Leaf Environmental Ltd

Overview • Core team

Producer Responsibility Experts in the UK & Ireland since 2000

Leaf Environmental Ltd (often referred to in the industry as simply Leaf) is a specialist producer responsibility consultancy. Based in Dublin, we work with waste packaging, battery and WEEE producers large & small throughout the UK & Ireland across all sectors.

Leaf was established as a consultancy in 2000 in response to the growing obligations placed on waste packaging producers in Europe. We are now part of The Leaf Group, which comprises ourselves as a consultancy along with two established and registered UK compliance schemes; Nipak and Scotpak with offices in Belfast and Glasgow respectively. At management level we have over 30 years of experience in understanding and interpreting corporate producer responsibility legislation.

Experience and Reputation

We have an enviable reputation as Ireland's leading packaging, batteries, WEEE and environmental compliance manager.  We've achieved this by setting the highest standards in the industry in all jurisdictions. Our reputation has brought us into the UK market where we have established a strong presence. The Leaf Group is regarded by clients and regulators as an experienced and specialist compliance practitioner.

What distinguishes Leaf Environmental from other consultancies?

●  Expertise:  We specialise in producer responsibility: packaging, WEEE and battery compliance. This is what we do exclusively, it is not just one part of a broader services portfolio as is often the case with our competitors. We are focused and but have a large circle of associates who support and complement our knowledge base.

●  Knowledge: Legislation and interpretation. We are informed and experienced, both academically and in application. 

●  Diligence: The Leaf Group has never failed an audit. Quite simply, we get it right. Our clients value our attention to detail.

●  Value: We aim to save you money, not only through our service and fees but in assuring your compliance obligations.

●  Ethics: Leaf is very proud of the ethical impetus that underpins everything we do. We care about the environment and can get quite strident about the benefits of reducing waste for both businesses and society.

●  Relationships: We have established dialogues with key industry figures at policy and institute level, along with a wide network of suppliers, brokers, agencies and advisors. These relationships keep our processes informed and ensures that our clients voices and concerns are influential. 

●  Service: Our key staff and indeed many of our clients have been with us from the early years. The Leaf Group was built on a spirit of personalised customer service and delivery reinforced by the attributes listed above. We come to work with a keen sense of responsibility; to our clients, to the supply chain and to the environment. 

Core Team & Responsibilities

Simon established Leaf Environmental in 2001 when he identified a need within the Irish packaging and waste compliance sector for a more service orientated and environment focused consultancy; one that would help businesses give back to the environment by reducing packaging waste in the first instance, whilst meeting obligations in an efficient and cost-effective way. 

Experience

Since the mid-90's Simon has specialised in packaging, waste management, and environmental auditing along with management systems in associated fields. As an independent consultant and services provider he has extensive experience in business development and project management.

Institutions & Policy

Simon is a Corporate Member of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and was the founder Chair for the Irish branch of The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). His involvement in the industry at policy level in both the UK and Ireland ensures that the Leaf Environmental consultancy services stay relevant and informed.

Ashling is a principal consultant and the Operations Director. She has an exceptional working understanding of all matters relating to waste, corporate responsibility and the environment.  Ashling oversees all aspects of packaging, WEEE & battery compliance and reporting across all jurisdictions.

Before joining Leaf in 2002 Ashling was an account manager at Repak with responsibilities for implementation of waste management and minimisation strategies plus data management training. She brought this experience, drive and delivery to Leaf and has been instrumental in the growth and direction of the Group.

Consultancy

Ashling helps businesses navigate their way through the Producer responsibilities that affect them, striving to identify the best route to compliance for their operations. Companies benefit from the breadth of her experience and specialist knowledge; benefits that can be measured in cost and efficiency along with the assurance that compliance has been achieved correctly. 

Producer Responsibility legislation now has implications for every stage of the supply of goods. Knowledgeable and informed, many of our large supply-chain clients rely on Ashling as their first point of contact for compliance and operational advice.

Emmet is a senior consultant. He joined Leaf in 2003 with an MSc in Applied Environmental Science and his role has evolved in such a way that he is now an integral member of the senior team. He is an Associate Member of the CIWM.

Emmet specialises in interpreting Producer Responsibility legislation, providing informed advice and assisting businesses that have packaging, WEEE and battery waste obligations.

Self-compliers

He is pivotal to the reputation that Leaf enjoys for client care and keen attention to detail. Emmet works closely with self-compliers, guiding them through the complex demands of self compliance, from providing advice to the full portfolio of reporting and supporting services.

Scheme Members

Emmet also has responsibility for ensuring that compliance scheme members meet their obligations in a timely manner. As well as interpretation and information, this role can involve partial or complete data management and submission, as well as associated compliance responsibilities.

Brenda Keogh Murphy

Senior Consultant

Sharon Fleming

Data Analyst

Brenda joined Leaf in early 2024. She has over twenty years experience within the compliance sector. Within her role as Audit Compliance Manager with Repak she managed the audit programme. Throughout her career she has worked with hundreds of companies, assisting them through the process of understanding and managing their packaging obligations. This included analysis of existing reporting systems, building dedicated solutions targeted at efficient and accurate fee calculation, as well as training members on completing the statistical return forms moving forward.

The Leaf Group

For Leaf clients, Brenda brings to the table a specialised insight gained from these close working relationships over two decades. The diversity within the ever-evolving reporting sphere afforded her oversight of hundreds of back-end operational and packaging calculation systems, large and small. She has designed and directed the build of dozens of bespoke reporting and calculating systems.

pEPR

Brenda is a specialist advisor on the latest pEPR (packaging Extended Producer Responsibilities) reporting requirements in the UK, in tandem with her expertise in the Irish compliance regulations.

She works with producers across Ireland and the UK, assisting them with their packaging obligations, in particular Single Use Plastics (SUP) and Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM).

Sharon has extensive experience in data management and administration. Within Leaf she has designed and maintained several critical databases targeted at improved procedures, systems and reporting. Her extensive data quality management experience and technical skills ensure accurate and visual reporting for Packaging, WEEE and battery waste.

Expertise

Sharon has worked within the compliance sector for over 25 years. She began her career in 1999 as secretary to the CEO at Repak. From 2001 she worked as a Database Administrator with one of the largest consulting engineering companies in Ireland. She was also an auditor for the accreditation and re-accreditation of the ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.

Global Experience

Sharon joined the Leaf Group in 2012 as a Database Administrator. In 2014 she moved abroad to set up home in Canada, however the relationship with Leaf sustained and she continued working with the team as a remote contractor for a further four years. She then took up a full-time role in Calgary within the oil and gas company industry as a Data Analyst, compiling Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for the Safety and Environmental performance, reporting to the Board of Directors. She returned to her natural home in 2022.