How Little Thief used Leafr to build a sustainable culture and take a leadership position in their industry

Overview

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Little Thief Studio, a London-based creative studio producing high-volume video content for major clients including the FA, saw a unique opportunity to lead the media industry in sustainability, by taking a position ahead of the pack.

Rather than hire a full-time sustainability lead or rely on traditional consultancy models, they turned to Leafr to find a fractional expert who could co-design their sustainability vision and empower their team to drive the change themselves.

Challenge

With 10–20 shoots a month and a growing environmental footprint, Little Thief had a complex set of operations, and needed a clear strategy to reduce their impact, while inspiring their clients and peers to do the same.

This included a manifesto, internal policy, and measurable KPIs, plus the systems to track progress and reduce emissions across shoots. But more than just policy documents, the leadership wanted the team to own and live the values behind the strategy, and for their company to plant a flag stating their position and manifesto. That would not work without engagement, upskilling, and embedding sustainability into the creative culture.

Solution  

Through Leafr, Little Thief found a specialist in sustainability for creative industries who could lead both strategic development and staff engagement. The project began with the creation of a tailored sustainability manifesto and internal principles, followed by in-person workshops that equipped the team with practical tools to embed sustainable practices across productions.

Results

The project delivered a foundation for long-term impact, with clear internal ownership and an expert-designed strategy that fit the studio’s fast-paced, creative workflow. By bringing in a high-quality fractional consultant, Little Thief avoided the cost and rigidity of a full-time hire while gaining the insight and credibility of consultancy-grade support.

- Empowered internal team: Workshops and coaching sessions gave staff the confidence and knowledge to drive sustainability themselves, creating real cultural buy-in.
- Strategic clarity: The expert developed a formal sustainability policy and manifesto that aligned with the studio’s operations and long-term vision.
- Tailored KPI framework: Impact tracking focused on relevant metrics like travel, energy, and materials, designed specifically for video production workflows.
- Fractional agility: Little Thief gained high-end expertise on a flexible basis, scaling up exactly when needed without overcommitting resources.

Conclusion  

Little Thief Studio used Leafr to do more than meet environmental goals: they built a culture of sustainability from the bottom up. With the support of a Leafr expert, they created a strategy their team believed in, and a framework they could grow with. For creative businesses looking to lead on impact without building big internal teams, Little Thief's approach shows what’s possible.

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