Getting to know Greenhouse:
Rachel Parkes

The Greenhouse team is a motivated and passionate bunch. All of them live and breathe our mission – to drive positive social and environmental change.

Next up in our ‘Getting to know Greenhouse’ series is Account Manager Rachel Parkes. She’s been at Greenhouse for three years, working on campaigns that deliver positive political and consumer change.

Tell us, in 20 words or fewer, what’s your background?

I grew up surrounded by sustainable food and farming. Prior to Greenhouse, I worked for a PR and marketing agency.

What motivates you?

Giving organisations a voice to communicate why change is important and supporting them in creating meaningful impact. Our campaigns start new conversations that make people think differently and hopefully create a step change in behaviour.

What kinds of companies do you work with?

I support organisations to develop and deliver behaviour change campaigns designed to inspire people to make better choices. Recent examples include projects for Changing Markets, Happy City and Airlabs.

I also focus on driving the growth of organic and sustainable food and farming with the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), Stockwood CBS and We Feed The World.

Describe a recent campaign you’ve worked on that excites you.

The Nature Friendly Farming Network is a farmer-led organisation we launched in January and have supported throughout 2018. Across the UK, there are thousands of farmers operating sustainably. The NFFN unites these farmers and gives them a powerful voice on the future of farming – calling for policy change to reward those who manage their land for the benefit of people and nature.

Greenhouse devised a high-profile launch to amplify the reach of the NFFN. We generated more than 400 articles in the first week of launch and NFFN farmers were cited as best practice examples of the future of farming in the UK.

Earlier this year this campaign won the best PR campaign on a budget at the PRCA Awards.

Who are your top three dream clients?

1. Ecover: This well-known brand ignited a green cleaning revolution and their ethos on packaging is impressive. This year they have launched a 100% recycled plastic bottle that looks fantastic and doesn’t cost the earth.
2. Keep Britain Tidy: As the name suggests, this charity is keeping our country tidy and eliminating litter and unnecessary waste across Britain with creative and impactful behaviour change campaigns.
3. Ellen MacArthur Foundation: From producing ground-breaking reports that influence policy to facilitating innovation, this charity is a global force for the circular economy.

Can you recommend a life or game-changing book? 

Joanna Blythman is an inspiring and world-leading investigative journalist and storyteller. Her book ‘Swallow This’ illuminates the truth behind the food we eat, and I would recommend it to anyone that loves food – which is probably everyone!

What do you listen to when you’re cooking dinner?

Anything that keeps me dancing around the kitchen whilst I cook.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? 

Trust your gut and go for it. I am an over-thinker, and strongly believe that it’s important to listen to your instincts. Your subconscious is wise, and usually knows the right decision before you have made it yourself.

Finally, who is your eco hero? 

I have a new hero every month but right now, I would say that the Surfers Against Sewage team are my eco-heroes. Their recent campaigns tackling plastic waste have pushed the plastic agenda in Government, leading to a Deposit Return Scheme and a new national understanding of the plastic pollution that blights our coastlines.

Are you working on a campaign that’s looking to create tangible behaviour change for a more sustainable future? If you are looking to build your brand, raise awareness about a campaign, or generate business growth get in touch with Rachel on rachel.parkes@greenhousepr.co.uk.