Terra Institute

What Terra Institute does

Terra Institute is a Brixen (South Tyrol, Italy)-headquartered sustainability and management consulting firm founded in 2010 by Evelyn Oberleiter and Günther Reifer, operating through two legal entities: Terra Institute GmbH (Italy) and a 100%-owned Austrian subsidiary, Terra Institute Austria FlexCo, based in Innsbruck. The firm has been active in ESG advisory for more than 15 years and is a member of the CERTANIA Group, serving enterprises, mid-market companies, SMEs, tax advisors/auditors, tourism operators, healthcare organizations and public-sector bodies primarily across the DACH region and selectively worldwide. Service delivery is trilingual (German, Italian, English) and includes sustainability strategy, CSRD/ESRS/VSME reporting, climate strategy with Science Based Targets, CO2 footprinting (Scope 1-3), circular economy advisory, biodiversity assessment, LkSG/CSDDD supply chain due diligence, EcoVadis and EarthCheck ratings support, and a leadership/culture change practice tied to the Inner Development Goals (IDG) framework.

The company has built a proprietary technology stack layered on top of its consulting work: ESG-TiMA (ESG assessment software for corporates and banks), TerraFootprint (a digital platform co-developed with EarthCheck for tourism energy/CO2 monitoring), ResponsibleBytes (a cohort-limited digital sustainability assessment tool launched 2025-09) and VSME+ (an extended SME reporting framework launched 2025-05). These tools are complemented by the Terra Academy (academy.terra-institute.eu) e-learning platform and a content-led marketing motion (whitepapers, webinars, BIOFACH trade fair presence, SEO-optimized landing pages) feeding a Calendly-driven sales funnel into bespoke multi-month transformation engagements.

Terra's business model blends professional services (hourly/project-based fees governed by written order confirmations in Italian and Austrian law) with subscription/recurring revenue from the Terra Academy, the ResponsibleBytes cohort program and bundled software access. The company is privately held, founder-controlled, with no external funding rounds disclosed, and serves a 30+ customer logo base spanning tourism, food, manufacturing, financial services, postal logistics, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, apparel, retail and professional services. AI is used as an assistive layer across consulting and productized tools, disclosed and bounded by the firm's own Ethikkodex in compliance with the EU AI Act 2024/1689.

Name

Terra Institute

Legal name

Terra Institute GmbH

Website

https://terra-institute.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Terra Institute is a DACH-focused sustainability and ESG consulting firm founded in 2010 in Brixen, Italy, advising enterprises, SMEs, tourism operators, healthcare organizations and tax advisors on CSRD/VSME reporting, climate strategy, circular economy, supply chain due diligence and sustainable leadership, supported by proprietary tools (ESG-TiMA, TerraFootprint, ResponsibleBytes, VSME+) and the Terra Academy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability & ESG Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ), ESG Data, Ratings & Research (Providers, Methodologies, Analytics) (FSAAALAJ), Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital) (EUAHAJAM), ESG/Sustainable Investment Advisory (FSAEAAAJ)

Keywords

• Sustainability consulting
• ESG advisory services
• CSRD VSME reporting
• Climate strategy consulting
• Circular economy advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Bressanone

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sustainability & ESG Consulting: Hourly/project-based fees for independent advisory services including sustainability strategy, CSRD/VSME reporting, climate strategy (SBTi), circular economy, supply chain/LkSG and ESG assessments. Pricing negotiated individually per Auftragsbestätigung; advance payments and interim invoicing permitted.
2. ESG & Sustainability Training / Terra Academy: Recurring training revenue from ESG-Schulungen, leadership camps, learning journeys and online courses via Terra Academy (academy.terra-institute.eu), including free courses (e.g., Omnibus-Kurs) used as funnel and paid certification tracks.
3. Software & Digital Tools (ESG-TiMA, TerraFootprint, ResponsibleBytes): Software-enabled services including access to proprietary assessment platforms (ESG-TiMA, TerraFootprint, ResponsibleBytes) bundled into consulting engagements or as standalone digital products with certification labels.
4. Executive Coaching & Leadership Programs: 1:1 executive coaching, mentoring, supervision and structured learning journeys (Sustainable Leadership Camp, Learning Journey 1-2 years) sold as packaged programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Terra Institute is a sustainability and digital transformation consultancy that helps enterprises, SMEs, healthcare organizations, tourism operators and the food industry build and implement sustainability strategies, meet CSRD/VSME/LkSG/SBTi/EmpCo/EU Taxonomy obligations, and deliver audit-ready reporting. Its portfolio includes bespoke sustainability consulting, climate strategy, carbon footprinting, circular economy advisory, biodiversity and climate risk assessments, supply chain due diligence, EarthCheck and EcoVadis ratings support, and ESG training delivered via Terra Academy. The offering is extended by proprietary digital tools (ESG-TiMA, TerraFootprint, ResponsibleBytes) and the VSME+ reporting framework.

Product overview

Terra Institute operates a sustainability consulting portfolio structured as a practice-area platform rather than a single SaaS product. The core offering is holistic sustainability advisory ("Nachhaltigkeitsberatung") covering ESG strategy, climate strategy, CO2 accounting (Corporate Carbon Footprint, including Scope 1–3), Science Based Targets support, circular economy advisory, biodiversity assessment, supply chain / Lieferkettengesetz compliance, sustainability reporting (CSRD, GRI, VSME, VSME+), EcoVadis ratings, EarthCheck tourism certification, sustainability communication, diversity & inclusion, and ESG/sustainable leadership trainings. Three proprietary digital tools extend the consulting layer: ESG-TiMA (in-house ESG survey software for companies and banks), ResponsibleBytes (digital maturity / CO2 of data traffic assessment tool), and Terra Footprint (a platform co-developed with EarthCheck for tourism energy/CO2 monitoring). The Terra Academy delivers structured online courses (e.g., Omnibus, EmpCo, sustainability communication). All services are delivered by Terra Institute GmbH (HQ Brixen, Italy) and Terra Institute Austria FlexCo (Innsbruck, Austria), both members of the Certania Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Terra Academy: Online training/course platform hosted at academy.terra-institute.eu offering ESG and sustainability courses (e.g., Omnibus course).
• ResponsibleBytes
• TerraFootprint
• ESG-TiMA

Products and services

• ESG-TiMA In-house developed ESG survey software used by Terra Institute as an analysis tool for companies and the banking sector to evaluate ESG action areas and sustainability performance independent of mandatory reporting obligations.
• Terra Footprint Digital platform co-developed with EarthCheck that simplifies energy-consumption monitoring and CO2 calculation for tourism operators and destinations, used alongside EarthCheck for sustainability benchmarking and certification.
• ResponsibleBytes ESG-based digital maturity assessment tool that combines qualitative and quantitative data on an organization's digital footprint; includes a digital responsibility score, CO2 analysis of data traffic, a personal report, the Terra Academy module on digital responsibility, and a digital responsibility certificate/label for website communication. Cohort-limited (max. 20 participants).
• VSME+ Terra Institute's extended, modular sustainability reporting structure that goes beyond the voluntary VSME standard to integrate additional stakeholder expectations (banks, supply chain leaders, public procurement), producing one coherent report usable for multiple purposes.
• Circular Readiness Check Structured consulting product that assesses circular-economy maturity across a company's value chain, including optional PCF (Scope 3.1, 3.11) and Ecodesign Check modules; delivers a maturity score, prioritized action fields and roadmap, business case analysis, and optional funding pathway support.
• Nachhaltigkeitsberatung (Sustainability Consulting) Holistic sustainability advisory for establishing and implementing a sustainability strategy, covering ESG frameworks, double materiality, regulatory compliance, climate strategy, CO2 accounting, circular economy, biodiversity, supply chain and communication; delivered as bespoke consulting engagements with dedicated project teams.
• ESG-Schulungen / Terra Academy Targeted corporate trainings and a public e-learning academy (Terra Academy) covering sustainability basics, ESG strategy, Omnibus/CSRD changes, sustainable communication, leadership and cultural transformation, with free online courses (e.g., the Omnibus course) and paid corporate programs.
• Klimastrategie-Beratung (Climate Strategy Consulting) Climate strategy advisory typically based on Science Based Targets, including system analysis, GHG emission measurement, SBTi target definition, commitment submission, validation, roadmap development, ongoing monitoring, and communication support.
• CO2-Bilanzierung / CO2-Reduktionsstrategien (Carbon Footprinting and Reduction) Corporate Carbon Footprint calculation and reduction strategy development across Scope 1, Scope 2 and (optionally) Scope 3 emissions, aligned with the GHG Protocol and used as a basis for CSRD, GRI, and EU Taxonomy reporting.
• Nachhaltigkeitsbericht-Beratung (Sustainability Reporting Consulting) Advisory and authoring of sustainability reports in accordance with GRI, CSRD/ESRS, VSME and VSME+ standards, including double materiality, stakeholder dialogue, data collection, KPI definition and report preparation.
• Lieferkettengesetz-Beratung (Supply Chain Due Diligence Advisory) Advisory on the German Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz (LkSG) and the EU CSDDD for clients' own operations and supply chains, including human rights and environmental risk assessment, policy design, supplier engagement, and reporting.
• Kreislaufwirtschaft-Beratung (Circular Economy Advisory) Circular economy consulting grounded in the European Green Deal, CSRD/ESRS E5 reporting requirements and the EU Taxonomy, including Circular Readiness Check, Ecodesign, R-strategy implementation, and closed-loop partnerships.
• Biodiversitätsassessment (Biodiversity Assessment) Assessment of corporate impacts and dependencies on biodiversity, including nature-related risk and opportunity analysis aligned with TNFD/ESRS E4 expectations.
• Klimarisikoanalyse (Climate Risk Analysis) Physical and transition climate risk analysis for organizations, including scenario analysis and adaptation strategy development in line with CSRD/ESRS expectations.
• EarthCheck Certification Advisory Advisory and benchmarking using the EarthCheck program for tourism operators and destinations, supporting certification and continuous improvement.
• EcoVadis Nachhaltigkeits-Rating (EcoVadis Advisory) EcoVadis rating support delivered as an official EcoVadis Training Partner, covering ESG strategy anchoring, evidence collection, scorecard interpretation and continuous improvement actions.
• Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation-Beratung (Sustainability Communication Advisory) Advisory on compliant and authentic sustainability communication under the Empowering Consumers Directive (EmpCo), including claims review, communication guidelines, training and greenwashing risk mitigation.
• Nachhaltigkeit im Tourismus (Sustainability in Tourism) Sustainability advisory specialized for tourism businesses and destinations, combining EarthCheck benchmarking, TerraFootprint energy/CO2 monitoring, certification support, and reporting (e.g., Meran 2000 case study).
• Diversität und Inklusion (Diversity & Inclusion) Consulting on diversity, equity and inclusion in line with the EU Pay Transparency Directive 2023/970 and ESG social criteria.
• Steuerberater & Wirtschaftsprüfer ESG Solutions Tailored ESG consulting, training and software solutions for tax advisors and auditors (Steuerberater und Wirtschaftsprüfer), including ESG-TiMA as a bank/audit-friendly assessment tool.
• Sustainable Leadership & Culture Development Suite of leadership and culture change products including Sustainable Leadership Camp (3 days), Sustainable Leadership Learning Journey (1-2 years), impulse workshops, executive coaching, future skills workshops, team development and the Sustainable Culture Assessment Tool, delivered as an official partner of the Inner Development Goals (IDG) initiative since 2022.

Quantifiable outcome

• EcoVadis study: companies with structured ESG engagement were up to 36% more profitable than peers
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers35 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• EcoVadisflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTerra Institute is an official EcoVadis Training Partner and accompanies organizations through the EcoVadis assessment process, from embedding ESG strategies to evidence collection, scorecard interpretation and improvement. The partnership is anchored on the dedicated EcoVadis landing page and is repeatedly referenced in Terra's thought-leadership content. EcoVadis is a global sustainability rating platform where over 70% of the 60,000 rated companies are SMEs.
• Inner Development Goals (IDGs)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerra Institute is an official partner of the Inner Development Goals initiative (founded January 2020 in Stockholm) since 2022. The IDGs describe 23 skills and qualities needed for sustainable transformation and were co-created by 4,000+ scientists and organizations. Terra incorporates the IDG framework into its Sustainable Leadership trainings, Future Skills workshops and culture assessments.
• CERTANIA GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerra Institute is a member of the CERTANIA Group, as shown on the website footer ('Certania Group Member'). The group affiliation is referenced in Terra Institute whitepapers and across the corporate site. Terra Institute GmbH is the parent of 100%-subsidiary Terra Institute Austria FlexCo.
• EarthCheckcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized partner for EarthCheck sustainability benchmarking and certification in the tourism and destination sector. Co-developed the TerraFootprint digital platform with EarthCheck for energy and CO2 monitoring. EarthCheck is used as the standard benchmarking tool for tourism clients.
• Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)minorOthersSBTi (international initiative of CDP, UN Global Compact, WRI and WWF) is the framework Terra Institute uses to set validated, science-based climate targets for clients. Terra supports companies through the full SBTi workflow: commitment letter, target development, submission, validation and reporting.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Imug | iso (formerly oekom research): Hannover-based sustainability research and rating agency providing ESG ratings, CSR research and second-party-opinion services. Comparable on the ESG research, ratings and data-provider dimension that underpins Terra's ESG-TiMA and EcoVadis work.
• ClimatePartner: German-based climate action company offering carbon footprinting, climate strategy and sustainability software to enterprises. Directly comparable on carbon accounting, climate strategy and EcoVadis-adjacent services, though larger and more internationally scaled.
• Right. Based on Science: Berlin-based consultancy specializing in Science Based Targets (SBTi) target setting and corporate climate strategy. Direct peer in Terra's climate strategy pillar with strong DACH mid-market overlap.
• denkstatt: Austrian sustainability consultancy founded in the 1990s, providing ESG strategy, carbon accounting, CSRD reporting and circular economy services across DACH. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping regional focus, similar service portfolio and comparable mid-market positioning.

Emerging players

• Osapiens: Mannheim-based ESG software company offering a unified platform for CSRD, EU Taxonomy, CSDDD/LkSG and supply chain due diligence. Direct emerging competitor on the reporting/compliance software layer where Terra's VSME+ plays.
• Greenomy: Brussels-based CSRD and EU Taxonomy reporting platform serving EU corporates and financial institutions. Emerging competitor on the regulated-reporting software layer where Terra's VSME+ is positioned.
• Plan A: Berlin-based ESG SaaS platform providing carbon accounting, CSRD reporting and decarbonization software to enterprises. Emerging software-native competitor that overlaps with Terra's ESG-TiMA and VSME+ offerings.
• IntegrityNext: Munich-based supply chain sustainability platform for monitoring supplier ESG, LkSG and CSDDD compliance. Comparable to Terra's Lieferkettengesetz advisory and a channel-adjacent SaaS alternative for joint customers.

Broad incumbents

• KPMG ESG / Sustainability Services: Global Big-4 advisory with a large dedicated ESG and sustainability practice covering CSRD, VSME, SBTi, climate risk and assurance across DACH and globally. A broad incumbent that competes with Terra for enterprise ESG mandates, particularly for larger corporates requiring audit-grade assurance.
• Sphera: Large ESG and operational risk software provider (formerly thinkstep) offering enterprise-grade sustainability, product stewardship and carbon management software. A broader incumbent whose software and adjacent consulting overlap with Terra's ESG-TiMA and circular-economy toolchain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/terra-institute
• Xx.com/terra_institute
• Facebookfacebook.com/TerraInstitute

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Terra Institute