Stenum

What Stenum does

Stenum is a private Austrian environmental consultancy founded in 1992 in Graz, providing resource efficiency, energy optimization, and cleaner production advisory services to manufacturing companies, public institutions, and municipalities. Its core offerings span Resource Efficiency and Process Optimization, Waste Management Concepts aligned with the EU Waste Hierarchy, Energy Efficiency and Audits (DIN EN 16247, ISO 50001), Integrated Management Systems (ISO 14001, EMAS), and the ECOPROFIT program—a low-threshold environmental management network originally co-developed with Graz University of Technology in 1991. Service delivery is grounded in a proprietary "Top-down / From Rough to Detailed" system analysis methodology, layered with thermodynamic-based material and energy balances, Six Sigma tools, and TRIZ problem-solving, and is supplemented by publications such as the PRE-SME training handbook for UNIDO/UNEP and books on Cleaner Production.

The business model is professional services, with no public pricing or subscription structure; engagements are negotiated per project scope and delivered directly by the consulting team. The go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, anchored by direct consulting engagements, workshops (ECOPROFIT clubs, RECP training), and international research collaborations. Stenum monetizes through consulting fees, funded research projects, training programs, and educational publications. Customers are predominantly enterprise-scale industrial firms (voestalpine, Zumtobel, Georg Fischer, pewag, Fresenius Kabi), with secondary public sector and municipal clients, and delivery extends internationally through UNIDO, UNEP, GIZ, EU-funded consortia, and university partnerships across roughly 40 countries.

Operationally, Stenum is a micro-firm (1–10 employees) built around two senior principals—Dr. Johannes Fresner (34 years of experience) and Christina Krenn (21 years)—whose personal reputations and institutional roles (e.g., UNIDO Senior Advisor) are the primary delivery mechanism. The company is privately held, has no disclosed funding, headcount growth, or M&A activity, and has maintained a stable, project-driven posture for more than three decades.

Name

Stenum

Legal name

STENUM Unternehmensberatung und Forschungsgesellschaft für Umweltfragen mbH

Website

https://stenum.com/

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stenum is an Austrian environmental consultancy founded in 1992 that helps manufacturing companies, public institutions, and municipalities improve resource efficiency, energy performance, and environmental management systems using its proprietary "Top-down" system analysis methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAJAF

EHS Management Systems & ISO Consulting (ISO 14001/45001)

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Consulting

SECONDARYEUAHAIAA

ISO 14001 Gap Assessment & Readiness

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Environmental Management Systems (EMS) & ISO 14001 Consulting

SECONDARYEUAHAIAF

Certification Support (Stage 1/2) & External Audit сопровождение

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Environmental Management Systems (EMS) & ISO 14001 Consulting

SECONDARYEUAHAIAD

Environmental Aspects/Impacts Register & Legal Register Development

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Environmental Management Systems (EMS) & ISO 14001 Consulting

SECONDARYEUAHAIAJ

Operational Controls, SOPs & Environmental Work Instructions

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Environmental Management Systems (EMS) & ISO 14001 Consulting

SECONDARYEUAHAIAK

Compliance Obligations Management (Permits-to-Controls Mapping)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Environmental Management Systems (EMS) & ISO 14001 Consulting

Keywords

• Environmental consulting services
• Resource efficiency consulting
• Energy management systems
• Cleaner production advisory
• Sustainability research

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

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. Management Consulting Services: Consulting engagements for resource efficiency, process optimization, waste management, and environmental management system implementation (ISO 14001, ISO 50001). Projects vary in scope from individual assessments to comprehensive system implementations.
2. Research Projects: Funded research collaborations with universities and companies on topics including industrial energy management, waste heat recovery, zero emission retrofitting, and sustainable manufacturing.
3. Training and Workshops: Conducting workshops including ECOPROFIT programs, RECP training, and custom seminars on resource efficiency and cleaner production.
4. Publications and Educational Materials: Published books including 'Ressourceneffizienz in der Produktion', 'Half is Enough', and PRE-SME training handbook developed for UNIDO and UNEP.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

STENUM GmbH is an Austrian environmental consultancy delivering resource efficiency, process optimization, waste management, energy efficiency/auditing, and integrated management system (ISO 14001, ISO 50001, EMAS) implementation services to manufacturing companies, public institutions, and municipalities. The firm applies a proprietary top-down system analysis methodology combined with material and energy balances, Six Sigma tools, TRIZ, and the ECOPROFIT framework originally co-developed with Graz University of Technology in 1991.

Product overview

STENUM is an environmental consultancy and research company (Unternehmensberatung und Forschungsgesellschaft für Umweltfragen) founded in 1992, offering a portfolio of consulting services organized around resource efficiency, process optimization, waste management, energy optimization, and integrated management systems. The core offerings include Resource Efficiency & Process Optimization Services (using system analysis and Six Sigma methodology), Waste Management Concepts (implementing the EU Waste Hierarchy), Energy Efficiency & Audits (ISO 50001 and DIN EN 16247 compliant), Integrated Management Systems (ISO 14001 and EMAS implementation), and ECOPROFIT (a low-threshold environmental management program originally developed with Graz University of Technology). Additionally, STENUM produces educational publications including the PRE-SME training handbook for UNIDO/UNEP, and books on Cleaner Production methodology. The company also conducts national and international research projects and participates in EU-funded international initiatives. All services follow a 'Top Down / Rough to Detailed' systemic approach using system analysis according to Vester methodology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Resource Efficiency and Process Optimization Services Consulting engagements that optimize consumption of water, materials, chemicals, and energy through systematic process optimization, material and energy balances, and Six Sigma methodology, delivered to manufacturing firms without compromising plant performance or product quality.
• Waste Management and Waste Management Concepts Advisory services that reduce hazardous and non-hazardous waste generation and ensure compliance with the EU Waste Hierarchy (prevention, reuse, recycling, energy recovery, disposal) and waste management regulations.
• Energy Efficiency and Energy Audits Energy optimization services including energy audits compliant with DIN EN 16247 and the Austrian Energy Efficiency Law, ISO 50001 energy management system implementation, carbon footprint preparation, and waste heat recovery planning.
• Integrated Management Systems Implementation (ISO 14001, ISO 50001, EMAS) Implementation support for environmental and energy management systems including ISO 14001, ISO 50001, and the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), covering gap analysis, documentation, internal audits, and certification preparation following the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle.
• ECOPROFIT Environmental Management Program
• PRE-SME Training Handbook (Promoting Resource Efficiency in SMEs) Industrial training handbook developed for UNIDO and UNEP to enable National Cleaner Production Centers to design workshops and trainings on resource efficiency concepts, the PDCA cycle, benchmarking, and five thematic modules for detailed assessments.
• Half is Enough – An Introduction to Cleaner Production (Book) Published book introducing Cleaner Production as a precautionary, company-specific approach to minimize emissions, waste, water and energy consumption, with practical tips, case studies, worksheets and checklists.
• Resource Efficiency in Production – Lowering Environmental Costs by Cleaner Production (Book) Second-edition book by Dr. Johannes Fresner covering approaches for decreasing energy demand, wastewater and waste at source, using mass and energy balancing combined with precautionary environmental principles.
• National and International Research Projects (INEMO, MAXREC, RADREC, STORC, ZERMEG, ZERMET, PiNE, SIMPLA, IUSES, PATRES, PRESOURCE) Collaborative funded research and consulting projects covering integrated energy management, waste heat utilization, radiant heat recovery, ORC plant development, zero emission galvanizing, zero emission textiles, sustainable planning, energy education, renewable energy, and SME energy audits.
• RECP and IEE Training and Certification (Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production, Industrial Energy Efficiency) Certified professional training and practitioner qualification programs delivered with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and other partners, covering RECP and Industrial Energy Efficiency content.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% waste reduction achieved at Johann Pengg AG through resource efficiency measures
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• United Circles ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025European project connecting 44 partners across 16 countries and 1 UN body. Focuses on zero-waste cities and decarbonized industries, connecting urban and industrial systems through Hubs4Circularity.
• Graz University of Technology (TU Graz)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Original STENUM working group established at Graz University of Technology. ECOPROFIT program was jointly developed in 1991 by the Graz Environment Agency and the former STENUM working group at TU Graz. Ongoing research collaboration on industrial energy efficiency and environmental management.
• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborations including development of PRE-SME training handbook, RECP training programs in Albania, Nigeria, and other countries. UNIDO Senior Advisor role held by Dr. Johannes Fresner.
• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development of PRE-SME (Promoting Resource Efficiency in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises) training handbook for national cleaner production centers.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOPROFIT South Africa program delivery in East London. Development of training curriculum and materials for in-house energy auditors.
• European Union (EU-funded projects)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple Horizon 2020 and Intelligent Energy Europe projects including SIMPLA, IUSES, PATRES, PiNE, and PRESOURCE focusing on energy efficiency and sustainable planning.
• Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Technology (Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned to produce comprehensive report on technological sovereignty and innovative energy technologies including photovoltaics, battery storage, hydrogen, heat pumps, wind energy, and recycling.
• Belgrade University of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreparation of handbook for implementation of energy efficiency in IPPC poultry and pig farms.
• Standards Organisation of NigeriaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration to ensure quality and relevance of RECP and IEE training course certification for Nigerian industry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): ERM is the world's largest pure-play environmental, health, safety, and sustainability consultancy. It is comparable as a broad incumbent offering EHS management system consulting, energy efficiency, and resource optimization services to industrial clients globally, though at vastly greater scale than Stenum.
• Sphera: Sphera provides EHS, sustainability, and operational risk management software and consulting, including ISO 14001/50001 advisory. It competes with Stenum in industrial EHS consulting and offers a more productized, technology-enabled delivery model.
• Ramboll: Ramboll is a global engineering, environmental, and sustainability consultancy with deep industrial decarbonization and resource efficiency practices. It is comparable as a broad incumbent serving manufacturing clients on EMS implementation, energy optimization, and circular economy, overlapping Stenum's industrial customer base.
• WSP Environment: WSP's environment and energy practices advise industrial and public-sector clients on EMS, climate, and resource efficiency. As a broad incumbent with strong EU presence, it competes for the same enterprise and municipal engagements Stenum targets.
• Arcadis: Arcadis is a global design, engineering, and sustainability consultancy with a sizable sustainability and climate advisory practice. It overlaps with Stenum on industrial EMS, energy efficiency, and circular-economy advisory for large manufacturers.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global TIC firm offering ISO 14001/50001/EMAS certification and related advisory. It is a broad incumbent that competes with Stenum's EMS implementation services and offers bundled certification that Stenum cannot self-deliver.
• DNV: DNV provides certification, verification, and advisory services including ISO 14001, ISO 50001, and energy management system implementation support. It overlaps with Stenum as a broad incumbent TIC player targeting the same European industrial customers.

Direct peers

• Anthesis Group: Anthesis is a sustainability consultancy advising corporates on environmental management, resource efficiency, and ESG strategy. It is a direct peer offering comparable EMS, energy, and cleaner-production advisory to industrial clients, often competing for the same enterprise programs.
• South Pole: South Pole is a climate and sustainability advisory firm helping companies reduce emissions and improve resource efficiency. It is a direct peer in industrial sustainability consulting, often co-bidding or competing with Stenum on EU-funded decarbonization projects.
• Carbon Trust: Carbon Trust is a climate and resource-efficiency consultancy supporting industrial energy and resource optimization. It is a direct peer offering comparable energy audits, EMS, and resource-efficiency advisory to manufacturers and public institutions.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
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Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Stenum