ABOUT ME – Julia Hailes MBE

KEY THINGS ABOUT ME

2020 appointed to the board of self storage company The Big Yellow
Nine books: Written or co-written 9 environmental books, including The Green Consumer Guide, which sold over 1 million copies.
Co-founded, environmental think tank and consultancy, SustainAbility, in 1987.
A wide range of companies on sustainability issues, including M&S, P&G, McDonalds, Shell, ICI and British Airways.
Spoken at conferences all over the world on environmental themes – including the Rio Summit in 1992.
Sat on boards of Jupiter Global Green investment Trust, Wastewatch, Keep Britain Tidy, Ecos Trust.
African charities: Co-founded Haller Foundation, promoting sustainable living & agriculture in Africa and currently a Trustee of CHASE Africa, supporting family planning.
Co-founded E for Good to highlight problems with e-waste or WEEE.
Plastics & waste: Campaigning and speaking about packaging and waste issues, as well as challenging anti-plastic movement.
Circular economy: Sustainability advisor to Loop Innovations and The Rubbish Project promoting closed loop systems
Eco-renovation: Green building developments for flat in London and Dorset farmhouse
In 1992 Julia was elected to the UN Global 500 Roll of Honour for outstanding environmental achievement.

MY LIFE

When I was a baby my brother painted me green – perhaps this was a forecast of where my life would take me!

My environmental career started in 1986, when I teamed up with John Elkington. In 1987, we set up SustainAbility in the back room of his house in Barnes, describing ourselves as campaigning consultants. Our mission was to make a difference.

I now live with my second husband in West Dorset. My three sons have all left school and the eldest, Connor, has set up a new business – Loop Innovations – in one of our barns.

We’ve been carrying out building works here since we came in 2012, converting the out-houses and re-landscaping. We’re creating a sort of commune..