Cecolab Circular Economy
CECOLAB is a Portuguese private non-profit collaborative laboratory, government-designated as the national coordinator for the Circular Economy infrastructure network, providing LCA-based consulting, EcoDesign tools, circular (re)design, training, and patented construction-from-waste technologies to companies, governments, universities, and NGOs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersOliveira Do Hospital, Portugal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cecolab Circular Economy does
CECOLAB (Associação CECOLAB – Collaborative Laboratory Towards Circular Economy) is a Portuguese private non-profit research association founded in February 2020 and headquartered at the BLC3 Technology and Innovation Campus in Oliveira do Hospital, central Portugal. It is the government-designated national coordinating entity for the Portuguese National Infrastructure Network for the Circular Economy (Order No. 4157/2019) and is listed in the FCT National Roadmap of Research Infrastructures. The organization delivers circular economy consulting (environmental licensing, industrial licensing, impact assessment, circular efficiency analysis, environmental labels), Circular (Re)Design services, waste/by-product (de)classification analysis, technical-legal studies, and multidisciplinary training to companies, investors, governments, associations, NGOs, and universities.
CECOLAB's technical platform rests on three areas — Industrial Biotechnology, Sustainable Separation Processes and Green Chemistry, and Ecodesign — and is anchored by proprietary EcoDesign Tools software certified to ISO 14040/14044 standards, based on Life Cycle Assessment and Material Flow Analysis with access to the Ecoinvent database of 18,000+ life cycle inventories. The organization holds National Invention Patent No. 117908 (modular buildings from end-of-life wind turbines) and has filed International Patent PCT/IB2021/062390 (masonry system with construction/demolition waste recovery, TRL4 prototype). Research outputs span peer-reviewed publications on biomass delignification, water cycle management, urban sustainability, wood processing, and agricultural environmental sustainability.
Revenue is generated through a mix of government grants (€11M Portuguese Government commitment under the CoLAB initiative, ~€718K co-payment secured for the StartupZero project under Portugal 2020), EU and national research project funding, fee-based consulting, and training programs. Distribution is direct via consulting engagements with a horizontal segmentation approach; marketing relies heavily on event/conference positioning (notably the EU Presidency-era 'Europe: a Knowledge & Science Bridge' conference in April 2021 and the WCEF 2022 Accelerator Session) and on network collaboration through Smart Waste Portugal, the Portuguese Plastics Pact, and international partners in Brazil and Africa.
Cecolab Circular Economy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cecolab Circular Economy
- Legal name
- Associação CECOLAB - COLLABORATIVE LABORATORY TOWARDS CIRCULAR ECONOMY
- Website
- https://cecolab.pt
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CECOLAB is a Portuguese private non-profit collaborative laboratory, government-designated as the national coordinator for the Circular Economy infrastructure network, providing LCA-based consulting, EcoDesign tools, circular (re)design, training, and patented construction-from-waste technologies to companies, governments, universities, and NGOs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cecolab Circular Economy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainability and Circular Economy Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Circular Economy & Waste/Materials Reporting (Zero waste, packaging) (EUAHAJAL), Product Sustainability & LCA/EPD (Eco-design, PCF) (EUAHAJAF)
Keywords
Where Cecolab Circular Economy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oliveira Do Hospital
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cecolab Circular Economy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Consulting Services in Circular Economy: Consulting services including environmental licensing, industrial licensing, environmental impact assessment, circular efficiency, analysis of economic metabolism, environmental labels and declarations, market and consumer trends.
- Research and Innovation Projects: EU and national funded research projects including Interface Mission funding, Portugal 2020 programs, COMPETE 2030 initiatives, and various innovation projects focused on circular economy transition.
- Training and Formation: Multidisciplinary team provides training for people and entities in transversal areas of the Circular Economy.
- Circular (Re)Design Services: Design and redesign of eco-efficient products and services for clients.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Cecolab Circular Economy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CECOLAB provides applied research, consulting, and engineering services in circular economy and industrial sustainability. Its core offerings include Circular (Re)Design advisory, waste classification, life cycle assessment through its EcoDesign Tools software platform, legal and regulatory studies, training programs, and the development of patented solutions such as modular building and masonry systems.
Product overview
CECOLAB (Collaborative Laboratory Towards Circular Economy) is a private non-profit research and innovation institution that offers a portfolio of circular economy services rather than a unified software product. The portfolio includes consulting services (environmental licensing, impact assessment, circular efficiency), EcoDesign Tools with LCA software certified to ISO 14040/14044 standards, circular (re)design services, waste classification analysis, legal studies, and professional formation. The organization also develops intellectual property through patents (Modular Building and Masonry System) and produces technical/scientific publications. Core activities are organized around three technological platforms: Industrial Biotechnology, Sustainable Separation Processes and Green Chemistry, and Ecodesign. CECOLAB operates research projects (StartUp Zero, FLUI, BeirInov, TECHROAD, VineToPack, 3DP STeF, and others) and hosts international conferences to advance circular economy knowledge and market transfer.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Circular Economy Consulting
Quantifiable outcome
- 11 million euro investment creating 45 direct and 60+ indirect jobs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cecolab Circular Economy
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cecolab Circular Economy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cecolab Circular Economy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Brazilian Circular Economy Innovation CentercoreInternational cooperation formalized during the 'Europe: a Knowledge & Science Bridge Towards a Global Circular Economy' conference. Joint work to promote global circular economy transition through knowledge and science cooperation.
- African Circular Economy Network (ACEN)coreInternational cooperation formalized during the International Conference. ACEN's executive team member participates in CECOLAB-organized events. Partnership focused on circular economy knowledge exchange and cooperation.
- Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher EducationcoreThe Ministry invited CECOLAB to organize the International Conference within the context of Circular Economy for the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
- Association BLC3 - Technology and Innovation CampuscoreHost institution for CECOLAB headquarters. BLC3 is a technology and innovation campus that provides physical infrastructure and ecosystem for circular economy research and innovation activities.
- Smart Waste PortugalmajorNetwork participation as associated member. Smart Waste Portugal focuses on waste management and circular economy solutions in Portugal.
- Portuguese Plastics PactmajorInstitutional member of the Portuguese Plastics Pact, contributing to national efforts to address plastic waste and promote circular economy in the plastics sector.
- SanjotecmajorPartnership in European project 'StartupZero' under Portugal 2020 program, focused on promoting circular economy through entrepreneurship support. Consortium secured nearly 718 thousand euros in co-payment.
- University of MinhocoreAcademic associate and member of the Circular Design Group. Representative in General Assembly and various governance bodies.
- Portuguese Catholic UniversitycoreAcademic associate and member of the Circular Design Group. Representative serves as President of General Assembly.
- University of CoimbracoreAcademic associate, member of the Circular Design Group. Representative serves on the Supervisory Board.
- Nova University of LisboncoreAcademic associate and member of the Circular Design Group. Representative serves as Non-Executive Board Member.
- University of AveirocoreUniversity associate whose representative serves as Vice-President of CECOLAB's Executive Board of Directors.
- University of PortocoreUniversity associate whose representative serves as a Member of the Executive Board of Directors.
- Aquitex - Acabamentos Químicos Têxteis, S.A.majorIndustrial associate whose representative serves as 1st Secretary of General Assembly. Active participant in CECOLAB's innovation chains.
- OPRIMEEmajorIndustry associate whose representative serves as President of the Executive Board of Directors.
- RAIZmajorAssociate whose representative serves as Non-Executive Board Member. Contributes to research forest ecosystem and circular economy research.
- TNO (Netherlands)majorArdi Dortmans from TNO serves as mentor for CECOLAB. TNO is Director of Science Circular Economy and Environment.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cecolab Circular Economy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TNO: Dutch applied research organization with a dedicated Science Circular Economy and Environment unit. Directly comparable as a publicly funded applied research lab providing LCA, eco-design, and circular innovation services to industry and government.
- EcoAct: International consultancy delivering carbon and ESG strategy, LCA, and net-zero advisory to corporates. Comparable to CECOLAB's environmental consulting, LCA, and circular efficiency services, though with a commercial (for-profit) and global operating model.
- Circle Economy: Amsterdam-based impact organization operating the Circularity Gap Reporting framework and advising governments on circular economy transition. Direct peer to CECOLAB in producing national circular economy intelligence, policy advisory, and circular metrics consulting.
Others
- BLC3 - Technology and Innovation Campus: Host institution for CECOLAB's headquarters and a core strategic partner. Not a direct competitor — provides physical infrastructure and ecosystem rather than competing consulting — but is a closely adjacent enabling organization.
Broad incumbents
- Fraunhofer Institute: Germany's leading applied research organization with institutes covering LCA, sustainability, and circular economy. Comparable to CECOLAB in combining applied R&D, consulting, and IP generation tied to circular materials and process innovation.
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: Swedish state-funded research institute with sustainability and circular economy programs. Comparable as a publicly funded applied research partner delivering LCA, eco-design, and circular innovation services to Nordic industry.
- South Pole Group: Global climate solutions provider offering sustainability consulting, carbon credits, and corporate net-zero strategies. Overlaps with CECOLAB's environmental consulting, ESG reporting, and circular economy advisory work for corporate and government clients.
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global thought leader on circular economy with deep government and corporate partnerships. Comparable to CECOLAB in its role as a knowledge broker running international events, white papers, and policy engagement around the circular transition.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's national applied research organization with sustainability and circular economy research programs. Comparable to CECOLAB in mission (public-good applied research) and in LCA, industrial biotechnology, and sustainable process innovation.
Regional players
- Smart Waste Portugal: Portuguese waste and circular economy cluster in which CECOLAB is an associate member. Comparable as a Portuguese circular economy ecosystem player, though it functions as a network facilitator rather than a research provider.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cecolab Circular Economy social profiles
Digital presenceCecolab Circular Economy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Cecolab Circular Economy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cecolab Circular Economy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Cecolab Circular Economy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cecolab Circular Economy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cecolab Circular Economy
What does Cecolab Circular Economy do?
CECOLAB provides applied research, consulting, and engineering services in circular economy and industrial sustainability. Its core offerings include Circular (Re)Design advisory, waste classification, life cycle assessment through its EcoDesign Tools software platform, legal and regulatory studies, training programs, and the development of patented solutions such as modular building and masonry systems.
Is Cecolab Circular Economy a public or private company?
Cecolab Circular Economy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cecolab Circular Economy founded?
Cecolab Circular Economy was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cecolab Circular Economy based?
Cecolab Circular Economy is headquartered in Oliveira Do Hospital, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Cecolab Circular Economy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Consulting Services in Circular Economy is the primary driver. The others are research and Innovation Projects, training and Formation and circular (Re)Design Services.
Who are Cecolab Circular Economy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TNO, EcoAct and Circle Economy. BLC3 - Technology and Innovation Campus is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Fraunhofer Institute, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, South Pole Group, Ellen MacArthur Foundation and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Smart Waste Portugal is listed as a regional player.
Does Cecolab Circular Economy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cecolab Circular Economy.
What industry is Cecolab Circular Economy in?
Cecolab Circular Economy's product category is Sustainability and Circular Economy Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIANAH, Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA), with a secondary code of EUAHAJAL, Circular Economy & Waste/Materials Reporting (Zero waste, packaging). Its NAICS code is 541620 and its SIC code is 8731.