Climate Cleanup
Climate Cleanup Foundation is a Netherlands-based non-profit that develops open certification frameworks (Oncra) and protocols for nature-based carbon removal across Land, Construction, Ocean, and Rock domains, serving farmers, builders, innovators, and policymakers seeking to monetize and verify carbon storage.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Climate Cleanup does
Climate Cleanup Foundation is a Netherlands-registered non-profit Public Benefit Organisation (PBO/ANBI) founded in 2018 and headquartered at Tolhuistuin in Amsterdam North, operating with 1–10 employees. Its mission is to reverse climate change by advancing nature-based carbon dioxide removal (Nature-based CDR) across four domains — Land, Construction, Ocean, and Rock (enhanced weathering) — with the stated goal of removing 1,500 gigatons of CO2 by "doubling nature." The foundation runs the Double Nature Talks, the Double Nature Summit, the annual CDR Conference, and the Nationale Top Natuurlijke Koolstofvastlegging, and convenes an Ambassador community of 1,500+ monthly contributors that functions as both seed financing and evangelism layer.
The foundation's core technology is Oncra (Open Natural Carbon Removal Accounting), an open certification framework launched at COP27 in November 2022 with five founding removal projects (Bamboologic, The Seaweed Company, Scave, Boer in Natuur, greenSand). Oncra provides quantification, certification, and registration of nature-based carbon removal projects across the four domains, with a public registry (registry.oncra.org) and certificate marketplace at onsets.org. Specialized protocols include the Ocean Stored Carbon (OSC) Protocol v3, co-developed with WWF INNO-fonds, and the Construction Stored Carbon (CSC) certification and financial metric developed with ASN Bank, Built by Nature, and Good Energies Foundation. Supporting tools include the Biobased Building Comparison Tool and an Open Calculation Tool for net carbon removal benefit. As of January 2026, Oncra was spun off into a separate steward-owned company while Climate Cleanup Foundation retained its independent non-profit advocacy and convening role.
Climate Cleanup monetizes through three streams: (1) Ambassador monthly contributions of typically €10–€30 per person, tax-deductible under Dutch ANBI rules for five-year commitments; (2) transaction fees on carbon removal certificates sold directly from removers or via onsets.org, with Construction Stored Carbon certificates priced at a minimum of €150 per tonne CO2; and (3) partnership funding from entities such as ASN Bank, WWF INNO-fonds, Built by Nature, Good Energies Foundation, and Nationaal Groenfonds. Key commercial anchors include Ballast Nedam Development, the first Dutch developer to financially value CO2 storage in residential construction and a partner in CSC certification. As of June 2026, the Oncra register reported 584,521 tonnes of CO2 quantified (+221% year-over-year) across 140+ certified removers, with €1.1 million transferred to farmers and builders (more than doubled year-over-year). The foundation does not publicly disclose revenue, operates primarily through events, certification frameworks, and policy convening rather than direct sales, and serves customers in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, the UK, Australia, the USA, and Canada.
Climate Cleanup firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Climate Cleanup
- Legal name
- Climate Cleanup Foundation
- Website
- https://climatecleanup.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Climate Cleanup Foundation is a Netherlands-based non-profit that develops open certification frameworks (Oncra) and protocols for nature-based carbon removal across Land, Construction, Ocean, and Rock domains, serving farmers, builders, innovators, and policymakers seeking to monetize and verify carbon storage.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Climate Cleanup industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Carbon Removal Certification
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Carbon Removal Project Development, Financing & Offtake (Developers, Aggregators, Buyers Clubs) (EUABAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Voluntary Carbon Credit Verification & Validation (VCS/Gold Standard/ACR/CAR) (EUABACAA), Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification) (IMAMAJAE), Regenerative Agriculture & Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) (EUABABAE), Carbon Removal Credits Trading (DAC, BECCS, Biochar, Mineralization) (EUAGAIAL), Methodology Development & Standard-Setting Support (Protocols, Tools, Updates) (EUABACAN)
Keywords
Where Climate Cleanup is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Climate Cleanup business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Ambassador Membership Fees: Monthly contributions from Ambassadors who support the foundation on a pay-as-you-can basis, typically between €10-30 per month. Climate Cleanup Foundation is a Public Benefit Organisation (ANBI), making contributions tax deductible for Dutch supporters committing to five years or more.
- Carbon Removal Certificates: Oncra-certified carbon removal certificates are sold directly from removers and at onsets.org. Construction Stored Carbon certificates issued through the certification protocol can be sold on the voluntary carbon market to generate transition finance.
- Construction Stored Carbon Certificates: Carbon removal certificates for biobased construction projects, with certificates sold to companies and governments wanting to invest in nature-friendly, long-term CO2 storage. Minimum pricing mentioned at €150 per tonne of CO2.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Ambassador monthly contribution (voluntary) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Construction Stored Carbon Certificates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Climate Cleanup product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Climate Cleanup Foundation develops open certification frameworks and protocols (notably Oncra - Open Natural Carbon Removal Accounting) for quantifying, certifying, and registering nature-based carbon removal projects across four domains: Land, Construction, Ocean, and Rock. It sells certified carbon removal certificates to companies and governments seeking verified offsets and runs a 1500+ member Ambassador program that funds and supports the foundation's mission.
Product overview
Climate Cleanup operates as a foundation advancing nature-based carbon dioxide removal (Nature-based CDR) through a coordinated portfolio of certification frameworks, protocols, and software tools. The core product is ONCRA, an open carbon removal accounting framework that provides standards for quantification, certification, and registration of projects across four domains: Land, Construction, Ocean, and Rock. Supporting this platform are specialized protocols including the Ocean Stored Carbon (OSC) Protocol for ocean-based carbon removal and Construction Stored Carbon certification for the built environment. Climate Cleanup also provides calculation tools (Open Calculation Tool, Biobased Building Comparison Tool) and financial instruments (Construction Stored Carbon Certificates) that enable entrepreneurs and construction companies to quantify and monetize the carbon they store. The offerings work together to create a complete system for measuring, certifying, and trading nature-based carbon removal.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Oncra: Open Natural Carbon Removal Accounting framework enabling removal and storage of carbon dioxide with nature-based solutions. Provides certification for carbon removal projects across Land, Construction, Ocean, and Rock domains.
Products and services
- Oncra (Open Natural Carbon Removal Accounting) Open certification framework for quantifying, certifying, and registering nature-based carbon removal projects across Land, Construction, Ocean, and Rock domains, with CRCF alignment and open registry transparency.
- Ocean Stored Carbon (OSC) Protocol Methodology and certification protocol (currently v3) for quantifying and certifying ocean-based carbon removal projects, with Hajna Tijssen as lead author.
- Construction Stored Carbon Certification Certification program for carbon stored in construction materials and biobased building projects, led by Sacha Brons as Project Leader.
- Carbon Removal Certificates Sellable certified carbon removal units, including Construction Stored Carbon Certificates, issued to companies and governments seeking verified nature-based offsets at a minimum price of €150 per tonne.
- Ambassador Program Membership-based community program of 1500+ individuals contributing to support nature-based carbon removal, with voluntary monthly contributions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 584,521 tonnes CO2 quantified through Oncra certification (+221% YoY growth)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Climate Cleanup
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Climate Cleanup technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Climate Cleanup partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Province of North-HollandcoreOne of six Dutch provinces co-organizing the Nationale Top Natuurlijke Koolstofvastlegging (National Summit on Nature-Based Carbon Removal) in June 2026, demonstrating government commitment to accelerating natural carbon removal.
- Province of GelderlandcoreDutch province collaborating on national carbon removal initiatives and co-hosting the 2026 Nationale Top summit.
- Province of South-HollandcoreDutch province partnering on carbon removal certification and policy development, particularly for construction and biobased building initiatives.
- Province of UtrechtcoreDutch province participating in multi-province collaboration to accelerate natural carbon removal in the Netherlands.
- Province of DrenthecoreDutch province partner in the Interprovinciale Koolstofcoalitie (IPKC) and co-host of the 2026 Nationale Top.
- Province of Noord-BrabantcoreDutch province collaborating on natural carbon removal initiatives and participating in the national summit.
- Ballast Nedam DevelopmentcoreFirst construction and development company to financially value CO2 storage in residential projects and to market Construction Stored Carbon certificates. Signed collaboration agreement for carbon accounting of three development projects.
- Built by NaturecoreInitiative supporting construction-stored carbon monetization together with Good Energies Foundation, helping develop certification method for carbon storage in biobased construction.
- Good Energies FoundationcorePhilanthropic foundation co-funding the construction-stored carbon monetization initiative with Built by Nature to accelerate biobased construction.
- ASN BankcoreFinancial partner co-creating the Construction Stored Carbon metric with Climate Cleanup, enabling financial institutions to account for carbon stored in biobased buildings.
- Gideon Building Transition TribescorePartner in developing construction stored carbon methodology and hosting Construction Day at the Double Nature Summit, focusing on material transition in the building industry.
- OncracoreSteward-owned certification service and financing platform for nature-based carbon removal, built to align with EU CRCF. Originally incubated by Climate Cleanup, became legally independent in January 2026.
- Building BalancecoreOrganization setting up integrated value chains with farmers, processors, and builders for biobased building materials, contributing to climate-positive construction.
- Holland HoutlandminorPartner in developing the Bio-based Building Comparison Tool for comparing climate impacts of biobased versus regular construction materials.
- Nationaal GroenfondscoreDutch national green fund executing the Regeling Stimulering Vezelteelt (RSV) subsidy program for fiber crops used in biobased construction materials.
- Copper8minorConsultancy that co-authored a whitepaper on carbon sequestration in construction materials for Dutch markets and policymakers, with support from the municipality of Amsterdam.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Climate Cleanup competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Patch: Carbon credit API and marketplace enabling businesses to purchase verified credits programmatically. Comparable as a distribution layer for nature-based credits, though without the protocol-development depth of Oncra.
- Carbonfuture: Carbon removal registry and marketplace focused on biochar and durable removals, expanding into nature-based solutions. Comparable to Oncra as a vertically integrated registry + certificate marketplace for CDR projects.
- Regen Network: Blockchain-based registry for regenerative agriculture and ecosystem services credits. Direct overlap with Oncra's Land-domain certification work for soil carbon and agroforestry removal projects.
- KlimaDAO: Decentralized carbon marketplace infrastructure. Tangentially comparable to Climate Cleanup's onsets.org marketplace and Oncra registry in tokenizing/trading voluntary carbon credits, but with a radically different governance and technology model.
- Isometric: High-integrity carbon removal registry and verification platform backed by major corporate offtakers. Direct competitor in the CDR-certification layer that Climate Cleanup/Oncra targets, particularly for nature-based and novel pathways.
Direct peers
- Nori: Blockchain-based carbon removal marketplace and registry for nature-based and engineered removals. Comparable to Oncra in offering a transparent registry and removal certificate issuance for regenerative agriculture and soil carbon projects.
- Puro.earth: Carbon removal registry and methodology developer focused on biochar, enhanced weathering, and nature-based solutions. Most direct peer to Climate Cleanup/Oncra in certifying nature-based CDR and issuing removal certificates.
Broad incumbents
- South Pole Group: Large carbon project developer and consultancy offering nature-based solutions, advisory, and credit origination. Comparable to Climate Cleanup's role as an aggregator and certification facilitator, but at much larger commercial scale.
- Verra (VCS): Largest voluntary carbon standard and registry globally (VCS Program). Sets methodologies that Climate Cleanup/Oncra must compete with or align to for nature-based projects, particularly avoided deforestation and ARR.
- Gold Standard: Established voluntary carbon certification body focused on climate and sustainable development. Competes with Oncra for nature-based project certification and is widely adopted by corporate buyers in EU markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Climate Cleanup social profiles
Digital presenceClimate Cleanup compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Climate Cleanup financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Climate Cleanup leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Climate Cleanup subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Climate Cleanup funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Climate Cleanup 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 Climate Cleanup
What does Climate Cleanup do?
Climate Cleanup Foundation develops open certification frameworks and protocols (notably Oncra - Open Natural Carbon Removal Accounting) for quantifying, certifying, and registering nature-based carbon removal projects across four domains: Land, Construction, Ocean, and Rock. It sells certified carbon removal certificates to companies and governments seeking verified offsets and runs a 1500+ member Ambassador program that funds and supports the foundation's mission.
Is Climate Cleanup a public or private company?
Climate Cleanup is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Climate Cleanup founded?
Climate Cleanup was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Climate Cleanup based?
Climate Cleanup is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Climate Cleanup make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ambassador Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are carbon Removal Certificates and construction Stored Carbon Certificates.
Who are Climate Cleanup's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Patch, Carbonfuture, Regen Network, KlimaDAO and Isometric. Direct peers are Nori and Puro.earth. Broad incumbents are South Pole Group, Verra (VCS) and Gold Standard.
Does Climate Cleanup have an API?
No public API is recorded for Climate Cleanup.
What industry is Climate Cleanup in?
Climate Cleanup's product category is Carbon Removal Certification. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABAFAL, Carbon Removal Project Development, Financing & Offtake (Developers, Aggregators, Buyers Clubs), with a secondary code of EUABACAA, Voluntary Carbon Credit Verification & Validation (VCS/Gold Standard/ACR/CAR). Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 800.