Sustainia

What Sustainia does

Sustainia is a Copenhagen-headquartered sustainability consultancy and think tank that helps large enterprises, international organizations, governments, and municipalities translate complex sustainability matters into clear strategy, communications, and compliance deliverables. Founded in 2007 as the Copenhagen Climate Council and spun out of Monday Morning media group in 2012, the firm operates under CEO Rasmus Schjødt Larsen with offices in Copenhagen and Bangkok.

The firm's core service offerings are organized around four pillars: Case Writing Services (1,500+ custom sustainability cases delivered to clients including World Bank, ADB, C40, and UN Global Compact), Strategy Services (ESG and CSRD/ESRS advisory, opportunity workshops, market research), Workshops (3-4 hour facilitated sessions covering ESRS standards and sustainability communications), and a new AI Advisory Services line launched in 2025. The most notable technical asset is the Global Opportunity Explorer, a digital database co-founded with UN Global Compact and DNV GL in 2017 that catalogues hundreds of vetted sustainable solutions against five criteria (environmental benefit, innovation, availability, financial viability, quality of life improvement). The firm also produces serial publications including Sustainia100, Cities100, Klima100, and Global Opportunity Reports, and runs the Arctic Opportunity Explorers student program with the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Sustainia's revenue is generated through professional services engagements with quote-based, multi-year pricing. There is no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and revenue figures are not publicly reported. The go-to-market is sales-led, combining direct outreach from the CEO, event-driven client acquisition (Sustainia100 ceremonies, COP events, Global Opportunity Explorer launches), and thought-leadership content distribution through publications and an active social media presence. Customer segments span four primary verticals: global corporations (Carlsberg, Novo Nordisk, Ørsted, Tetra Pak, VELUX, Grundfos, Nykredit), international organizations (UN Global Compact, C40, Asian Development Bank, World Bank), national governments, and municipalities (Copenhagen, Skellefteå), with a secondary segment of universities.

Name

Sustainia

Legal name

Sustainia

Website

https://sustainiaworld.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sustainia is a Copenhagen-based sustainability consultancy that helps global corporations, international organizations, governments, and municipalities with ESG strategy, CSRD/ESRS compliance, sustainability storytelling, and custom case collections. It also operates the Global Opportunity Explorer platform co-founded with UN Global Compact and DNV GL.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Professional consulting services including strategy roadmaps, ESG advisory, opportunity workshops, and market research. Engagement models include one-time projects and ongoing advisory relationships with corporate and public sector clients.
2. Workshop Services: 3-hour workshops for case identification and promotion, and 4-hour ESRS communication workshops. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to client needs.
3. Case Writing and Publication Services: Custom case collections and publications produced for clients including global corporations, international organisations, national governments. Over 1,500 cases completed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sustainia is a sustainability consultancy and think tank that helps organizations turn sustainability risks into opportunities through case writing, strategy roadmaps, ESG/CSRD/ESRS advisory, workshops, and AI advisory services. It also produces curated publications (Sustainia100, Guide to Sustainia, Global Opportunity Reports, Cities100, Klima100, Travel Lightly) and operates the Global Opportunity Explorer, a digital database of vetted sustainable solutions co-founded with UN Global Compact and DNV GL.

Product overview

Sustainia is a sustainability consulting firm offering a portfolio of advisory services, workshops, and publications. Core offerings include Case Writing Services (custom case collections promoting sustainable solutions), Strategy Services (ESG strategies, CSRD & ESRS advisory), and AI Advisory Services. The company operates the Global Opportunity Explorer platform - a digital database of vetted sustainable solutions co-founded with DNV GL and UN Global Compact. Additional offerings include educational workshops (ESRS workshops, case identification workshops) and curated publications including Sustainia100, Guide to Sustainia, Global Opportunity Reports, Cities100, and Klima100. The Arctic Opportunity Explorers program provides virtual learning for student entrepreneurship in the Arctic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sustainia Energy Pub: Advisors of Sustainia Energy Pub in Prague - a historic beer garden serving sustainable solutions practices
• Travel Lightly
• Global Opportunity Explorer

Products and services

• Case Writing Services Custom case collections that promote sustainable solutions for global corporations, international organisations, and national governments; delivered to clients such as World Bank, Asian Development Bank, C40, and UN Global Compact, with 1,500+ cases completed.
• Strategy Services Strategy roadmaps combining compliance and innovation, including opportunity workshops, market research, people-friendly ESG strategies, and CSRD & ESRS advisory for enterprise and public-sector clients.
• Workshops 3-hour workshops for identifying and promoting best sustainability cases, and 4-hour ESRS communication workshops covering all 12 ESRS standards, 86 disclosure requirements, and 1,100+ data points. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to client needs.
• Global Opportunity Explorer Digital database and world's largest collection of vetted and verified sustainable solutions, co-founded with UN Global Compact and DNV GL. Showcases hundreds of sustainable solutions vetted against five criteria: positive environmental benefit, innovation, availability, financial viability, and quality-of-life improvement. Institutions can submit solutions for review and publication free of charge.
• AI Advisory Services Expert guidance on navigating the AI landscape, distinguishing hype from operationally viable applications, mapping AI ecosystems, and identifying high-impact AI opportunities for clients.
• Global Opportunity Reports Annual reports demonstrating opportunities behind sustainability risks, produced with DNV GL and UN Global Compact from 2015-2018, featuring insights from over 18,000 business leaders.
• Cities100 Publications identifying and communicating 100 solutions for climate action in cities worldwide, completed with C40 Cities and Realdania from 2015-2017.
• Klima100 Publication mapping, assessing, and communicating 100 of the best climate solutions in Danish municipalities, completed with Realdania in 2018.
• Arctic Opportunity Explorers Virtual learning programme and case competition empowering students to become changemakers in the Arctic through sustainable entrepreneurship, funded by Nordic Council of Ministers, with a second round completed in 2022.
• Sustaina100 Reports & Award Program Annual sustainability reports and award shows from 2012-2017 highlighting 100 best sustainable solutions across 10 sectors; 60,000+ publications downloaded.
• Guide to Sustainia Visionary publication depicting what a truly sustainable future society could look like; first edition released in 2011 with a second version marking a ten-year anniversary in 2023.
• Travel Lightly Report Publication launched in Budapest 2025 with Visit Hungary and 50 destinations, highlighting 50 sustainable tourism success stories in Hungary and positioning Hungary as an ambitious leader in sustainable tourism.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500+ cases completed for clients including World Bank, Asian Development Bank, C40, UN Global Compact
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Visit HungarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Launched Travel Lightly Report in Budapest 2025 with Visit Hungary and 50 destinations. Publication highlights sustainable tourism success stories in Hungary, demonstrating Hungary as an ambitious leader in sustainable tourism.
• Kaizen Institute ThailandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Kaizen Institute Thailand and Sustainia have partnered to enhance efficiency and sustainability across Asia and beyond. The partnership leverages Kaizen Institute's global expertise in operational excellence and Sustainia's dedication to simplifying and promoting sustainable technologies and practices.
• DNV GLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2014 on Global Opportunity Reports (2015-2018) and Global Opportunity Explorer platform (2017-2019). DNV GL is a global quality assurance and risk management company.
• UN Global CompactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2012 UN Summit in Rio; co-founded Global Opportunity Explorer with UNGC and DNV in 2017. UN Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative.
• RealdaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple publication partnerships including Klima100, Sustainia100 (2012-2016), Cities100 (2015-2017), Guide to Sustainia, and Building Sector Guide. Realdania is a member-based philanthropic organisation supporting projects in the built environment.
• Asian Development BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on 50 Chinese Cities climate solutions publication (2018) and 100 Climate Actions from Cities in Asia and the Pacific (2021). ADB aims to eradicate extreme poverty through development projects.
• C40 CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Cities100 publication (2015-2017) identifying 100 solutions for climate action in cities worldwide. C40 is a network of the world's largest cities committed to addressing climate change.
• Nordic Council of MinisterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for Arctic Opportunity Explorers program (2020, 2022) and Bumps on the Road to 2030 publication (2017). Nordic Council of Ministers is the official body for inter-governmental cooperation in the Nordic Region.
• NovozymesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHelloScience digital platform partner for Arctic Opportunity Explorers student case competition, bringing together students to create sustainable solutions for Arctic challenges.
• Sustainia Energy PubminorOthersSustainia serves as advisors to Sustainia Energy Pub in Prague - a historic 1933 beer garden welcoming thousands of international guests daily, promoting sustainable solutions and practices.
• BI Norwegian Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership since 2018 to help BI integrate sustainability into operations. BI hosted Global Opportunity Day and serves as platform partner for Global Opportunity Explorer.
• VIA University CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for SDG speakers series where Sustainia's founder Erik Rasmussen led sessions inviting SDG pioneers to inspire students.
• University of OslominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Oslo partnered with Global Opportunity Explorer to increase accessibility of science communication and sustainability research.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Anthesis Group: Global sustainability consultancy offering ESG advisory, strategy, and reporting services to corporates. Most directly comparable given similar boutique positioning, multi-region presence, and ESG/CSRD advisory focus.
• South Pole Group: Climate solutions and advisory firm offering carbon strategy, ESG consulting, and climate action programs to corporates and public sector — overlaps directly with Sustainia's strategy, case writing, and Global Opportunity Explorer offerings.
• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Global nonprofit consultancy advising corporations on sustainability strategy, ESG, and stakeholder engagement. Comparable in serving enterprise and international organization clients with advisory and publications.
• Climate Neutral Group: Climate consultancy offering advisory and solutions on carbon reduction, ESG, and climate strategy to enterprise clients. Comparable boutique positioning with sustainability advisory focus.
• Futerra: Sustainability communications and strategy agency helping brands communicate sustainability stories and develop purpose-led strategy. Comparable in storytelling/case-writing positioning and enterprise client base.
• Forum for the Future: International sustainability non-profit running thought-leadership programs, publications, and advisory work — directly comparable think-tank-plus-consulting model focused on sustainability and systems change.
• EcoAct (an Accenture company): Climate consulting and advisory firm providing carbon footprinting, ESG strategy, and sustainability advisory services — comparable service mix and target clients, though now part of a much larger parent.
• SystemIQ: Systems-change advisory firm working with corporates, foundations, and governments on sustainability transitions, with publications and case work. Comparable in thought-leadership-driven advisory model and partnerships with international organizations.

Broad incumbents

• The Carbon Trust: Established climate and sustainability consultancy advising governments and corporations on decarbonization, carbon, and ESG strategy. Overlaps with Sustainia's advisory offerings but operates at significantly larger scale with broader geographic reach.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): Global environmental and sustainability consultancy serving corporates with ESG, climate, and sustainability advisory. Comparable in target market but vastly larger in scale and breadth of services.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sustainia
• Facebookfacebook.com/sustainia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/-sustainia-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Sustainia