ECOS
ECOS is an international NGO that advocates for environmentally ambitious technical standards, policies, and laws by providing scientific expertise to standardisation bodies (CEN, CENELEC, ISO, ETSI) and EU institutions, representing over 50 environmental NGO members from its Brussels and Nairobi offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ECOS does
ECOS — Environmental Coalition on Standards is an international non-governmental organisation founded in 2002 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, with a regional office in Nairobi, Kenya. The organisation employs approximately 181 staff through a Secretariat and represents a network of over 50 national and European environmental NGO members, including the European Environmental Bureau, Friends of the Earth Europe, Transport & Environment, and WWF. Its core function is to provide technical and scientific expertise that shapes environmentally ambitious technical standards, policies, and legislation, particularly within European and international standardisation bodies (CEN, CENELEC, ETSI, ISO, IEC).
ECOS does not develop proprietary software or technology products. Its "offerings" consist of expert representation in standardisation committees, policy positions and publications, EU-funded project initiatives (Buy Better to Build Better, Ecodesigned4LIFE, reaLIFEstandards, LIFE ComplianceServices, SustainableProducts4LIFE), and thematic work areas spanning toxic-free materials, electronics, plastics and packaging, sustainable finance, biodiversity, energy supply, textiles, and construction. The organisation coordinates programme managers and officers who provide technical input on specific topics — from hydrogen certification and methane regulation to PFAS in soils, low-carbon cement, and biodiversity in food systems — and disseminates position papers, factsheets, and annual reports.
Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring membership fees from environmental NGO members, institutional co-funding from the European Commission and EFTA, and project-based grants from foundations such as Built by Nature (a €211,336 Accelerator Fund grant awarded in July 2022). The go-to-market motion is community-led advocacy rather than product sales: ECOS recruits experts, builds coalitions (Cool Heating Coalition, Restore Nature Campaign, Coolproducts Campaign, EU Raw Materials Coalition), and engages directly with EU Expert Groups and standards committees. Pricing of membership packages is not publicly disclosed.
ECOS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ECOS
- Legal name
- ECOS - Environmental Coalition on Standards
- Website
- https://ecostandard.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ECOS is an international NGO that advocates for environmentally ambitious technical standards, policies, and laws by providing scientific expertise to standardisation bodies (CEN, CENELEC, ISO, ETSI) and EU institutions, representing over 50 environmental NGO members from its Brussels and Nairobi offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ECOS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- SIC
- International Affairs (9721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Policy, Planning & Regulation (BPAIAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Energy, Utilities & Natural Resources Regulators (BPAIAOAJ), Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE)
Keywords
Where ECOS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
ECOS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Membership fees: ECOS offers membership packages with benefits including access to information, events, and unique engagement opportunities in environmental standardisation processes.
- Institutional funding: ECOS is co-funded by the European Commission and EFTA, receiving grants to support their advocacy work in environmental standards and policy development.
- Project-based grants: ECOS receives project-specific funding from foundations and organizations such as Built by Nature (€211,336 Accelerator Fund grant) for targeted advocacy work on sustainable timber in construction.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
ECOS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ECOS is an international NGO that advocates for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies, and laws by providing expert representation in standardisation bodies (CEN, CENELEC, ETSI, ISO, IEC) and policy processes. It delivers this through a network of over 50 member environmental NGOs, recruitment and management of technical experts, and the production of publications and EU-funded project initiatives focused on circular economy, clean energy, sustainable finance, ecodesign, and ecosystem protection.
Product overview
ECOS (Environmental Coalition on Standards) is an international NGO that does not offer a software product or technology platform. Instead, it provides advocacy services, expert coordination, publications, and project initiatives focused on environmentally friendly technical standards, policies, and laws. The organization recruits experts across various environmental topics (bioeconomy, PFAS, methane, circular economy, textiles, biodiversity, heating, cement, etc.) to participate in standardisation processes. ECOS produces publications including annual reports, technical factsheets, and position papers. It manages multiple EU-funded project initiatives (Buy Better to Build Better, Ecodesigned4LIFE, reaLIFEstandards, LIFE ComplianceServices, SustainableProducts4LIFE) and operates thematic work areas covering ecosystems, energy supply, electronics, EU policy, plastics, sustainable finance, and bio-based products. ECOS also offers a newsletter subscription service for stakeholders.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ECOS Membership Packages Membership packages offered to environmental NGOs and organisations, providing access to information, events, and unique engagement opportunities in environmental standardisation processes. Members support ECOS's mission to defend environmental interests in the development of standards and product regulations.
- Expert Calls and Technical Expertise Services Recruitment and management of technical and scientific experts across environmental topics (bioeconomy, PFAS, methane, circular economy, textiles, biodiversity, heating, cement, etc.) to provide input in standardisation processes, EU policy development, and multi-stakeholder discussions. Experts participate in CEN, ISO, and EU Expert Group meetings to promote ECOS positions.
- Publications and Policy Documents Production of annual reports, technical factsheets, position papers, joint statements, and research reports on environmental standards, policies, and laws affecting areas such as hydrogen, heating, biodiversity, carbon removals, forestry, electronics, plastics, and sustainable finance. Distributed to policymakers, industry, and stakeholders.
- Buy Better to Build Better (BBBB) Project ECOS-led project focused on sustainable procurement and ecodesign principles to drive environmental improvements in products and construction.
- Ecodesigned4LIFE Project ECOS-led project supporting ecodesign regulations and sustainable product policies under EU frameworks, advancing environmental ambition in product design.
- reaLIFEstandards Project ECOS-led project focused on standards for sustainable products and circular economy principles, translating advocacy into practical standardisation outputs.
- LIFE ComplianceServices Project ECOS project supporting companies with compliance to EU energy labelling and ecodesign rules, helping industry stakeholders meet regulatory requirements.
- SustainableProducts4LIFE Project ECOS project promoting sustainable products through LIFE programme initiatives, advancing environmental standards for product sustainability.
Companies that use ECOS
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ECOS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ECOS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Cool Heating CoalitioncoreECOS joined the Cool Heating Coalition in March 2024, working with NGOs, think tanks, and civil society organisations to promote sustainable, renewable, and affordable heating and cooling in the EU. ECOS Programme Manager Marco Grippa serves on the coalition's steering committee.
- European Environmental BureaucoreECOS represents over 50 national and European members including the European Environmental Bureau, one of the key environmental NGO networks in Europe working on advocacy and policy influence.
- Friends of the Earth EuropecoreFriends of the Earth Europe is one of ECOS member organizations, participating in the network to advocate for environmental interests in standardisation processes.
- Transport & EnvironmentcoreTransport & Environment is an ECOS member organization working on sustainable transport and environmental policies at European level.
- WWFcoreWWF is an ECOS member organization participating in the network to advocate for environmental interests in standardisation and policy development.
- CEN (European Committee for Standardization)coreECOS is a partner organisation of CEN, participating in technical committees and working groups to influence environmental standards development.
- CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization)coreECOS is a partner organisation of CENELEC, engaging in electrotechnical standardisation processes to represent environmental interests.
- ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute)coreECOS is a member of ETSI, participating in telecommunications standardisation to integrate environmental considerations.
- ISO (International Organization for Standardization)coreECOS is a liaison organisation to IEC and ISO, providing input to international standardisation processes on environmental topics.
- IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)coreECOS is a liaison organisation to IEC, contributing to international electrotechnical standards development from an environmental perspective.
- Coolproducts CampaigncoreECOS participates in the Coolproducts campaign coalition with other NGOs working to ensure better products for consumers and the planet, particularly on ecodesign and energy labelling.
- Platform for ElectromobilityminorECOS partners with the Platform for Electromobility to advocate for sustainable and electric mobility solutions and related standards.
- EU Raw Materials CoalitionminorECOS collaborates with the EU Raw Materials Coalition on policies and standards related to critical raw materials supply chains.
- Restore Nature CampaigncoreECOS is part of the Restore Nature coalition with 200+ organisations calling for strong EU Nature Restoration Law.
- EU Food Policy CoalitionminorECOS collaborates with the EU Food Policy Coalition on food and agriculture sustainability topics.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ECOS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Carbon Market Watch: Carbon Market Watch is a Brussels-based NGO advocating for carbon market and climate policy integrity. Comparable to ECOS in its Brussels base, EU institutional focus, and standards/policy advocacy model for environmental outcomes.
- Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Europe: EDF operates a Brussels office engaging on EU environmental policy and standards. It is comparable to ECOS in scientific expertise, advocacy focus, and participation in EU standardisation processes, though EDF is a larger US-rooted organisation.
- Transport & Environment: Transport & Environment is a Brussels-based environmental NGO and ECOS member focused on transport decarbonisation. Both advocate for environmental standards and policies at the EU level, with overlapping memberships and Brussels-based operations.
- European Environmental Bureau (EEB): EEB is the largest network of environmental citizens' organisations in Europe and a member of ECOS. Both organisations provide environmental expertise to EU policy processes, though EEB focuses more on broad EU environmental policy while ECOS specialises in technical standardisation.
- Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe: CAN Europe is a coalition of over 180 member organisations working on climate policy in Europe. Like ECOS, it is a Brussels-based environmental coalition, though CAN focuses on broader climate policy while ECOS specialises in technical standardisation.
- Friends of the Earth Europe: FoE Europe is a grassroots environmental network and ECOS member. Both organisations push for environmentally ambitious EU standards and policies, with FoE Europe contributing a more activist, grassroots orientation alongside ECOS's standardisation expertise.
- ClientEarth: ClientEarth is an environmental law charity using litigation and regulatory engagement to enforce environmental standards. Like ECOS, it targets EU policy and corporate behaviour, but emphasises legal action over standardisation participation.
Broad incumbents
- World Resources Institute (WRI) Europe: WRI is a global research organisation with Brussels engagement on environmental standards and policy. It is comparable to ECOS in providing technical and scientific input to policy, though WRI is larger and broader in scope, with a stronger research rather than advocacy orientation.
- WWF European Policy Office: WWF EPO is the European policy arm of WWF and an ECOS member. It is comparable in its EU policy and standards advocacy work, though WWF is a much larger global conservation organisation with significantly broader thematic scope than ECOS.
Emerging players
- European Consumer Organisation (BEUC): BEUC is the European Consumer Organisation engaging on product safety, ecodesign, and energy labelling policies from a consumer angle. It overlaps with ECOS on ecodesign, electronics, and EU standardisation processes, though it represents consumer rather than purely environmental interests.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ECOS social profiles
Digital presenceECOS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ECOS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
ECOS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ECOS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ECOS
What does ECOS do?
ECOS is an international NGO that advocates for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies, and laws by providing expert representation in standardisation bodies (CEN, CENELEC, ETSI, ISO, IEC) and policy processes. It delivers this through a network of over 50 member environmental NGOs, recruitment and management of technical experts, and the production of publications and EU-funded project initiatives focused on circular economy, clean energy, sustainable finance, ecodesign, and ecosystem protection.
Is ECOS a public or private company?
ECOS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ECOS founded?
ECOS was founded in 2002. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ECOS based?
ECOS is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does ECOS make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership fees are the primary driver. The others are institutional funding and project-based grants.
Who are ECOS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Carbon Market Watch, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Europe, Transport & Environment, European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, Friends of the Earth Europe and ClientEarth. Broad incumbents are World Resources Institute (WRI) Europe and WWF European Policy Office. European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) is listed as an emerging player.
Does ECOS have an API?
No public API is recorded for ECOS.
What industry is ECOS in?
ECOS's product category is Environmental Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAMAA, Environmental Policy, Planning & Regulation, with a secondary code of BPAIAOAJ, Energy, Utilities & Natural Resources Regulators. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 9721.