Cradle to Cradle NGO

Name

Cradle to Cradle NGO

Legal name

Cradle to Cradle – Wiege zur Wiege e.V.

Website

https://c2c.ngo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

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. Donations and Sponsoring: The NGO receives financial support through individual donations and corporate sponsorships.
2. Membership Fees (Fördermitglied): Recurring membership fees from supporting members who join as Fördermitglieder (sustaining members).
3. Event Revenue: Revenue from organizing the annual International C2C Congress, C2C Summit, LAB Talks, C2C Forum, and other educational events.
4. C2C Fortbildungen (Training): Fees from professional training programs including fundamental courses, interactive workshops, and deep-dive formats for businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cradle to Cradle NGO is a non-profit organization that accelerates the adoption of the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) design concept — a circular economy framework in which materials circulate safely in biological (Biosphere) or technical (Technosphere) cycles. The organization delivers its mission through paid professional training, ticketed congresses and events, an educational center and real-world laboratory (C2C LAB), volunteer training programs, exhibitions, and policy advocacy.

Product overview

Cradle to Cradle NGO is a non-profit organization that serves as an accelerator for Cradle to Cradle principles, connecting business, science, education, politics, culture, and civil society. The organization does not offer a single software product but rather a portfolio of educational programs, events, and initiatives designed to drive the transition to a circular economy. The core offerings include the International C2C Congress (the world's largest C2C platform), the C2C LAB (a real-world laboratory and educational center in Berlin), the C2C Akademie (volunteer training program), various event formats (LAB Talks, Forums, Summits), professional training courses, traveling exhibitions, the C2C Electronics Initiative for circular electronics, and regional networks. Additionally, the organization publishes policy briefings and educational materials. The portfolio also includes volunteer programs with approximately 800 active volunteers in the DACH region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• C2C LAB: An educational center, NGO head office, and real-world laboratory in Berlin — the world's first renovation of an existing building based on Cradle to Cradle criteria.
• C2C Congress
• C2C Akademie
• C2C Electronics Initiative
• LAB Talk
• C2C Forum
• C2C Ausstellung / Kreis statt Krise

Products and services

• Internationaler C2C Congress The annual International C2C Congress is the world's largest Cradle to Cradle platform, bringing together up to 1,000 participants per year from business, politics, science, and civil society for exchange and networking on circular economy. The 10th edition is scheduled for September 2026 in Berlin.
• C2C LAB A real-world laboratory in Berlin that serves as an educational center, the NGO's head office, and a demonstration site for Cradle to Cradle principles in practice. The world's first renovation of an existing building based on Cradle to Cradle criteria.
• C2C Akademie Multi-day educational format for the NGO's ~800 volunteers, featuring workshops, inputs, and discussions focused on advanced training and networking in Cradle to Cradle principles. Participation is free of charge with a €60 food contribution.
• C2C Fortbildungen Three professional training formats offered to companies: basic knowledge transfer, interactive multi-hour workshops, and two-day deep-dive sessions covering Cradle to Cradle implementation.
• C2C Ausstellung 'Kreis statt Krise' A traveling exhibition showcasing how Cradle to Cradle principles can create a livable future: climate-positive instead of climate-neutral, healthy products instead of resource scarcity. Available for regions and events.
• C2C Science Sprechstunde Science consultation service providing expert guidance on C2C-related questions to professionals and organizations.
• C2C Electronics Initiative (C2CEI) A platform bringing together companies, science, and civil society to implement circular electronics following C2C principles: cycle-capable, resource-positive, and future-proof. Co-founded with Bertelsmann Stiftung and Röchling Stiftung.
• C2C Forum A public exchange platform for all C2C-interested parties, featuring discussions on selected topics with first-hand C2C knowledge from various sectors.
• C2C Summit Day-long event bringing together actors from various industries, politicians, and representatives from science and civil society to discuss selected topics and share experiences in implementing Cradle to Cradle.
• Netzwerk C2C Regionen A network of C2C regions promoting the implementation of Cradle to Cradle principles across different geographic areas in Germany and beyond.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• C2C Electronics Initiative Partners (Boston Consulting Group, C2CCertified, Engagement Global, EPEA, Free Software Foundation Europe, Interzero, Koorvi, Liebherr Hausgeräte, MediaMarktSaturn, Next Incubator, Repartly, Shiftphones, Sym, TU Berlin, University of Twente, WIK Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The C2C Electronics Initiative brings together companies, science, and civil society to implement circular electronics according to C2C principles: resource-positive, future-proof. The initiative aims to make C2C in electronics the norm rather than the exception. Launched with approximately 15 founding partners including major corporations, universities, and NGOs. The initiative is designed for three years and remains open for project ideas and other partnerships.
• E.ON FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with E.ON Foundation to publish the report 'Energie & Cradle to Cradle: Zirkuläre Energiesysteme mit positivem Beitrag für Strom, Wärme und Verkehr' (Energy & C2C: Circular Energy Systems with Positive Contribution for Electricity, Heat, and Transport).
• Bertelsmann StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded the C2C Electronics Initiative together with Röchling Stiftung and Cradle to Cradle NGO.
• Röchling StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded the C2C Electronics Initiative together with Bertelsmann Stiftung and Cradle to Cradle NGO.
• C2C LABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's first renovation of an existing building based on Cradle to Cradle criteria. Serves as educational center, NGO head office, and real-world laboratory where C2C principles are implemented in practice. Features a community hub opened in March 2025.
• C2C CongresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual International Cradle to Cradle Congress - the world's largest C2C platform since 2014, bringing together approximately 1,000 participants from business, politics, science, and society.
• Netzwerk C2C RegionenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork connecting C2C regions across Germany and beyond, promoting the implementation of circular economy principles at regional level.
• Labor TempelhofmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA transformation project and real-world laboratory for circular economy practices.
• LAB Partner (C2C LAB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners associated with the C2C LAB facility, contributing to the real-world demonstration of C2C principles.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): US-based independent non-profit working on energy and resource transformation with foundations and corporate partners. Comparable as a high-credibility, foundation-funded, donor-supported think-and-do tank that pairs deep research with corporate advisory.
• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): One of Germany's largest environmental NGOs with 900,000+ members and significant policy influence. Comparable as a German-domiciled environmental advocacy and education organization, but operates at much larger scale and across broader environmental topics beyond circular economy.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization producing influential environmental datasets (CAIT, Aqueduct) and policy frameworks. Comparable as a non-profit producing flagship annual publications, partner-driven corporate programs, and policy engagement — but at much larger scale and broader scope.
• BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland): Major German environmental NGO with strong federal policy advocacy and grassroots volunteer structure. Comparable operating model (membership-funded, volunteer-driven, policy + education focus), though its scope is broader environmental protection rather than circular-economy specific.

Direct peers

• B Lab Global: Non-profit behind the B Corp certification, driving sustainable business transformation through standards, community, and advocacy. Highly analogous business model: NGO-administered certification, community mobilization, paid training for companies, and policy engagement — but with a global footprint.
• Circle Economy: Amsterdam-based impact organization operating the Circularity Gap Reporting framework and circular economy advisory services. Comparable in producing flagship annual reports (Circularity Gap Report vs. C2C Congress), corporate training, and policy advocacy for circular transitions.
• Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute: The independent, product-focused non-profit that administers the global Cradle to Cradle Certified product standard — the most direct peer, as both organizations operate within the same C2C ecosystem, sharing founders/standards DNA and competing for the same corporate and policy attention.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Leading global circular economy foundation running the World Economic Forum-aligned circular economy program with major corporate partners (Google, H&M, Philips). Highly comparable mission, multi-stakeholder convening model, and education/training programming — but at significantly larger scale and international reach.

Emerging players

• GermanZero: Hamburg-based climate-policy NGO focused on translating the Paris Agreement into binding German law. Comparable as a younger, mission-driven, volunteer-amplified German environmental NGO with a strong policy-briefing output, though its focus is climate rather than circular economy.

Regional players

• Sitra (Finnish Innovation Fund): Finland's parliamentary-funded future-oriented think tank running one of Europe's most active circular economy programs. Comparable in operating a circular-economy program stream with corporate partners and producing high-profile reports, but government-funded rather than donation-funded.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLhQUfZi8w2f6efSaJohBsg
• Facebookfacebook.com/C2C.eV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cradle-to-cradle-ngo
• Instagraminstagram.com/cradletocradle.ngo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cradle to Cradle NGO