Net Zero Festival Spotlight: Mike Barry, consultant and former M&S sustainability director

BusinessGreen staff
clock • 1 min read

VIDEO: Leading green economy figures offer their candid views on what net zero means to them ahead of the Net Zero Festival 2021

Mike Barry is a veteran of the UK's sustainable business movement, having played a steering role in the creation and implementation of Marks & Spencer's ground-breaking Plan A sustainability programme back in 2007.

During his time leading on M&S's sustainability efforts, Plan A evolved to become a change management programme and helped the firm achieve zero-waste-to-landfill status, switch to 100 per cent renewable electricity, and achieve carbon neutrality across its global estate of stores, offices and warehouses.

Barry also helped the retailer engage in some of the business world's leading sustainability forums and groups, including the World Economic Forum, the Consumer Goods Forum and Business in the Community. 

With the Net Zero Festival less than a week away, Barry reflects on two decades working on businesss decarbonisation, how being a parent galvanises his work, and why he would invest $100m in regenerative agriculture.

Barry will be speaking during day one of the Net Zero Festival as part of a panel exploring how to build net zero supply chains.

Have you secured your tickets for the Net Zero Festival 2021 yet? Interested parties can sign up now for a free pass here

More on Management

Credit: Grace & Green

Frances Lucraft: 'I don't think you can start a business these days without being sustainable'

Founder of eco-friendly and organic period product brand Grace & Green explains why she's 'falling in love' with product development again as she reflects on a 'big shift' in healthcare sector sustainability

Stuart Stone
clock 05 December 2023 • 6 min read
Credit: iStock

CDP: Company nature risk reporting lagging far behind climate data disclosure

CDP calls for more comprehensive environmental risk reporting as hundreds of organisations back ISSB’s sustainability disclosure standards

Cecilia Keating
clock 04 December 2023 • 4 min read
Universities are the engine that can turn COP28 words into actions

Universities are the engine that can turn COP28 words into actions

Academic institutions can act as trusted and independent partners in the drive to meet net zero targets, writes Heriot-Watt University professor Gillian Murray

Gillian Murray, Heriot-Watt University
clock 29 November 2023 • 6 min read