Ekologi brez meja / Ecologists Without Borders Association

What Ekologi brez meja / Ecologists Without Borders Association does

Ekologi brez meja (Ecologists Without Borders Association) is a Slovenian non-profit environmental organization headquartered in Ljubljana that has been active since at least 2010, with its Zero Waste program celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2024. The organization focuses on waste prevention through three interlocking activities: public awareness campaigns, activation of citizens and organizations, and policy advocacy. Its core programs include the Zero Waste Slovenia network (19 certified municipalities covering 25% of Slovenia's population), the Očistimo Slovenijo cleanup campaign (270,000+ participants across 2010 and 2012 actions), and the Očistimo Slovenijo digitalnih odpadkov digital-waste-deletion campaign (234,000 GB deleted over three years by 3,640 individuals and 78 groups). The organization also operates digital portals including the Ločevalnik odpadkov waste-separation guide, the Manj je več consumer-facing portal, and the Register divjih odlagališč illegal-dumpsite register documenting 11,394 sites.

The organization's product portfolio spans digital platforms, physical products (reusable cups and ecological island marking flags for events), educational handbooks (Zero Waste Handbook, Communication Handbook, Restaurant Sustainability Guidelines), and fee-based services including lectures, workshops, team-building activities, municipality and tourism certification support, and IT services for NGOs. Pricing is unit-based and publicly disclosed: lectures range €190-€390 per school hour, municipality workshops €600-€1,200 per session, reusable cups €0.50 purchase or €0.10 rental. Revenue is generated through three streams: professional services and consulting fees, donations (with the Slovenian 1% income tax designation mechanism), and EU/government project grants including Erasmus+, European Climate Pact, and Laudes Foundation funding. Customers span municipalities, tourism and hospitality businesses (hotels, restaurants, event organizers), schools, and educational institutions.

The organization holds strategic roles as Slovenia's national coordinator for European Climate Pact activities and as mentor/auditor in Mission Zero Academy's European zero waste certification framework, while serving as the Slovenian member of Zero Waste Europe (a network of 31 national organizations and 400+ local communities). Key partnerships include Spar Slovenija and Lidl Slovenija in retail, Ribno Alpine Resort as a flagship three-star zero waste tourism property, and the City of Ljubljana as the first European capital pursuing zero waste status. Operating with 7-11 staff and led by President Katja Sreš and General Secretary Jaka Kranjc, the organization is governed as an independent association (društvo) with no parent company and no external investment.

Name

Ekologi brez meja / Ecologists Without Borders Association

Legal name

Društvo Ekologi brez meja

Website

https://ebm.si

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Slovenian non-profit environmental organization operating the Zero Waste Slovenia program, providing consulting, certification, digital waste-separation tools, and educational services to municipalities, tourism businesses, schools, and event organizers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Non-Profit Services (Zero Waste Consulting and Certification)

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Tour Operators (56152), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Pollution Prevention, Chemicals & Waste (incl. Plastics) (BPADALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Event & Venue Waste Collection (Short-Term) (BPALAAAF), Eco-Certification, Auditing & Standards (Green Lodging, Tour Operator Certification) (THAAANAA), Waste Management & Hazardous Waste Compliance (RCRA, Universal Waste, Waste Characterization/Manifests) (EUAHABAC)

Keywords

• Zero waste consulting
• Environmental NGO services
• Waste management certification
• Municipality sustainability programs
• Circular economy training

Headquarters

HQ city

Ljubljana

HQ country

Slovenia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Services and Consulting: Fees for training, workshops, consulting, and certification support services for municipalities, schools, businesses, and event organizers
2. Donations and Memberships: Individual donations and corporate sponsorships; 1% income tax donation option available for individuals; legal entities can donate as tax-deductible charitable contributions up to 1% of taxable income
3. EU and Government Project Funding: European project grants (Erasmus+, EU funds) and government ministry transfers for specific environmental programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Ekologi brez meja is a Slovenian non-profit association that delivers zero waste consulting, training, and certification services to municipalities, schools, tourism businesses, and event organizers, alongside a portfolio of awareness platforms (Zero Waste Slovenia portal, Manj je več portal, Ločevalnik odpadkov guide, Register divjih odlagališč) and physical products such as reusable cups and marking flags for events. Its commercial activity centers on paid lectures, workshops, certification consulting, and IT services for NGOs, while its non-commercial activity encompasses EU project delivery, advocacy, and national coordination for the European Climate Pact.

Product overview

Ekologi brez meja (Ecologists Without Borders Association) is a Slovenian non-profit environmental organization that operates a portfolio of programs, platforms, and services centered on zero waste and circular economy. Its primary digital offerings include the Zero Waste Slovenia web portal (a hub for municipalities, tourism, and events), the Manj je več consumer-facing portal, the Ločevalnik odpadkov waste separation guide, and the Register divjih odlagališč wild dump site register. The organization also produces physical products (reusable cups and event marking flags), publishes educational handbooks (Zero Waste Handbook, Zero Waste Communication Handbook, Restaurant Sustainability Guidelines), and delivers fee-based consulting/training services including lectures, team-building activities, Zero Waste municipality certification support, Zero Waste tourism certification support, and IT services for NGOs. Its work is organized under the Zero Waste Slovenia initiative, which connects municipalities, tourism businesses, and event organizers through a shared zero waste framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zero Waste Slovenija: Sub-brand for zero waste certification and certification programs for municipalities, tourism operators, and events

Products and services

• Consulting and Training Services (Storitve svetovanja in usposabljanja) Fee-based consulting and training services including in-person and online environmental lectures (€190-€390 per school hour), team-building games on food/textile waste (€25/person), Zero Waste Hunt sustainable Ljubljana tours (€20/person), film screenings, and workshops. Delivered to municipalities, schools, businesses, and event organizers.
• Zero Waste Municipality Certification Program (Certifikacijski program Zero Waste za občine) Guidance and support for municipalities seeking the European Zero Waste Cities certificate, delivered through introductory workshops (€600, up to 10 persons), detailed zero waste measures workshops (€1,200, up to 15 persons), and public presentation support. Now spans 19 municipalities covering 25% of Slovenia's population.
• Zero Waste Tourism Certification Program (Certifikacijski program Zero Waste za turizem) Support services for hotels, events, and hospitality businesses seeking European Zero Waste Business certification, including workshops, on-site consulting, and certification process guidance. Delivered through partnerships with Mission Zero Academy and Slovenian Tourist Organization.
• Zero Waste Event Certification Consulting Workshop and consulting package for event organizers pursuing zero waste event certification, covering waste segregation, prevention planning, and reusable systems. Priced at €600 for a 4-hour workshop per organizer.
• IT Services for NGOs (IT storitve za NVO) IT services offered to non-governmental organizations, supporting their digital infrastructure needs, with a publicly disclosed price list at the published URL.
• Reusable Cups (Kozarci za večkratno uporabo) Reusable plastic cups available in three sizes (2 cl, 3 cl, 5 cl), washable and suitable for hot and cold beverages. Available for purchase (€0.50/cup) or rental (€0.10/cup).
• Ecological Island Marking Flags (Zastave za označevanje ekoloških otokov) Quality flags for marking ecological waste collection islands at events, increasing visibility of separated waste collection. Available for sale (€5/flag/day) or free of charge (up to 8 flags) for events in the Zero Waste Slovenia network.
• Zero Waste Handbook (Zero Waste priročnik) Comprehensive guide created together with project partners (BEZWA project, Erasmus+) designed to support implementation of training curricula for zero waste ambassadors and trainers, strengthening zero waste competencies across Europe. Available as a downloadable PDF.
• Zero Waste Communication Handbook (Priročnik za komuniciranje zero waste vsebin) Handbook for communicating zero waste content, developed by Ekologi brez meja to support local communities and organizations in effective environmental communication, hosted as a Google Doc.
• Restaurant Sustainability Guidelines (Smernice za trajnostno prehrano v restavracijah) Guidelines for reducing food waste and increasing sustainability in restaurants, developed by analyzing food waste in Slovenian restaurants and reviewing domestic and international best practices.
• Zero Waste Slovenija Web Portal Web portal serving as the national zero waste hub, providing educational resources, a network of zero waste municipalities, tourism partners, and events, along with guidelines and best practices for waste reduction.
• Manj je več Consumer Portal (Portal Manj je več) Web portal focused on practical tips and resources for reducing waste in daily life, serving as a consumer-facing educational platform for Slovenian citizens.
• Waste Separator Guide (Ločevalnik odpadkov) Online guide helping citizens understand proper waste separation and recycling practices, with content tailored to Slovenian municipal systems.
• Wild Dump Site Register (Register divjih odlagališč) Online register documenting wild/illegal dump sites across Slovenia, allowing citizens to report and track cleanup efforts, originally populated with 11,394 sites documented during the 2010 cleanup action.
• Čist-e Novice Newsletter Monthly electronic newsletter (ISSN 2784-5451) providing updates on environmental activities, waste reduction initiatives, and zero waste developments in Slovenia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19 municipalities in zero waste network covering 25% of population; jointly prevented 20,470 tons of mixed municipal waste
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mission Zero AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025European certification body for zero waste municipalities and businesses. Ekologi brez meja serves as mentors and auditors for certification programs.
• Zero Waste MontenegrominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025International partner in European zero waste certification activities; Vanja Cicmil from ZWE Montenegro conducted Ribno Alpine Resort audit.
• European Climate PactcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2025National coordinator for European Climate Pact activities in Slovenia. Supports ambassadors, facilitates knowledge exchange, coordinates with European secretariat and other country coordinators, plans events and collaborations.
• Zero Waste EstoniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Lead partner in STICT project (Strengthening Circular Textile Strategies in EU). Cooperating with Bled municipality on textile waste data framework.
• Zero Waste BelgiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Project partner in STICT project, working with Brussels municipality on textile waste management.
• Let's Do It FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Project partner in BEZWA (Building European Zero Waste Academy) Erasmus+ project. Collaborated on zero waste training curriculum and ambassador programs.
• Estonian University of Life SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Project partner in BEZWA Erasmus+ project for zero waste education development.
• Tallinn UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Project partner in BEZWA Erasmus+ project for zero waste education development.
• Zero Waste EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean umbrella organization coordinating zero waste movements across 31 national organizations and nearly 400 local communities. Ekologi brez meja is the Slovenian national organization member, participating in annual meetings, policy advocacy, and knowledge sharing.
• Refill ReturnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational initiative for refill and return systems. Ekologi brez meja as Slovenian partners contributed locations to the Refill Return mobile app including Slovenian drinking fountains.
• EurowagminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner examining driver behavior regarding waste disposal along roads; surveyed how declared values meet actual behavior.
• Slovenian Tourist Organization (STO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on integrating zero waste certification into Slovenia Green tourism scheme; working on data collection for tourism's environmental impact.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Surfrider Foundation: Non-profit environmental organization combining grassroots activism, citizen science, and policy advocacy; comparable in member-funded advocacy, volunteer mobilization, and education model.
• Friends of the Earth International: Federation of national environmental NGOs running advocacy, campaigns, and policy work worldwide; comparable as a federation of national members delivering parallel environmental programs.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: International foundation focused on circular economy; comparable as an environmental non-profit driving systemic waste prevention with policy, business, and education programs.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: Global non-profit advocacy coalition addressing plastic pollution and waste; comparable as a mission-aligned environmental NGO with awareness campaigns, policy work, and corporate engagement.

Direct peers

• Zero Waste Europe: Umbrella organization for EBM and 30 other national zero waste organizations; comparable as a non-profit advocacy and policy-influence network running pan-European programs and grants.
• Zero Waste Italy: Italian national non-profit zero waste organization running municipalities and businesses programs, household consulting, and policy advocacy — closely comparable in mission and operating model to EBM.
• Rete Zero Waste (Rifiuti Zero network Italy): Italian national non-profit network of municipalities pursuing zero waste strategies; directly comparable as a non-profit municipal zero waste network with certification pathways and consulting services.
• Mission Zero Academy: European zero waste certification body that licenses EBM as mentors and auditors; directly comparable as a non-profit standards/certification framework provider serving municipalities and businesses.

Emerging players

• Too Good To Go: Commercial marketplace app for food waste reduction working with restaurants and retailers; comparable as a market-side actor targeting food waste in hospitality, though structured as a venture-backed business.
• Refill (global refill initiative): International non-profit app and network for refill stations and reuse; comparable as a zero-waste and circular-economy movement organization that EBM already partners with as Slovenian national lead.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ekologibrezmeja
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ocistimo
• Facebookfacebook.com/Ekologibrezmeja
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ekologibrezmeja
• Instagraminstagram.com/ekologibrezmeja

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ekologi brez meja / Ecologists Without Borders Association