What bigtrees does

bigtrees is a privately-held sustainability strategy and communication consultancy headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, founded in 2012 and operating as a BVBA with 1-10 employees. The firm advises Flemish SMEs, government bodies, NGOs, and select enterprises on sustainability transitions, CSRD reporting, carbon accounting, behavioral change campaigns, and brand-level sustainability marketing. Its service portfolio spans three pillars — Duurzaamheidsadvies (sustainability advisory and CSRD), Marketing & Communicatie (sustainable brand growth), and Gedragsverandering (behavioral-change campaigns) — supplemented by an online Impact Test assessment tool, the Sustainabillable™ framework, the 'Handboek Duurzaam Ondernemen' book (€34.99 retail), and a Sustainabillable keynote offering.

The underlying technology is non-proprietary: the agency has no software platform, relying instead on sustainability measurement frameworks and behavioral-science methodologies. Operational assets include the internal Carbon Alt Delete tool for footprint measurement, the Impact Test lead-generation survey, and a freelance expert-pool model in which sustainability specialists join the network while bigtrees handles sales and delivery structure. All engagement pricing is quote-based; the book represents the firm's only productized, non-time-billed revenue line.

Commercially, bigtrees runs a sales-led, founder-driven GTM with a parallel community-led motion. Founder-CEO Wannes Van Giel is the principal contact (personal mobile published), with lead flow generated through direct outreach, partner referrals, an active Dutch-language opinion blog, and a curated event series ('Change is Cool' co-organized with Fast Forward and Butik Agency). Notable client logos include Reynaers Aluminium, Beaulieu International Group, Ajinomoto, Argenta, Greenpeace, Proveg, BOS+, Stad Gent, and Amphistar. The firm is regionally restricted to Flanders and has been recognized with two United Nations awards (Climate Action Award, Best SDG Campaign) and the Prize for Future Generations.

Name

bigtrees

Legal name

bigtrees bvba

Website

https://bigtrees.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

bigtrees is a Ghent-based sustainability strategy and communication consultancy advising Flemish SMEs, NGOs, and enterprises on CSRD reporting, behavioral-change campaigns, and sustainable brand marketing, founded in 2012 with 1-10 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Consulting Services

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Supply Chain Sustainability & Responsible Sourcing (SMETA, supplier ESG) (EUAHAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Sustainability consulting
• Sustainable marketing
• Behavioral change campaigns
• CSRD reporting advisory
• Green communication

Headquarters

HQ city

Gent

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sustainability Consulting & Strategy: Advisory services including sustainability scans, CSRD reporting, carbon accounting, and strategic roadmaps for Flemish SMEs and organizations transitioning to sustainable practices.
2. Marketing & Communication Services: Creative campaigns, branding, content marketing, and behavioral change campaigns for sustainable brands and organizations.
3. Training & Education: Sustainability training programs and the 'Handboek Duurzaam Ondernemen' (Handbook for Sustainable Entrepreneurship) book, available for €34.99 in bookstores.
4. Expert Pool / Freelance Collaboration: Partnership model where sustainability specialists join their expert pool to serve clients, with bigtrees handling sales and structure while experts deliver expertise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bigtrees is a sustainability communication and strategy agency that helps Flemish SMEs, large corporations, NGOs, and government bodies become "sustainabillable" (sustainable and profitable simultaneously). The agency delivers three core service lines: sustainability consulting and CSRD reporting, sustainable marketing and brand communications, and behavioral change campaigns. It supplements paid engagements with educational content such as the Handboek Duurzaam Ondernemen book and the Impact Test assessment, and operates a freelance expert pool to scale specialized delivery.

Product overview

bigtrees is a sustainability communication and strategy agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of services organized around three core pillars: (1) Sustainable Marketing & Communication (including branding, graphic design, content marketing, B2B communications, employer branding, and advertising), (2) CSRD Reporting, Sustainability Analysis & Advisory (including sustainability scans, sustainability reports, strategic consulting, and sustainability roadmaps), and (3) Behavioral Change Campaigns. The agency also offers supplementary tools and educational content including an Impact Test assessment tool, the Sustainabillable™ Whitepaper, a Handbook on Sustainable Entrepreneurship publication, the Change is Cool educational event, and Sustainabillable™ Keynote speaking engagements. The agency is particularly known for its 'Donderdag Veggiedag' campaign and its work helping both sustainable companies grow and non-sustainable companies transition toward sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Duurzame Marketing & Communicatie Marketing and communication services for sustainable brands and organizations, covering creative campaigns, graphic design, brand strategy, and content marketing aimed at making sustainable choices the logical and appealing option for end customers.
• CSRD Reporting, Duurzaamheidsanalyse & -advies Sustainability consulting services including sustainability scans, CO2 footprint measurement, sustainability strategy development, sustainability/CSRD reporting, and stakeholder communication advice for organizations undergoing the sustainability transition.
• Gedragsveranderingscampagnes Behavioral change campaign service that helps organizations shift target audiences toward sustainable behaviors using evidence-based communication strategies, with a focus on making sustainable choices easy and attractive.
• Opleidingen Duurzaamheid Sustainability training programs listed on the website menu under 'Opleidingen duurzaamheid', providing structured education for organizations and individuals on sustainable entrepreneurship and the Sustainabillable approach.
• Keynote Sustainabillable Bookable keynote speaking engagement on the Sustainabillable thesis of making sustainability profitable, delivered by the bigtrees team to corporate and event audiences.
• Handboek Duurzaam Ondernemen A published handbook on sustainable entrepreneurship covering ten steps for building sustainable organizations and leadership, available in bookstores for €34.99, with Wannes Van Giel as the lead author.

Quantifiable outcome

• Donderdag Veggiedag proven to reduce meat consumption through behavioral campaigns
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GoForestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoForest is a startup for which Bigtrees did the branding work. Bigtrees regularly purchases trees through GoForest, with trees locked in blockchain for transparency. Over 2000 trees purchased and planted.
• Bos+ (Bosplus)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for reforestation projects. Together initiated the Heldenbos project planting 17000+ trees across Flemish provinces to honor healthcare workers during COVID. Project selection is ongoing.
• Fast ForwardcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer of the 'Change is Cool' event, an educational event about the sustainability revolution featuring keynote speakers.
• Butik AgencycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer of the 'Change is Cool' event alongside Bigtrees and Fast Forward.
• CO2 LogicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbon compensation partner used by Bigtrees to compensate their remaining ~3 tonnes CO2 emissions to achieve climate neutrality. Uses Science Based Targets methodology.
• The Rock GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting partnership with Lettemieke Mulder and Elfrieke van Galen from The Rock Group, who co-authored the 'Handboek Duurzaam Ondernemen' book.
• Expeditie OminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational development partner helping Bigtrees improve internal flow, feedback loops, and team structure as part of B-Corp certification journey.
• EVA (Proveg België)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for vegetarian/plant-based advocacy. Created Donderdag Veggiedag campaign and plant-based cookbook for chefs.
• Belgian Alliance for Climate ActionminorOthersMember of this climate action network. Part of the brandbloxx family with shared SBTI goals of -42% on scope 1&2 emissions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Futerra: London-headquartered sustainability communications agency that helps brands communicate sustainability credibly and run behavior-change campaigns — directly overlapping bigtrees' combination of sustainability comms, advisory, and behavioral change work.
• SalterBaxter: UK-based sustainability creative and strategy agency serving purpose-led brands and corporates with sustainability positioning, campaigns, and reporting support — directly comparable in offering mix to bigtrees.
• Climate Focus: Global advisory and program-design firm working on climate strategy, policy, and corporate sustainability roadmaps — closely comparable to bigtrees' sustainability strategy and CSRD-adjacent advisory work.
• Considerati: Dutch CSR/sustainability advisory firm helping companies with strategy, reporting, and stakeholder engagement across Benelux — comparable business model and service portfolio in the same regional ecosystem.
• Forster Communications: UK sustainability, CSR and purpose-led communications agency combining strategy, storytelling, and behavior-change campaigns — direct peer in mission, methodology, and client type.

Broad incumbents

• EcoAct: Pan-European carbon accounting and sustainability advisory firm (now part of Accenture) — overlaps bigtrees' CSRD and carbon advisory work but operates at far larger scale and as part of a global consulting platform.
• Anthesis Group: Largest pure-play global sustainability advisory; competes for enterprise CSRD and sustainability strategy mandates that bigtrees also targets at a smaller scale.
• South Pole: Global climate solutions and sustainability services firm spanning consulting, carbon, and ESG advisory — competes with bigtrees on corporate sustainability strategy and communications at far greater scale.
• Behavioural Insights Team: Pioneering behavioural science organization applying evidence-based behavior change to policy and corporate challenges — directly comparable to bigtrees' behavioral-change campaign capability but operating globally and largely in the public sector.

Regional players

• Duval Union: Belgian creative/marketing agency group headquartered in the same Benelux market as bigtrees, with overlapping corporate and NGO clients — partial overlap rather than direct sustainability specialist competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/newsfrombigtrees
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bigtrees
• Instagraminstagram.com/bigtrees_agency
• Xx.com/bigtreesgent

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 bigtrees