PAST CONSULTING BY JULIA HAILES

SHELL RETAIL

Shell commissioned me to write one of a series of Guidance Notes. This one was targeted at managers of their retail sites across the world. It explained how Shell are managing their social performance in a retail environment. The aim is to raise awareness of social issues throughout the life-cycle of a Shell fuel station - from planning to decommissioning as well as giving direction on managing impacts and helping bring benefits to local communities.

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THE BULMER FOUNDATION

Since January 2005 I have been working on a feasibility study of the idea of using fruit fly larvae in chicken feed. The study was commissioned by the Bulmer Foundation with joint funding from Business Link. The idea is to develop an alternative to fish meal that comes from more sustainable sources - the larvae will feed on apple waste from Bulmers Cider. The feasibility study cannot reach final conclusions until we have analysed a sizeable sample of larvae for nutritional content. But the early indications are that there are significant opportunities for this idea. Anyone interested in finding out more should contact me directly.

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MARKS AND SPENCER

In 2002 I was commissioned by Marks & Spencer 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.

My client subsequently said:

"(Your report) is excellent. A superb piece of work that is really going to help us move forward. So many many thanks".

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PROCTOR & GAMBLE

I have worked for Procter & Gamble since 1989 on a regular basis both in the UK and Europe. I have advised them on sustainability issues relating to the introduction of new products; briefed them on waste, forestry, eco-labelling, GM and other issues; organised workshops for them; and reviewed their sustainability performance. Particular product areas I have worked on include: nappies, detergents, paper products, cosmetics, toiletries, pet food and soft drinks.

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ACCPE

The Department of the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs set up the Advisory Committee on Consumer Products and the Environment in 1999. It replaced the UK Eco-Labelling Board, which I sat on from its inception in 1989. I am Vice-Chair of ACCPE and have also been commissioned to do a few projects including: Being on the steering group for a feasibility study on setting up a 'green guide' website; chairing a session on sustainability issues relating to palm oil; helping initiate a 'sustainable commodities initiative'; and drafting the third ACCPE report. These projects are ongoing.

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IIED - RACE TO THE TOP

Race to the Top is an initiative set up by the International Institute for Environment & Development, essentially benchmarking supermarkets on a range of sustainability performance indicators - 'tracking supermarkets progress towards a greener, fairer food system'. I have been advising them on their communications strategy.

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JUPITER ASSET MANAGEMENT

Jupiter Asset Management set up Jupiter Global Green Investment Trust at the beginning of 2001, when I was appointed a Non-Executive Director, until it rolled into another fund - Jupiter Green - with a new board of directors in 2006.. Other board members were: Derek Osborne (Chair), Michael Heathcote-Amory, Jeremy Leggett (MD Solar Century), Jackson Robinson (USA) and Alexander Zagoreos (USA).

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CARGILL DOW ON BIOPLASTICS

Cargill Dow are the first company to introduce bioplastics on a large-scale. Between 1999 and 2001 I was advising them on sustainability issues relating to bioplastics for packaging and textiles; I organised a European and American stakeholder workshop on these issues; made a presentation to Cargill Dow executives on sustainability vision and strategy; and visited their corn growing area and corn mill in Nebraska, particularly to getting a view of GM issues from Nebraskan farmers.

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UNILEVER

In October 2000, I co-presented a one day workshop at Unilever on supply chain management. More recently - in 2007 - I was invited by Unilever fabric conditioners to make a speech at their conference in Istanbul.

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CONSULTANCY PROJECTS IN THE 1990s 

BAMBURI CEMENT FACTORY - LAFARGE

Bamburi Cement Factory is situated just outside of Mombasa on the Kenyan coast. In 1996, it was co-owned by Blue Circle and Lafarge. I carried out an environmental review of its performance and made recommendations for improvements, spending about 6 weeks in Kenya during the process. www.bamburicement.com . Bamburi is the site where the Haller Foundation started its projects supporting sustainable agriculture and helping local communities.

NOVO NORDISK

I worked for Novo Nordisk, the Danish life science company, over a number of years initially carrying out an environmental review of their enzyme division and subsequently a review of their healthcare division, which makes drugs for diabetes and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), amongst other things. I also helped organise a couple of stakeholder workshops, which included anti-biotechnology activists.

TIOXIDE

Working with John Elkington at SustainAbility I advised Tioxide on their first Corporate Environment Report and on issues relating to the production of titanium dioxide.

ICI POLYURETHANES

Based outside Brussels and before ICI Polyurethanes became Huntsman, I worked with them on a range of issues, relating to polyurethane binders, foam and other materials as well as writing a report on footwear called 'Life and Sole'.

BRITISH AIRWAYS HOLIDAYS

At SustainAbility we carried out an environmental review of British Airways Holidays, making recommendations on how to improve the environmental performance of package holidays.

GARDENER MERCHANT

I carried out an extensive environmental review of Gardner Merchant and their catering services, visiting a number of their catering premises and suppliers in the process. I was surprised to discover that professional caterers tend to use more energy per meal than home-cooked food. This is because they often leave cookers and other appliances on full blast for long periods of time, even when they're not fully using them.

DOW EUROPE

I worked for Dow Europe over a number of years on plastics in packaging and automotive plastics.

SHELL RETAIL

John Elkington and I carried out an environmental review of Shell Retail sites.

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