Leadership & Sustainability

What Leadership & Sustainability does

Leadership & Sustainability (legal entity: Leadership & Sustainability Karin Ekberg GmbH) is a Sommerhausen, Germany-based sustainability consulting firm founded in 2015 by Karin Ekberg. It serves enterprise clients primarily in the apparel, textile, footwear, and luxury goods sectors, with additional exposure to retail, electronics, manufacturing, mobility, finance, and food. The company delivers services across three pillars: Consulting (strategy, supply chain, chemicals management, sustainable business models), Empowerment (L&S Academy e-learning platform, webinars, training), and Software & Tools (resale of third-party sustainability platforms). Its core technical layer is not proprietary; L&S operates on and resells third-party standards platforms including Higg FEM (Cascale), SLCP, ZDHC, CleanChain, Better Cotton Chain of Custody, and Worldly's Axion climate risk tool. Verification and audit capacity is delivered through a network of 25+ qualified verifiers across Bangladesh, Turkey, China, Vietnam, India, Tunisia, and Cambodia, giving the firm on-the-ground presence in major apparel manufacturing geographies.

The business model is professional services-led. Revenue is generated from quoted consulting engagements (single-day workshops, starter packages, short projects, multi-year strategy projects, advisory board retainers, interim placements), fixed-price training and webinar programmes (e.g., ZDHC Chemical Management Fundamentals at USD 230 per seat on L&S Academy), third-party verification and audit fees (Higg FEM, SLCP, Better Cotton CoC), and reseller margins on sustainability software. The go-to-market is a hybrid of consultative enterprise sales, event-driven demand generation through an extensive webinar series, and self-serve appointment booking for free 30-minute consultations. Notable enterprise clients include ASICS, adidas Group, BSI, LEKI, Nobina, and Holy Fashion Group. In 2025 the firm achieved full APSCA membership, Better Cotton CoC certification body status in four countries, and Premium Consulting Partner status with Worldly, and was independently ranked the 3rd largest Higg FEM Verification Body globally by number of verifications.

Name

Leadership & Sustainability

Legal name

Leadership & Sustainability Karin Ekberg GmbH

Website

https://leadership-sustainability.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Leadership & Sustainability is a German sustainability consultancy serving apparel, textile, and footwear brands with strategy, supply chain, verification, and training services delivered through 25+ qualified verifiers across major manufacturing geographies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable & Responsible Supply Chain (ESG, Scope 3) (BPAHAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH), ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ), Supply Chain Sustainability & Responsible Sourcing (SMETA, supplier ESG) (EUAHAJAE)

Keywords

• Sustainability consulting
• Supply chain verification
• Chemical management services
• ESG strategy advisory
• Sustainability training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sommerhausen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Professional consulting services including sustainability strategy development, supply chain management, chemical management, assessments, and verifications. Engagement models include single-day workshops, starter packages, short projects, larger strategy projects, and ongoing advisory board membership.
2. Training and Webinars: Revenue generated from training programs including ZDHC Chemical Management Fundamentals (230 USD), Higg FEM training courses, SLCP training, and other sustainability topic webinars. Also includes free webinars as lead generation.
3. Verification and Audit Services: Third-party verification and audit services for Higg FEM, SLCP, Better Cotton Chain of Custody, and other sustainability standards. Conducted by qualified verifiers across multiple countries.
4. Software Reselling: Reseller of software solutions for sustainability, supply chain, lifecycle assessments, and communication.
5. Fixed Price Packages: High-level, high-density, short-term projects offered at fixed prices. Also includes interim positions (full-time or part-time) to fill organizational gaps.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Leadership & Sustainability provides sustainability consulting, third-party facility and supply chain verification, chemicals management advisory, and sustainability training/empowerment programs to apparel, textile, retail, and footwear brands and manufacturers. The firm also resells industry-standard sustainability software tools (such as Worldly/Higg and CleanChain) and operates the L&S Academy e-learning platform. Its verifiers conduct audits on-site across more than 14 countries for programs including Higg FEM, SLCP, Better Cotton, ZDHC and Detox to Zero.

Product overview

Leadership & Sustainability delivers a broad and deep spectrum of sustainability solutions through three core service pillars: Consulting Services (covering strategy, supply chain, manufacturing, operations, and communications), Empowerment Services (including L&S Academy e-learning platform and webinars), and Sustainable Business Models. The company also offers specialized verification services for Higg FEM, SLCP, and Better Cotton Chain of Custody, along with Chemicals Management Services and Software & Tools. Additional service modules include Cascale Services and supply chain sustainability solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• L&S Academy: E-Learning platform offering sustainability training courses including ZDHC Chemical Management Fundamentals and other sustainability topics

Products and services

• Sustainability Consulting Services
• Higg FEM Verification Services
• SLCP Verification Services
• Better Cotton Chain of Custody Audits
• ZDHC MRSL Conformance Verification
• Detox to Zero Verification
• Chemicals Management Services
• Supply Chain Sustainability Services
• Sustainable Business Models Advisory
• L&S Academy E-Learning Platform
• Empowerment / Training Services
• Software & Tools Resale
• Cascale Membership and Program Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced audit fatigue through SLCP single verified data set accepted across industry
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WorldlycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Premium Consulting Partner relationship. Worldly and Leadership & Sustainability collaborate on climate risk assessment tools, with L&S using World's Axion tool that combines supply chain data with 30+ global risk datasets. Joint webinars on decarbonization strategy and climate risk assessment.
• APSCA (Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Full member status achieved in 2025. APSCA-qualified auditors conduct all social audits ensuring globally recognized, reliable, and ethically sound results.
• SLCP (Social & Labor Convergence Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApproved SLCP Verifier Body supporting facilities worldwide with professional, impartial, and high-quality social and labor verifications. Active in the SLCP ecosystem.
• ZDHC (Roadmap to Zero)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive work within ZDHC framework. Offers ZDHC training courses, chemical management consulting, and InCheck verification services. ZDHC Supplier to Zero program support.
• Better CottoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccredited Better Cotton Chain of Custody Certification Body for Turkey, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Pakistan. Conducting third-party CoC audits and certification services.
• CascaleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member and engagement with Cascale (formerly SAC). Work within Higg FEM verification and Cascale services framework.
• CleanChainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint webinars on ZDHC Supplier to Zero chemical inventory data capture requirements. CleanChain platform integration for ZDHC InCheck insights.
• RetracedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint webinar collaboration on driving impact through data, collaboration, and strategy. Retraced provides traceability platform integrated with L&S consulting services.
• BSI (British Standards Institution)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrengthening partnership for sustainability standards and certification services.
• Textile ExchangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive membership and engagement with Textile Exchange for sustainable textile and apparel industry transformation.
• EOCA (European Outdoor Conservation Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive membership and engagement with EOCA for outdoor industry conservation efforts.
• PSCI (Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvancing work across PSCI framework and related standards.
• Cradle to CradleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvancing work in Cradle to Cradle certification for circular economy principles in textile industry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Anthesis Group: Boutique-to-mid-size pure-play sustainability consultancy delivering ESG, supply-chain and product sustainability services to apparel, retail and consumer goods brands — closely aligned with L&S's consulting and supply-chain sustainability strategy offering.
• Bluesign Technologies: Chemical management and sustainable textile certification provider widely used across apparel supply chains. Adjacent competitor to L&S's ZDHC chemical management and supply-chain sustainability services.
• SCS Global Services: Independent third-party certification, auditing and testing firm active in textiles, sustainability claims and chain-of-custody programs. Comparable to L&S's Better Cotton CoC, ZDHC and verification work.

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection and certification giant with a sizeable sustainability services practice. Competes with L&S for Higg FEM, SLCP and social audit mandates and serves the same apparel/textile/retail enterprise buyers, though sustainability is one of many lines of business.
• Intertek: Global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) provider with sustainability, supply-chain assurance and social compliance offerings. Directly comparable to L&S in third-party verification and textile/apparel supply-chain work.
• SGS: Leading global inspection, verification, testing and certification company offering sustainability, social compliance and supply-chain assurance services. Overlaps with L&S across Higg FEM/SLCP-style verifications and broader ESG advisory.
• TÜV SÜD: International certification and testing body running sustainability, ESG and social compliance programs. Competes with L&S for supply-chain sustainability audits and certification mandates in apparel/retail.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): Global sustainability consultancy providing ESG strategy, supply-chain sustainability and climate advisory to corporate clients. Overlaps with L&S on the consulting/strategy side and on apparel/textile and retail accounts.

Others

• Cascale (formerly Sustainable Apparel Coalition): Industry coalition that owns the Higg suite and the standard against which L&S verifies facilities. Not a direct competitor, but a closely coupled ecosystem partner whose standard L&S is accredited to verify against.

Emerging players

• Impact Buying: Specialist sustainable supply-chain and supplier engagement consultancy serving apparel and retail buyers. Comparable to L&S on supply-chain sustainability strategy and supplier engagement services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@leadershipsustainability4506

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles33 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 Leadership & Sustainability