De Groene Pluim

What De Groene Pluim does

De Groene Pluim (Stichting De Groene Pluim) is a Dutch non-profit foundation headquartered in Dorst, municipality of Oosterhout, Netherlands, that operates a sustainability accreditation and community network across the country. The foundation accredits companies demonstrating excellence in sustainable and socially responsible entrepreneurship against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 8, 12, 13, and 17), issuing the Groene Pluim ('Green Feather') designation after an audit and accreditation visit. It maintains a two-tier membership model: businesses can register as 'believers' (participants) or be nominated by partnering municipalities for full Pluimhouder (Feather Holder) status. The network currently comprises 722 participating businesses and 122 accredited Pluimhouders spanning family-owned SMBs, mid-market firms, and large Dutch enterprises such as Efteling, Tarkett, Zeeuwse Reinigingsdienst, and Takkenkamp Groep.

The foundation's core offering is a community-led accreditation and engagement program rather than a technology product. Programming consists of an audit-based certification, the podcast 'Met de Pluim op tafel', company-visit events, and an annual gathering (most recently held at Efteling in October 2025 with approximately 100 attendees). Distribution operates through 35 partnering Dutch municipalities ranging from Baarle-Nassau to Amsterdam, which actively nominate local businesses and co-host ceremonies. The organization is led by Chairman Peter van den Eijnden and is governed as a foundation (Stichting) without equity ownership.

The business model is subscription-recurring in nature, with revenue derived from participation fees paid by member businesses and municipalities, supplemented by event and ecosystem engagement value. There is no publicly disclosed pricing, no funding history, and no parent company. Marketing and outreach rely on owned digital channels (degroenepluim.nl, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram), earned local media coverage, and the municipal partnership channel. De Groene Pluim is not a typical venture-backed technology company; it is a regional sustainability ecosystem platform whose growth is organic and tied to Dutch municipal participation.

Name

De Groene Pluim

Legal name

Stichting De Groene Pluim

Website

https://degroenepluim.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

De Groene Pluim is a Dutch non-profit foundation that accredits and networks sustainable businesses through a municipal-endorsed program, serving 722 participating companies, 122 accredited Pluimhouders, and 35 partnering municipalities across the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Certification Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAB

Community Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAKAM

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

Keywords

• Sustainability accreditation
• Corporate sustainability certification
• Municipality partnership network
• Sustainability recognition program
• Business sustainability award

Headquarters

HQ city

Dorst (Gemeente Oosterhout)

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Network membership and accreditation program: De Groene Pluim operates as a foundation that earns revenue through participation fees from businesses and municipalities joining the network. The organization facilitates connections between municipalities and sustainable businesses, with companies either registering as believers (participants) or being nominated for the Groene Pluim accreditation. The network drives visibility for accredited companies, creating a reputational and community value proposition rather than a transactional revenue model.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stichting De Groene Pluim is a Dutch non-profit foundation that accredits and recognizes businesses demonstrating excellence in sustainable and socially responsible entrepreneurship. Companies are nominated by partner municipalities, undergo an accreditation audit, and upon approval receive the "Groene Pluim" (Green Feather) credential aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The foundation also operates a peer network of 722+ participating companies, an annual gathering, company-visit events, and the "Met de Pluim op Tafel" podcast.

Product overview

De Groene Pluim is a Dutch sustainability certification program that recognizes companies demonstrating excellence in sustainable and socially responsible entrepreneurship. The organization operates as a network connecting municipalities and businesses, offering accredited certification, knowledge-sharing podcasts, and networking events. Companies receive the Groene Pluim after an accreditation audit assessing their performance on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Groene Pluim Accreditation Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 722 businesses participate as believers in the Groene Pluim network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EftelingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Efteling (attraction park in Kaatsheuvel) became a Groene Pluimhouder in 2024 and hosted the annual 2025 gathering of De Groene Pluim, bringing together approximately 100 Groene Pluimhouders and municipality representatives for knowledge sharing and networking.
• TarkettminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTarkett (flooring and materials company in Waalwijk) hosted a Groene Pluim company visit event 'Beauty of Circularity' on 3 March, sharing knowledge about circular economy practices with the Groene Pluim network.
• Gemeente RoosendaalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality of Roosendaal is an active partner of De Groene Pluim, with wethouder Toine Theunis facilitating connections between the municipality and local businesses for sustainability initiatives including solar panels on industrial rooftops and green deal collaborations.
• Gemeente WaalwijkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaalwijk partners with De Groene Pluim as part of its Green Deal collaboration with neighboring municipalities Loon op Zand and Tilburg. The municipality aims for energy neutrality by 2043 and is building a hydrogen platform for the logistics sector.
• Gemeente TilburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTilburg collaborates through the Midden-Brabantse Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij voor Energie en Duurzaamheid (MOED), a public-private partnership within Midpoint Brabant, working with businesses, education, and government on energy savings and sustainable energy generation.
• Gemeente BredacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreda has been a long-standing partner since 2008, investing €21 million in sustainability of municipal buildings, facilitating electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and collaborating on European projects to support business parks in sustainability.
• 35 Dutch Municipalities (Alphen-Chaam, Altena, Amsterdam, Baarle-Nassau, Bergen op Zoom, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk, Borsele, Breda, Bronckhorst, Deurne, Dordrecht, Etten-Leur, Geertruidenberg, Gilze en Rijen, Goes, Halderberge, Helmond, Loon op Zand, Maashorst, Moerdijk, Oisterwijk, Oosterhout, Roosendaal, Rucphen, Son en Breugel, Steenbergen, Terneuzen, Tholen, Tilburg, Veere, Waalwijk, Woensdrecht)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner35 Dutch municipalities actively partner with De Groene Pluim, promoting the network to local businesses, nominating companies for accreditation, and participating in award ceremonies. The municipalities range from small (Baarle-Nassau) to large (Amsterdam, Tilburg, Breda).
• Stichting AANtWerkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe director of Wiltec (a Groene Pluimhouder) is co-founder and board member of this platform where employers inspire each other on inclusive entrepreneurship and demonstrate that hiring people with a distance to the labor market goes hand in hand with successful business.
• Schone Rivieren AlliantieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZeeuwse Reinigingsdienst (ZRD), a Groene Pluimhouder, is a partner of the Schone Rivieren Alliantie (Clean Rivers Alliance), contributing to making rivers plastic-free.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Keurmerk Duurzaam Erfgoed: Dutch sustainability quality mark for heritage/maintenance projects. Comparable as a Dutch audit-driven sustainability label, but narrower in scope (heritage).
• GreenStar Hotels: Dutch sustainability certification for hotels and hospitality. Comparable as a Dutch sustainability accreditation/label, but vertical-specific to hospitality (overlaps with Pluimhouders like Landal and Efteling).

Direct peers

• MVO Nederland: Dutch CSR/sustainable entrepreneurship network that supports companies on sustainability agendas. Highly comparable because it is a Dutch community-led platform connecting businesses around sustainability, overlapping with De Groene Pluim's value proposition.
• CO2 Performance Ladder (Stichting Klimaatvriendelijk Aanbesteden & Ondernemen): Dutch certification for CO2 reduction used in procurement and supply chains. Comparable as a Dutch sustainability accreditation with an audit-driven process, though focused specifically on CO2 rather than broader SDGs.
• Nudge (Nudge Sustainability): Dutch sustainability platform that connects businesses with sustainability tools and partners. Comparable as a Dutch sustainability intermediary for SMEs, with similar community/networking content.
• SMK (Stichting Milieukeur): Dutch foundation offering environmental quality labels and certifications (Milieukeur). Comparable as a Dutch non-profit certification body with an audited product/process credential.
• Lean & Green (Connekt): Dutch program for logistics companies to reduce CO2 emissions, with multi-star certification. Comparable because it is a Dutch audited sustainability credential; several current Pluimhouders (e.g., E. van Wijk) also hold Lean & Green, indicating direct overlap.
• EKO (Skal Biocontrole): Dutch foundation certifying organic products. Comparable as a Dutch non-profit certification body with an accreditation process, focused on a different (organic) sustainability dimension.

Regional players

• VBDO (Vereiniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling): Dutch platform advancing sustainable business practices, including benchmarks and investor engagement. Comparable as a Dutch sustainability-focused intermediary, though VBDO centers on investors rather than municipalities.

Broad incumbents

• B Lab (B Corporation): Global non-profit certifying B Corps with rigorous sustainability and social impact standards. Comparable to De Groene Pluim in the accreditation/community model, but operates globally and with a much heavier, more resource-intensive audit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groenepluim
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/de-groene-pluim

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 De Groene Pluim