The Inaugural Procter & Gamble Business of Sustainability Lecture
Date: Thursday 16 June 2011
Time: 17:00 - 18:30
Venue: Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building, Newcastle University Main Campus (building number 17 on the campus map)
CHALLENGING CONSUMERS TO GREEN BUSINESS : Are today's consumers a help or a hindrance in driving businesses to sustainable environmental practices?
Julia Hailes MBE, Author of The New Green Consumer Guide
The inaugural Procter & Gamble Business of Sustainability Lecture was given by Julia Hailes. Described as having an infectious personality which makes her a mesmerising speaker, Julia took us on a journey through the complicated relationships between consumers, brands and businesses that will drive the adoption, or otherwise, of sustainable environmental business practices.
Julia is a leading opinion former, freelance consultant and speaker on social, environmental and ethical issues. Current or recent clients include Procter & Gamble, British Gas, Marks & Spencer, Ecotricity and Organix Baby Foods. She is author or co-author of nine books, including The Green Consumer Guide, which sold over 1 million copies worldwide and more recently The New Green Consumer Guide, which was published in 2007. In 1987 she co-founded, SustainAbility Ltd, a leading edge consultancy and think tank, with an international profile. She is a Trustee of Waste Watch, sits on the Food Ethics Council and is currently involved in campaigns to reduce the global warming impact of supermarket refrigeration and to tackle problems caused by E-Waste.
In 1989 Julia was elected to the UN `Global 500 Roll of Honour' for her 'outstanding environmental achievements' and in 1999 she was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours List.
The lecture was introduced by Peter White Director for Global Sustainability at Procter & Gamble who is based in Newcastle. Peter helped found P&G’s Sustainable Development organisation in 1999, and in 2007 created and led P&G’s Sustainability Leadership Council - the global, business-wide group responsible for developing and delivering P&G’s Sustainability Strategy and Goals. Peter was a key architect of P&G’s long-term Sustainability Vision and 2020 Goals announced in September 2010.
Peter is actively involved in the work of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, is vice-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Consumer Industries and a Visiting Professor at the Newcastle Institute for Research on Sustainability at Newcastle University. A biologist by training, Peter has worked at P&G for 20 years in the areas of Environmental Management, Lifecycle Assessment and Integrated Solid Waste Management. Peter has written and spoken widely on sustainability issues.
This event formed part of the Business of Sustainability Week organised by Newcastle University Business School. The week was comprised of a series of events intended to showcase examples of best practice in sustainability from businesses and to provide a rigorous contribution to the debate on the roles and responsibilities for business in moving to a more sustainable economy.
“Enough, For All, Forever"
This week of events was one of a series of activities taking place throughout 2011 to celebrate Newcastle University’s world-leading work on sustainability. For more information, see www.ncl.ac.uk/sustainability.
Published: 16th May 2011
