Obu

What Obu does

öbu - Der Verband für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften (legal entity: öbu - Der Verband für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften, CHE-107.455.419) is a Swiss non-profit association (Verein) founded in 1989 and headquartered at Sihlquai 125, 8005 Zürich. It operates as the leading Swiss membership network for sustainable business, serving Swiss companies and organizations seeking to integrate sustainability into corporate strategy, comply with ESG and supply-chain regulations, and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030. Core service lines include collaborative Working Groups (e.g., Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Biodiversity Management, ReUse in Construction), Workshops and Courses (climate management, ESG reporting for SMEs, double materiality, biodiversity management), Projects and Initiatives (BioPrint, Kompass Nachhaltigkeit, Focused Reporting), recurring Events (Forum ö annual conference, Sustainable Procurement Day, Nationale ReUse Konferenz, webinars, Climate Platforms Zürich and Basel), and practitioner Factsheets on ESG ratings and conflict minerals.

Name

Obu

Legal name

öbu - Der Verband für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften

Website

https://oebu.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: öbu generates revenue through membership fees from Swiss companies and organizations committed to sustainable business practices. Members receive access to working groups, workshops, events, projects, factsheets, and networking opportunities.
2. Workshop and Course Fees: The organization offers paid educational programs including workshops on climate management, ESG reporting, double materiality analysis, core aspects of sustainability management, and biodiversity management for SMEs. Course fees include pricing such as CHF 150 per person for ÖKOPROFIT workshops.
3. Event Participation Fees: Revenue generated from paid events including Forum ö annual conference, Sustainable Procurement Day, and National ReUse Conference. Early-bird tickets are offered for major events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

öbu is a Swiss membership association that provides collaborative working groups, professional workshops and courses, sustainability projects, annual events and conferences, and practitioner factsheets to help Swiss companies develop and implement sustainability strategies. Its offerings cover sustainable corporate governance, value chains and circular economy, climate, biodiversity and energy, regulation and reporting, and innovative business models. Revenue is generated through membership fees, paid workshops and courses, and paid event participation.

Product overview

öbu is an association for sustainable business, not a software product company. It offers a portfolio of membership services including collaborative Working Groups on sustainability topics, professional Workshops & Courses, sustainability Projects and Initiatives, Events (including Forum ö annual conference and ReUse Conference), and Knowledge Resources such as Factsheets. The services help companies implement sustainable practices across areas including climate management, biodiversity, supply chain sustainability, ESG reporting, and circular economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• öbu Membership (Verbandsmitgliedschaft) Annual membership in the leading Swiss association for sustainable business; provides access to working groups, workshops, events, projects, factsheets, the Swiss sustainability network, and discounts on partner services and educational programs. Targeted at Swiss companies and organizations committed to sustainable business practices.
• Working Groups (Arbeitsgruppen) Member-only collaborative working groups that bring together Swiss sustainability practitioners to develop solutions and share best practices on focused topics including Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Biodiversity Management, and ReUse in the Construction Industry (ERFA group).
• Workshops and Courses (Workshops & Kurse) Paid professional development workshops and courses on sustainability topics including Climate Management (certification, strategy and transition), ESG Reporting for SMEs, Double Materiality Analysis, Impact Reporting, Core Aspects of Sustainability Management, and Biodiversity Management for SMEs. Targeted at sustainability professionals and managers at Swiss companies.
• Forum ö (öbu Annual Conference) öbu's annual flagship conference bringing together the Swiss sustainability community to explore priority topics; tickets sold directly with early-bird pricing. Targeted at sustainability professionals, member companies, and partners across Switzerland.
• Sustainable Procurement Day Annual event dedicated to sustainable procurement practices and supply chain sustainability for Swiss companies.
• Nationale ReUse Konferenz Annual conference launched by öbu and cirkla to nationally establish reuse in the Swiss construction industry, bringing together construction industry stakeholders to advance coordinated national ReUse solutions. Tickets sold with early-bird pricing.
• ÖKOPROFIT Zürich Environmental management system program (Ökologisches Projekt für Integrierte Umwelt-Technik) supporting companies in building practical and economically viable environmental management systems. Includes base and club programs with workshops on circular economy, heat-suitable working environments, and AI and sustainability; club workshops priced at CHF 150 per person. Currently 8 basic businesses and 15 club businesses are supported by intep.
• Factsheets (öbu-Factsheets) Practitioner-oriented factsheets on sustainability topics, including transparency and responsibility regarding conflict minerals and child labor, ESG ratings and certifications market overview and provider comparison, and guides on improving EcoVadis ratings. Targeted at Swiss companies seeking structured guidance on sustainability assessments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 36 events organized in 2025, nearly one-third more than the previous year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 core and minor.

• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026öbu is a Global Network Partner of WBCSD, an international consortium of over 60 national business associations representing approximately 6,500 companies engaged in sustainable development globally. This partnership enables öbu to connect Swiss companies to international sustainability initiatives, participate in global surveys like the Business Breakthrough Barometer, and contribute to policy discussions with governments, investors, and industry leaders.
• ZHAW (Zurich University of Applied Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZHAW, specifically the Zurich Center for Sustainability Leadership (ZCSL) and the School of Management and Law, partners with öbu to offer Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programs in Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Strategy, Sustainable Innovation, and Sustainable Finance. ZHAW joined öbu in 2012 and provides educational programs, research, and professional development for sustainability practitioners.
• E2 Management Consulting AGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerE2 Management Consulting AG has been a member of öbu since 1989. E2 supports executive boards in holistic company development, strengthening market success through integration of ecological and social performance. E2 offers management tools ranging from environmental strategies to concrete implementation in products and processes. E2 and öbu co-host events including the E2-Seminar 'Trust along Supply Chains'.
• sanu future learning agcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnersanu future learning ag has been an öbu member since 1999. sanu offers coaching, training, and programs in environment, sustainability & transformation, nature & green maintenance, planning & construction, leadership & management. sanu provides unique combinations of competencies in Switzerland including process planning, moderation, developing and conducting marketable training programs, event management, and bilingual German-French communication. öbu has taken on patronage for selected sanu courses for years.
• Intep – Integrale Planung GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSince 2024, Intep – Integrale Planung GmbH has led the ÖKOPROFIT Administration Office for Canton of Zürich. Intep currently supports 8 basic businesses and 15 club businesses from across Switzerland including companies from St. Gallen, Thurgau, and Bern. ÖKOPROFIT supports companies in building environmental management systems in a practical and economically viable way.
• SuCo Sustainability ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSuCo Sustainability Consulting offers digital tools combined with professional consulting for sustainability reporting under the VSME/VS standard. öbu network members receive approximately 20% discount on SuCo services in the first year. SuCo helps companies define scope and system boundaries, collect relevant information, and generate automatic reports for customer inquiries, questionnaires, or tenders.
• SulyticsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSulytics partners with SuCo to offer a streamlined solution for VSME sustainability reporting. The combined offering includes digital tools and professional consulting to help companies collect sustainability data, generate automatic reports, and complement with CO₂ accounting for Scope 1 and 2.
• cirklacoreStrategic or Co-development Partnercirkla co-founded the National ReUse Conference with öbu to nationally establish reuse in the construction industry. The conference brings together construction industry stakeholders to advance coordinated national ReUse solutions.
• ÖKOPROFIT KlubworkshopsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVarious partners conduct ÖKOPROFIT workshops including ERZ (circular economy introduction workshop), intep (heat-suitable working environments), and hy GmbH (AI and sustainability workshop). These partners deliver training content to öbu member and non-member businesses.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CSR Europe: CSR Europe is a European business network for corporate sustainability and responsibility. Directly comparable to öbu as a European membership-based network offering working groups, events, and tools to advance sustainable business practices across companies.
• Net Impact: Net Impact is a nonprofit community of professionals and students driving positive social and environmental change through business. Comparable to öbu as a membership-based nonprofit offering working groups, events, and educational programming aimed at sustainability practitioners.
• Ceres: Ceres is a US-based nonprofit mobilizing business and investor leadership on climate and sustainability. Comparable to öbu in driving corporate sustainability through convening, working groups (e.g., supply chain), policy advocacy, and tools, though Ceres focuses on US investors and large enterprises.
• Forum for the Future: Forum for the Future is a UK-based nonprofit that helps businesses shift toward sustainable practices through partnerships, programs, and capability building. Directly comparable to öbu in being a sustainability-focused nonprofit offering working groups, programs, and convenings for companies, though geographically focused on the UK.

Broad incumbents

• B Lab (B Corporation): B Lab is the nonprofit behind the B Corp certification, operating a global network of purpose-driven businesses. Comparable as a sustainability business network with members, standards, and events, though B Lab's primary product is certification rather than the working-group and workshop format öbu employs.
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD): WBCSD is a global CEO-led network of ~200 forward-thinking businesses working on sustainability. It is also öbu's Global Network Partner. Comparable because both convene companies around sustainability strategy, supply chain, and reporting, though WBCSD operates at a global enterprise scale while öbu focuses on Swiss SMEs.
• The Climate Group: The Climate Group is an international nonprofit working with businesses, governments, and other organizations to address climate change. Comparable in convening corporates around climate action through programs and campaigns (e.g., RE100, EV100), though operates at a much larger, multi-stakeholder scale.
• GreenBiz Group: GreenBiz is a media and events company serving sustainability, ESG, and climate professionals globally. Comparable to öbu as a convener and content provider for corporate sustainability practitioners, though GreenBiz operates at much larger scale and is US-headquartered.

Others

• ZHAW School of Management and Law: ZHAW's Zurich Center for Sustainability Leadership (ZCSL) is a strategic partner of öbu offering CAS programs. Related as a complementary sustainability education provider rather than a direct competitor, but it reflects the broader Swiss sustainability capacity-building ecosystem in which öbu operates.

Regional players

• Tomorrow's Company: Tomorrow's Company is a UK-based nonprofit think tank working on inclusive, purpose-driven business models. Comparable to öbu in addressing sustainable corporate governance and innovative business models through member programs, though focused on the UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oebu_ch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJRNsHWZjSncHMn5SetgFqQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oebu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Obu