About

Do you need a strategic communications campaign or some sharp, persuasive and engaging copy that makes people want to act on the climate and nature emergencies? Look no further.

Who am I?

I’m Melissa McClements, a former FT journalist who is now a senior sustainability communications consultant and copywriter. I set up my one-woman consultancy, That Dot, because of the climate crisis. By writing for environmental organisations and businesses, I want to use my expertise to facilitate positive change. 

What do I do?

I dream up, plan and implement strategic communications campaigns that engage a wide variety of audiences on the climate and nature crises.

In terms of copywriting, I write op-eds, media materials, insight papers, media Q&A documents, briefing papers, press packs, social media content, blogs, features, reports, brochures and online content. 

Specialising in thought leadership, I regularly write op-eds for CEOs and sustainability leaders. To date, they have appeared in Reuters, The Economist, Fortune, edie, Business Green, Green Biz, Accountancy Age, Politics Home, Investment Week, Circular, Recycling Magazine, Sustainable Growth Voice, Property Week, Euroactiv, ESG Investor, The Big Issue, Open Access Government, Local Government Chronicle, LocalGov, Corporate Knights, Materials Recycling World, Packaging Europe, The Grocer, FoodBev, Food Beverage Asia, Eco Textile News, Philanthropy News Digest, Healthcare Leader, Health Service Journal, The Irish Business Post and many more. 

Who do I work with?

I’ve worked with NGO The Climate Group, which facilitates public and private sector climate action, investigative non-profit Earthsight and nature charity Trees for Cities. I’ve also ghostwritten a local newspaper column for a climate scientist; produced website copy for environmental charity Client Earth; worked with UN body The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition; managed communications for the UK’s leading green gas producer, Future Biogas; overseen comms for a Sussex rewilding and biochar project and written promotional copy for plant-based food brands Meatless Farm and allplants.

I’m an associate for sustainability PR agency Forster Communications, which has clients including The World Benchmarking Alliance, The Consumer Goods Forum and Energy Saving Trust. For full details of the agency’s clients, please visit its website.

How did I get here?

A few years back, I became so alarmed about the breakdown of nature and the climate that I decided to change my career, so I could do my bit towards driving the systemic change needed to stop the worst of it.

My background is both editorial and commercial. I combine writing skills honed on broadsheet newspapers with strategic brand communications acumen. As a journalist, I wrote for the Financial Times Weekend for six years. I’ve also written for The Guardian, The Observer and The Independent. Moreover, I spent a decade teaching writing skills to the staff at PR companies, including Weber Shandwick, Freuds, Hill & Knowlton, Havas and Porter Novelli – as well as for the inhouse press offices of Channel 4, Lloyds TSB and Talk Talk.

Before retraining as a journalist, I worked as a consultant for London PR agencies on campaigns for the BBC, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Danone, Disney, Ikea, L’Oreal , Macmillan Cancer Support and Marks & Spencer. 

What are my values?

I don’t just shout about sustainability on other people’s behalf. I live my brand.  My office is powered by renewable energy. I don’t own a car. I holiday by train. And I only eat plants.