Arqum

What Arqum does

Arqum is a privately held German sustainability and environmental management consultancy headquartered in Munich, founded around 2000. The firm advises German and international clients across environmental management (ISO 14001, EMAS), climate strategy (GHG balances, CCF/PCF, climate roadmaps), energy management (ISO 50001, energy audits), sustainability and ESG reporting (CSRD/ESRS, VSME, materiality analysis), regulatory compliance (NIS2, LkSG, EnEfG), occupational safety (ISO 45001), quality management (ISO 9001), and international cooperation projects. Its customers span large enterprises, SMEs, municipalities, federal and state-level public administrations, cultural institutions, and research/policy bodies; notable engagements include climate neutrality roadmaps for the German federal ministries BMZ and BMU, energy and CO2 audits across 20 Martin Bauer Group sites, and CSRD-related work for AGAPLESION, AOK Bayern, and Kalle Gruppe.

The firm operates a five-office German footprint (Munich HQ, Berlin, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Hannover) and conducts international projects across Africa (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal), Asia (Vietnam, India, China, Thailand, Jordan), and Europe. Arqum's technical assets include the EMAS-Plattform, a free digital platform for organizing EMAS processes, and the Arqum Compliance Tool (with a Premium tier) for digital compliance management including legal register interpretation. It is also co-developer, with KATE e.V. and OmniCert, of the We Impact integrated sustainability management system (formerly EMASplus), and serves as Standardgeber for the Green Shape standard.

The business model is professional services-led: revenue comes from project-based consulting engagements, paid seminars, and an emerging recurring software stream from the Compliance Tool. Arqum has no disclosed outside funding and is independently held, with Managing Director Dr. Uwe Götz serving as both Geschäftsführer and Umweltgutachter. Go-to-market is direct B2B sales, supported by content marketing (blog, quarterly newsletter, free webinars, podcasts), and the firm holds EMAS validation across all German locations since 2013.

Name

Arqum

Legal name

Arqum

Website

https://arqum.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Arqum is a privately held Munich-based sustainability consultancy advising German enterprises, public administrations, and international organizations on environmental management, climate strategy, energy, ESG/CSRD reporting, compliance, and occupational safety, supported by proprietary digital tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH), ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ), Sustainability & ESG Reporting (GRI/SASB/ISSB/CSRD) (EUAHAJAB), Audit-Ready Controls, Assurance & Compliance Workflow Tools (CSRD/SEC/ISSB) (EUABAEAG)

Keywords

• Sustainability consulting
• Environmental management
• Climate strategy
• Energy consulting
• Compliance advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: Project-based consulting engagements for sustainability, environmental management, climate strategy, energy management, occupational safety, and compliance. Services are tailored to client needs and typically involve ongoing advisory relationships.
2. Seminars and Webinars: Continuing education offerings including both paid seminars and free webinars on topics such as energy efficiency law, climate balancing, ISO standards, and sustainability reporting.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Arqum is a German sustainability and management consulting firm that advises enterprises, municipalities, and public administrations on environmental management (ISO 14001, EMAS), climate strategy (CCF/PCF), energy management (ISO 50001), ESG/sustainability reporting (CSRD, VSME), compliance (NIS2, LkSG), occupational safety (ISO 45001), and quality management (ISO 9001). The firm also develops and operates proprietary digital tools — the Arqum Compliance Tool and the EMAS-Plattform — and co-developed the We Impact sustainability management system.

Product overview

Arqum is a sustainability consulting firm offering a portfolio of consulting services and digital tools. The core offerings include advisory services in environmental management (ISO 14001, EMAS), climate protection (CCF/PCF calculations, climate strategies), energy management (ISO 50001, energy audits), sustainability/ESG (CSRD reporting, supply chain compliance), compliance, occupational safety, and international cooperation. The company provides two main digital products: the Arqum Compliance Tool (including a Premium tier) for digital compliance management, and the EMAS-Plattform - a free digital platform for managing EMAS environmental management processes. Arqum also supports the We Impact sustainability management system. Services are organized by specialty areas including Environment, Climate, Energy, Sustainability/ESG, Compliance, International, and Occupational Safety/Quality, with additional professional development through seminars and webinars.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• We Impact: Holistic sustainability management system developed jointly with KATE e.V. and OmniCert, building on the former EMASplus system. Supports companies in sustainability management aligned with ESG criteria.
• Arqum Compliance Tool
• EMASplus

Products and services

• Environmental Consulting Services Advisory services for environmental management systems (ISO 14001, EMAS), ÖKOPROFIT/ECOfit programs, external environmental officer appointments, mobility management, and environmental compliance for enterprises, municipalities, and public institutions.
• Climate Consulting Services Climate strategy development, creation of greenhouse gas balance sheets (Corporate Carbon Footprint and Product Carbon Footprint following GHG Protocol), climate management implementation, Klimafit BW program participation, and CO2 compensation support for organizations.
• Energy Consulting Services

Quantifiable outcome

• BMZ became first German federal ministry to achieve climate neutrality (2020)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KATE Umwelt & EntwicklungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership in developing EMASplus/We Impact sustainability management system module. Jointly developed integrated sustainability management system based on EMAS.
• OmniCert Umweltgutachter GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in developing EMASplus/We Impact sustainability management system module. OmniCert is an environmental auditor organization.
• Institut für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung (IÖW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in CSRD reporting standards project for the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt).
• Fair Finance InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in CSRD reporting standards project for the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt).
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArqum developed German Training Week (GTW) energy efficiency concept for GIZ. Conducting international energy efficiency trainings in developing countries as part of GIZ's export initiative energy program.
• PD - Berater der öffentlichen Hand GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership in supporting federal ministries (BMZ, BMU) with climate neutrality roadmaps. PD contracted Arqum to support government environmental management projects.
• Pfalzwerke-GruppeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in We4Zero climate network project together with Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar for industrial climate protection.
• Metropolregion Rhein-NeckarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in We4Zero climate network project together with Pfalzwerke-Gruppe for industrial climate protection.
• TerrabiotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in moorland renaturation project at Starnberger See. Terrabiota provides landscape architecture services.
• sequa gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PartnerAfrika project for sustainability education in Ghana together with UBW and Kwame Nkrumah University.
• Interessenvertretung Unternehmer Baden-Württemberg (UBW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PartnerAfrika project for sustainability education in Ghana together with sequa and Kwame Nkrumah University.
• VAUDEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArqum serves as standard provider (Standardgeber) for Green Shape standard for environmentally friendly outdoor products developed by VAUDE.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Plan A: Plan A is a Berlin-based ESG and carbon management SaaS platform serving European corporates with CSRD-ready reporting. Comparable to Arqum's Compliance Tool and EMAS-Plattform but with a more productized, venture-backed software model.
• Carbmee: Carbmee is a Berlin-based carbon accounting (CCF/PCF) SaaS platform aligned with GHG Protocol. Comparable to Arqum's Klimabilanzierungs-Tools and emerging as a software-led alternative to traditional consultancies in the German mid-market.
• right. based on science: right. based on science is a German-based science-based targets and climate strategy consultancy. Emerging player with partial overlap to Arqum's climate strategy and CSRD-related services, focused specifically on SBTi-aligned target setting.

Direct peers

• South Pole Group: South Pole is a major global carbon and sustainability consultancy offering climate strategy, carbon accounting (CCF/PCF), and ESG advisory. Comparable to Arqum's climate consulting offering but operating at significantly larger scale across multiple continents.
• Akzente Sustainability Consulting: Akzente is a German sustainability and environmental management consultancy offering CSR, ESG strategy, and EMAS implementation support. Direct peer to Arqum with a similar boutique scale and German mid-market focus.
• ClimatePartner: ClimatePartner is a Munich-based climate consulting and carbon offsetting firm helping companies calculate carbon footprints and develop climate strategies. Direct peer to Arqum's climate consulting services, with stronger software/offset productization and a larger international footprint.
• DQS Group: DQS is a major German-based certification and management systems consulting firm offering ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001, and sustainability/ESG audits. Direct peer to Arqum in environmental and quality management systems consulting with a larger global footprint.
• GUTcert (afnor Group): GUTcert is a German certification body and sustainability consulting firm offering ISO 14001, ISO 50001, EMAS, and CSRD-related services. Direct competitor to Arqum with overlapping target customers (German SMEs, public bodies) and similar consulting plus certification/auditor capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• TÜV NORD: TÜV NORD is a German TIC and certification incumbent providing ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001 certification and sustainability consulting. Comparable to Arqum's environmental and energy management work but as part of a much broader industrial services portfolio.
• TÜV SÜD: TÜV SÜD is a large global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) incumbent offering sustainability, energy, and ESG advisory alongside broader industrial services. Broad incumbent with overlapping environmental, energy, and compliance consulting but much wider portfolio and global scale than Arqum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arqum-gmbh

Compliance9 records

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 Arqum