ECOS

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.

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

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

• Environmental advocacy
• Technical standards
• Policy development
• Sustainable finance
• Circular economy

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: ECOS offers membership packages with benefits including access to information, events, and unique engagement opportunities in environmental standardisation processes.
2. 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.
3. 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

Core 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.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cool Heating CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2024ECOS 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 BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOS 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 EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriends of the Earth Europe is one of ECOS member organizations, participating in the network to advocate for environmental interests in standardisation processes.
• Transport & EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransport & Environment is an ECOS member organization working on sustainable transport and environmental policies at European level.
• WWFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWF is an ECOS member organization participating in the network to advocate for environmental interests in standardisation and policy development.
• CEN (European Committee for Standardization)coreTechnology or IntegrationECOS is a partner organisation of CEN, participating in technical committees and working groups to influence environmental standards development.
• CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization)coreTechnology or IntegrationECOS is a partner organisation of CENELEC, engaging in electrotechnical standardisation processes to represent environmental interests.
• ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute)coreTechnology or IntegrationECOS is a member of ETSI, participating in telecommunications standardisation to integrate environmental considerations.
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization)coreTechnology or IntegrationECOS is a liaison organisation to IEC and ISO, providing input to international standardisation processes on environmental topics.
• IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)coreTechnology or IntegrationECOS is a liaison organisation to IEC, contributing to international electrotechnical standards development from an environmental perspective.
• Coolproducts CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOS 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 ElectromobilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOS partners with the Platform for Electromobility to advocate for sustainable and electric mobility solutions and related standards.
• EU Raw Materials CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOS collaborates with the EU Raw Materials Coalition on policies and standards related to critical raw materials supply chains.
• Restore Nature CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOS is part of the Restore Nature coalition with 200+ organisations calling for strong EU Nature Restoration Law.
• EU Food Policy CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOS collaborates with the EU Food Policy Coalition on food and agriculture sustainability topics.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/ECOS_Standard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecos-ngo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 ECOS