What Cyclos does

Cyclos GmbH is a privately held German limited liability company (Sachverständigenbüro / expert office) founded in 1993 and headquartered at Westerbreite 7, Osnabrück. The firm specializes in circular economy consulting, waste management auditing, packaging compliance, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) services, and self-describes as Germany's largest expert office on the circular economy with over 30 years of experience. It serves four primary customer segments: packaging producers and distributors (>1,500 clients), municipalities and public disposal authorities, recycling and waste treatment facility operators, and international governments and organizations implementing EPR systems. As of its 25th anniversary in 2018, Cyclos employed 55 permanent staff plus additional support personnel, with publicly appointed and sworn experts authorized by the IHK Osnabrück-Emsland-Grafschaft Bentheim for packaging disposal and electrical equipment disposal.

Cyclos's product portfolio spans 13+ discrete service lines including: VerpackG (German Packaging Act) consulting, EPR strategy consulting, packaging classification and weighing (performed in an ISO 9001:2015-certified weighing laboratory established in 2007), mass flow verifications, declaration of completeness audits, recycling plant certifications, RecyClass/Blue Angel/RAL GZ 720 scheme certifications, DPG deposit system certification, sorting analyses, WEEE/battery compliance, commercial waste ordinance advisory, used textiles consulting, and single-use plastic fund verification (EWKFondsG). Underlying technical infrastructure is domain-specialized rather than technology-platform oriented: the certified weighing laboratory, proprietary tools for declaration of completeness auditing, and the proprietary "Cyclos Rezyklatlabel" introduced in 2018 to certify recyclate ratios in packaging. Cyclos played a major role in developing the EuCertPlast certification scheme (launched 2012) for plastics recycling plants across Europe.

The business model is a B2B professional services firm with sales-led GTM. Pricing is quote-based and individually tailored per client, executed under multi-year contracts, and not publicly disclosed. Cyclos generates revenue through expert consulting, auditing, and certification engagements delivered directly via on-site audits, laboratory work, and consulting mandates. The firm has executed 500+ certifications across Germany, Europe, and Asia, commissions 40+ counting centre certifications under the DPG deposit system with ~35 annual re-certifications, and works internationally through institutional channels including World Bank, UNIDO, GIZ, and WWF. Subsidiaries include Institut cyclos-HTP GmbH (2014 joint venture with HTP for recyclability certification) and cyclos future (2011 sustainability/CSR consulting).

Name

Cyclos

Legal name

cyclos GmbH

Website

https://cyclos.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cyclos GmbH is a German expert office founded in 1993 providing consulting, auditing, and certification services for circular economy, packaging law compliance, and extended producer responsibility. It serves 1,500+ packaging clients, municipalities, recyclers, and governments across Germany, the Netherlands, and international EPR projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Consulting (Circular Economy and Packaging Compliance)

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)

Keywords

• Circular economy consulting
• Packaging compliance services
• Waste management auditing
• Extended producer responsibility
• Recycling certification services

Headquarters

HQ city

Osnabrück

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Expert/Professional Services: Core revenue stream from providing expert consulting, auditing, certification, and testing services in the circular economy and waste management sector. Services include mass flow verifications, declaration of completeness audits, packaging classifications, sorting analyses, and facility certifications.
2. International EPR Consulting: Strategic consulting services for international extended producer responsibility systems implementation, working with governments, NGOs, and international organizations.
3. Certification Services: Certification services for recycling facilities, deposit systems (DPG), and various environmental compliance standards including VerpackG, Blue Angel, RecyClass, and RAL GZ 720.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

cyclos GmbH provides expert consulting, auditing, certification and laboratory services focused on the circular economy. Offerings include consulting on the German Packaging Act (VerpackG) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), packaging classification and weighing in an ISO 9001:2015 certified laboratory, mass flow verifications, declaration of completeness audits, sorting analyses, and certifications under RecyClass, Blue Angel, RAL GZ 720, EuCertPlast and the DPG deposit system. Services are delivered by publicly appointed and sworn experts to enterprises, public authorities and international organizations across Germany, Europe, Asia, Africa and MENA.

Product overview

Cyclos is Germany's largest expert office for circular economy, offering a comprehensive portfolio of consulting and expert services. The core offering consists of advisory services on Extended Producer Responsibility and the German Packaging Act, supported by specialized expert services including packaging classification and weighing, mass flow verifications, and declaration of completeness audits. The company provides certification services covering plants under the German Packaging Act, RecyClass, Blue Angel, and RAL GZ 720 standards. Additional services include sorting analyses, WEEE/battery compliance, deposit system certification, commercial waste advisory, and used textiles consulting. The firm operates a certified weighing laboratory and employs publicly appointed and sworn experts for packaging disposal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Institut cyclos-HTP: Institute for recyclability and product responsibility undertaking classifications, audits and certifications of packaging recyclability.
• cyclos future

Products and services

• Consultancy on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Strategic and scientific advisory services for designing and implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems internationally, including workshops, legal framework development and system operator establishment. Targeted at governments, ministries, NGOs and international organizations.
• Consultancy on the German Packaging Act (VerpackG) General and company-specific advisory services on the German Packaging Act (VerpackG), including volume calculations and training workshops. Targeted at producers and distributors needing regulatory guidance under VerpackG.
• Packaging Classifications and Weighing Legally compliant classification and weight determination of packaging according to VerpackG requirements, performed by publicly appointed experts using Cyclos' ISO 9001:2015 certified weighing laboratory. Targeted at packaging producers and distributors.
• Packaging Optimisation Analysis and evaluation of packaging for compliance with the German Packaging Act, identifying optimisation potentials in packaging design to reduce system participation costs. Targeted at packaging producers and distributors.
• Mass Flow Verifications Annual mass flow verification services for dual systems and industry solutions per Section 17 of the German Packaging Act, conducted by registered experts. Targeted at dual systems and industry solutions subject to VerpackG.
• Declaration of Completeness Audits Audit and verification services for manufacturer declarations of completeness submitted to the Central Packaging Register, including qualified electronic signatures. Targeted at packaging manufacturers and distributors.
• Certifications (VerpackG plants, RecyClass, Blue Angel, RAL GZ 720) Comprehensive certification services for packaging recycling plants under the German Packaging Act (VerpackG), RecyClass scheme, Blue Angel eco-label, RAL GZ 720 quality association and EuCertPlast. Targeted at recycling facility operators across Germany, Europe and Asia.
• Sorting Analyses Professional waste sorting analyses for various fractions including batteries, textiles, bio-waste, electronics, commercial waste, glass, packaging, paper, and residual waste. Targeted at municipalities, public disposal authorities, and operators of waste treatment facilities.
• Used Textiles Advisory Technical and strategic consultancy for sustainable handling of used textiles, including extended producer responsibility models and organizational management for the Gemeinschaft für textile Zukunft (GftZ). Targeted at textile producers and policy actors.
• WEEE and Used Batteries Compliance Services Expert analysis, certification and support services for compliance with ElektroG (WEEE) and BattG (batteries), including waste management studies and initial treatment plant certification. Targeted at producers and treatment facility operators.
• Deposit System Certification (DPG) Certification services for counting centres, reverse vending machines and ink users within the Deutsche Pfandsystem GmbH (DPG) mandatory deposit system for single-use beverage packaging. Targeted at retail reverse-logistics counting centres and DPG label ink users.
• Commercial Waste Advisory Advisory and auditing services for legally compliant implementation of the German Commercial Waste Ordinance (GewAbfV), including separate collection documentation and proof preparation. Targeted at commercial waste producers and waste management companies.
• EWKFondsG Single-Use Plastic Notification Verification Verification and audit service for single-use plastic product notifications submitted to the German Federal Environment Agency under the EWKFondsG, including qualified electronic signatures and compliance documentation. Targeted at producers and distributors of single-use plastic products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 certifications carried out in Germany, Europe and Asia
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Institut cyclos-HTP GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Founded by shareholders of cyclos GmbH together with HTP GmbH. The institute specializes in classification, assessment and certification of recyclability of packaging and goods as well as research and development. They developed a catalogue of requirements and evaluation criteria for auditing and certifying recyclability, allowing brands and packaging manufacturers to get products certified as recyclable.
• HTP GmbH & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent planning and consulting company in the recycling and renewables industry since early 1990s. With more than 100 references, HTP is a leading engineering service provider in process and plant design of waste disposal and recycling.
• cyclos future GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability and CSR consulting company working with businesses on sustainable business practices since 2011. Focus areas include strategic integration of ESG aspects into core business and stakeholder communication. Offers sustainability reporting according to GRI, DNK standards.
• Kiwa Netherlands B.V.coreTechnology or IntegrationAccredited certification body working with Cyclos for RecyClass Recycling Process and RecyClass Recycled Plastic certification schemes. Provides DIN/EN 17065 accredited certification services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GVM Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung: German packaging market research and consulting firm focused on packaging recycling, material flows, and VerpackG-related compliance. Closely comparable to Cyclos on the packaging compliance and material-flow analytics side of the business.
• Kiwa: European TIC group with whom Cyclos already partners for RecyClass certifications. Kiwa provides competing packaging recyclability certification services and operates an accredited certification body in the same standards (EN 17065) that anchor Cyclos' certification work.

Broad incumbents

• DEKRA: Global TIC company offering certification, auditing, and advisory services. Overlaps with Cyclos in environmental management system certification, recycling plant audits, and EPR-related advisory across multiple European markets.
• TÜV Rheinland: Global TIC provider with extensive waste management, packaging, and recycling certification offerings. Competes for the same German and EU manufacturer certification wallet as Cyclos, with significantly broader geographic and service scope.
• TÜV SÜD: Global TIC group active in environmental compliance, recycling facility certification, and EPR advisory. A natural competitor for Cyclos' plant certification and packaging compliance work, especially for multinational packaging producers.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC incumbent offering testing, inspection, and certification services that include environmental compliance and recycling-related schemes. A relevant comparator for Cyclos on international certifications and EPR-related advisory work.
• SGS: World's largest TIC company offering environmental, packaging, and recycling certification services. Comparable to Cyclos on the certification and inspection layer, with a much broader global footprint.
• Intertek: Global TIC group providing testing, inspection, and certification including environmental compliance and recycled-content verification schemes relevant to Cyclos' work under RecyClass and Blue Angel.

Regional players

• bifa Umweltinstitut: Bavarian environmental research institute providing waste management studies, sorting analyses, and circular economy advisory. A regional German peer in the sorting analysis and waste composition consulting space overlapping with Cyclos' sorting analyses offering.
• Öko-Institut: Independent German research and consulting institute working on environmental policy, packaging, and circular economy. Comparable to Cyclos on the policy advisory side, particularly for EPR system design and regulatory analysis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cyclos-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Cyclos