Zukunftskreis Nachhaltigkeit

What Zukunftskreis Nachhaltigkeit does

Zukunftskreis Nachhaltigkeit³ (ZN³) is a free, voluntary sustainability network — explicitly a "freies Netzwerk" with no legal entity, no commercial registration, and no formal membership structure — that unites sustainability officers, managing directors, and executives from companies and organizations in the Bergisches Städtedreieck region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (Wuppertal, Solingen, Remscheid). The basic idea originated in March 2017, and in autumn 2019 twenty founding member companies jointly hosted an entrepreneur evening to recruit further participants; the network now lists more than 40 member organizations spanning insurance (BarmeniaGothaer, BARMER), manufacturing (Storch-Ciret, Coroplast, Gedore, item Industrietechnik, Vaillant, KNIPEX), retail (Walbusch), facilities management (Vebego), utilities (WSW, Stadtwerke Solingen), public sector (Wirtschaftsförderung Wuppertal, the three city administrations), research (Wuppertal Institut), and consultancies (Neue Effizienz).

Operationally, ZN³ does not run a proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint is limited to a publicly accessible website (znhoch3.de) and a LinkedIn company profile. Engagement is delivered through quarterly in-person rotating meetings hosted by member organizations, monthly digital lunch breaks ("digitale Mittagspause"), monthly informal sustainability pub nights ("Stammtisch"), and seven thematic working groups (Aufgabenkreise) covering decarbonization, mobility, tree planting, events, marketing/PR, legal form, and social topics. Coordinated day-to-day by three contact persons who are employees of member firms — Stephan Bongwald (BarmeniaGothaer), Nils Schülke (Storch-Ciret Group), and Jennifer Träptau (E/D/E) — and steered by a Strategiekreis composed of member representatives, the network explicitly decided to remain an unincorporated free network governed only by a voluntary self-commitment declaration (freiwillige Selbstverpflichtung).

ZN³ generates no revenue and charges no fees. All activity is funded through in-kind contributions from member companies (hosting venues, staff time, communications support) and individual voluntary engagement. The stated mission is to provide mutual peer-level inspiration on sustainability management, to share practical sustainability journeys across member organizations, and to adapt successful initiatives between regional companies.

Name

Zukunftskreis Nachhaltigkeit

Legal name

Zukunftskreis Nachhaltigkeit³

Website

https://znhoch3.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Free voluntary sustainability network in Germany's Bergisches Städtedreieck (Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid), uniting 40+ companies and organizations to exchange peer-level sustainability knowledge through quarterly meetings, working groups, and digital formats; no legal entity, no commercial revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Networking Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

GHG Accounting & Net-Zero/Decarbonization Planning (Scopes 1–3) (EUAHAJAC), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Sustainability network
• Regional collaboration
• Peer networking
• Knowledge exchange
• Voluntary coalition

Headquarters

HQ city

Wuppertal

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership-based voluntary network: ZN³ operates as a free, non-incorporated network ("freies Netzwerk") with no formal legal structure, no membership fees, and no commercial revenue streams. Participation is voluntary and cost-free for all member companies and organizations. The network's activities are driven by in-kind contributions and voluntary engagement from participants. There is no revenue generation; the organization functions through voluntary self-commitment of its members.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Zukunftskreis Nachhaltigkeit is a free, voluntary sustainability network without legal entity status, founded in March 2017 and serving 40+ member organizations across Wuppertal, Solingen, and Remscheid (the Bergisches Städtedreieck) in Germany. It convenes regional companies, public institutions, and other stakeholders around sustainability themes via working groups, periodic in-person meetings, and online lunch-break sessions to facilitate peer knowledge exchange and joint projects such as decarbonization, sustainable mobility, and tree planting.

Product overview

Zukunftskreis Nachhaltigkeit³ (ZN³) is a sustainability network of companies and organizations in the Bergisches Städtedreieck region (Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid). It is not a product or service company but rather a collaborative network that facilitates knowledge exchange, joint projects, and sustainability initiatives among its member organizations. The network organizes regular quarterly meetings, thematic working groups (Aufgabenkreise), digital lunch sessions, and networking events to promote sustainable practices among regional businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Network Membership (Mitgliedschaft im Zukunftskreis) Free, voluntary participation in a regional peer network of 40+ member organizations in the Bergisches Städtedreieck (Wuppertal, Solingen, Remscheid) focused on sustainability knowledge exchange.
• Network Meetings (Netzwerktreffen) Periodic in-person gatherings for member organizations across the Bergisches Städtedreieck to exchange sustainability knowledge and best practices.
• Digital Lunch Break Sessions

Quantifiable outcome

• As the first company in the painting tools industry, Storch-Ciret Group achieved SBTi-validated climate targets (October 2025) with a Net-Zero goal by 2050, shared through ZN³'s digital lunch format.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Circular ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026ZN³ participated collectively at the Circular Valley Convention (April 2026), displaying its banner at the shared stand of Wirtschaftsförderung Wuppertal. Multiple ZN³ members were present at the Convention, including Local Life (regional vending machines), Neue Effizienz, and Gebäudemanagement Wuppertal. The partnership raises visibility for circular economy topics.
• CBS University of Applied Sciences SolingenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026ZN³ was represented at the 2nd CBS Sustainability Congress in April 2026. CBS Solingen provides an academic platform for exchange on sustainability topics. ZN³ participants Stadt Solingen, Neue Effizienz, Circular Valley, and item Industrietechnik GmbH presented at the congress.
• KNIPEXminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2026KNIPEX, a ZN³ member company, is among the first organizations to actively participate in bergisch.move, enabling its employees to use the carpooling platform. Barbara Meimeth from KNIPEX shared initial experiences at ZN³'s digital lunch.
• CIRKULÆR by Daria SchneidercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Daria Schneider of CIRKULÆR is one of four persons responsible for the ZN³ website (alongside Anna Mader, Charlotte Suttmeyer, and Wolf-Nicolas Henkels). CIRKULÆR hosted the March 2026 network meeting at Studio One Coworking GmbH, featuring the 'Superpower Speed-Dating' format.
• Neue Effizienz gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Neue Effizienz is a central member and organizational supporter of ZN³. Jochen Stiebel serves on the Strategy Circle. Anna Mader maintains the website. Amanda Steinborn and Neue Effizienz co-organized the BBNE Lobby Fachtag and co-staffed the ZN³ booth. Neue Effizienz also presented bergisch.move, a regional carpooling platform, at ZN³ events.
• Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Wuppertal Institut is a member organization with Thomas Adisorn and Lena Tholen serving as Nachhaltigkeitsbeauftragte. They participate in the Decarbonization working group and contribute scientific expertise to network discussions.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Wuppertal AöRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Wirtschaftsförderung Wuppertal (Theresa Schnepp, Project Manager Sustainability) is a member and co-organizer of ZN³ events. The economic development agency provides a shared exhibition stand at the Circular Valley Convention and supports the Q3 2026 network meeting. It aims to help companies develop sustainable strategies.
• Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025The Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal serves as a regular venue for ZN³ events. Heike Topole and Sabrina Conrads coordinate the Events working group from the Stadthalle. The venue hosted the ZN³ Christmas event in December 2025, including a charity craft afternoon for children.
• RIEDEL CommunicationsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025RIEDEL Communications sponsored craft materials for the children's craft afternoon at the Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal in December 2025, organized as part of ZN³'s community engagement.
• Bergische Industrie- und Handelskammer (Bergische IHK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2017The Bergische IHK is a key regional partner. ZN³ participated in the Bergische IHK summer reception (June 2026), one of the largest regional business events with over 1,000 guests. The IHK provides a platform for ZN³ visibility among the broader regional business community.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft: Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft is a German foundation uniting major energy-intensive industries on the path to climate neutrality. Compared to ZN³, it focuses on a narrower decarbonization agenda at national scale and uses a foundation structure with fundraising capability.

Direct peers

• B.A.U.M. e.V. B.A.U.M. is Germany's leading network for sustainable management, uniting companies, municipalities, and individuals around environmental and social responsibility. Like ZN³, it is a member-driven, working-group-style sustainability network — but national in scope with decades of formal organizing experience.
• econsense - Forum Nachhaltige Entwicklung der Deutschen Wirtschaft: econsense is a German sustainability forum bringing together large companies and industry associations to advance sustainable development. It mirrors ZN³ in being a member-led multi-stakeholder network for sustainability exchange among German enterprises, but operates at national corporate scale rather than regional.
• UN Global Compact Network Germany: The UN Global Compact Network Germany convenes German companies around the UN Global Compact principles and the SDGs. Like ZN³, it is a multi-stakeholder network driving practical sustainability action, but with a formal UN affiliation and national scope instead of a regional focus.

Emerging players

• CSCP (Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Production and Consumption): CSCP is a research and collaboration organization based in Wuppertal working with businesses on sustainable production and consumption. It shares ZN³'s regional grounding in the Bergisches Städtedreieck and its mission of advancing sustainability via business engagement, but operates as a research/consulting entity rather than a peer network.
• Klima-Allianz Deutschland: Klima-Allianz Deutschland is a coalition of over 140 civil society, church, environmental, and social organizations advocating for ambitious climate policy. Compared to ZN³, it is advocacy-led rather than business-led, and operates nationally with a more political framing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/znhoch3
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZNHOCH3

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Zukunftskreis Nachhaltigkeit