaping the debate and make recommendations on what M&S should do in this area. They subsequently gave me credit for helping them get Plan A off the ground.
“(Your report) is excellent. A superb piece of work that is really going to help us move forward. So many many thanks”.
Mike Barry, Head of CSR at M&S