MORRISONS - CHEMICAL WORKING GROUP (Oct09)

As well as working with Morrisons on their environmental policy across the board, I've been asked to sit on their newly formed Chemicals Working Group.  The first meeting is early in November 2009.

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PROCTER & GAMBLE - BABY CARE AND DETERGENTS

I sit on Expert advisory panels for Procter & Gamble on both babycare - chiefly nappies - and detergents, which includes cleaning products.  At a recent meeting we've also advised on batteries, as P&G now own Duracell.   The most recent baby care meeting was in August 2009, although I met up with some of the P&G team, whilst giving a speech in Malta to the disposable hygiene products industry, in September.

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PROCTER & GAMBLE -  CARBON LABELING  (Dec08)

"Thanks for the excellent factsheet on carbon footprinting and labeling - it's great work!"
Ioannis Hatzopoulos, P&G

Procter & Gamble asked me to write a briefing paper on carbon footprinting, which I think is a good thing and carbon labeling which I don't.  

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MARKS &  SPENCER  (Sep/Oct08)

Having written a consumer briefing sheet (and done a video) on carrier bags for M&S, I am now working on a similar briefing on packaging issues, which will be published online.  This will be followed by a briefing paper, also on packaging issues but targeted at businesses, government and NGOs, explaining in more detail M&S's strategy, approach and policy recommendations.  And, alongside Jane Bickerstaffe from Incpen (Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment) and Mark Barthel from WRAP (Material Change for a Better Environment) I sit on an expert advisory panel at M&S focusing on packaging too! 

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RECKITT BENCKISER (Sep08)

Behind brands like Finish, Dettol, Veet, Vanish, Airwick and Cilit Bang, Reckitt Benckiser are a leading player in the household cleaning market.  Following a speech I gave to Reckitt executives they asked me to advise them on sustainability issues.  The interesting point of difference for Reckitt B is that their commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2020 (Carbon 20), includes emissions throughout the life cycle of their products - even during consumer use. Did you know that 90% of the impact of a surface cleaner is when it's being used?  And changing consumer habits is not easy. 

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MORRISONS (Mar08)

I've started working with Morrisons advising them on sustainability issues.  Their newly built Bradford headquarters is state of the art.  I spent a couple of days there finding out what they have done to date.  This included visiting a local Morrisons store, a fruit and vegetable packing and distribution centre and Farmer's Boy, their meat processing factory. 

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PROCTER & GAMBLE EXPERT ADVISORY GROUPS (Jan&Feb08)

I've been to both Germany and Switzerland to sit on expert panels advising Procter & Gamble on sustainability issues to do with their baby care, laundry and cleaning products.  The sessions give a fascinating insight into the how the corporate giant behind brands like Ariel, Fairy and Pampers is serious about reducing it's global footprint.

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NUMIS - INVESTMENT BANK

I've been working with Numis investment bank helping identify potential opportunities in renewable and clean technologies for them to raise capital for.  I'm particularly interested in looking at opportunities in anaerobic digestion (AD) systems. 

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MARKS & 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.  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.  Their feedback was 'a superb piece of work that is really going to help us move forward' and subsequently they gave me credit for helping them get Plan A off the ground.   In 2007 I did some more work with them on food strategy and I continue to have a close working relationship on a range of issues.

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SHELL

In February 2008 I made a presentation to Shell communication executives on sustainability energy issues.  They were looking to be challenged and provoked in an intense session lasting over an hour, which included time for a lengthy Q&A.  In 2005 Shell commissioned me to write one of a series of Guidance Notes, on social performance in the retail environment.

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MCDONALDS

I haven't been the greatest fan of McDonalds in the past but was impressed with their response to Greenpeace's campaign in 2006 on soya used in chicken feed coming from newly cleared rainforest. (See more about this in my Blog).  So I went to Naples to give a presentation to McDonalds European Management Team on sustainability issues.  This trip was covered in the Financial Times. And I've agreed to go to Chicago at the end of April to sit on a panel debate on the same theme to an audience of McDonalds international management.  They clearly weren't too horrified by what I had to say because I was then invited to Chicago as part of a panel of experts to talk to an international audience of McDonalds restaurant owners and other employees.  We were told to be provocative and give our honest views of the organisation, which I enjoyed!  See My Blog for a detailed description of the trip.

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