[1] She created the animated film The Story of Stuff (2007), which describes the life cycle of material goods.

[5] Leonard is best known as the creator and narrator of the animated documentary about the life cycle of material goods, The Story of Stuff (2007).

The documentary began as an hour-long talk and was made into a condensed film version based on popular demand.

She also wrote a book version of the film, published in 2010 in the United States by Free Press of Simon & Schuster,[6] in the UK by Constable & Robinson, and in Germany by Econ Verlag.

[11] She previously worked for Health Care Without Harm, Essential Information, and Greenpeace International, and was coordinator of the Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption.