eco-union
Founded in 2005, eco-union is a Barcelona-based nonprofit that develops environmental research, training, advocacy, and resilience projects for public, private, nonprofit, and Mediterranean stakeholders across Europe through project-based collaborations and grant programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersBarcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What eco-union does
eco-union is a Barcelona-based non-profit association founded in 2005 that conducts research, training, advocacy, and project work on environmental sustainability, climate, mobility, tourism, and coastal resilience, with a geographic focus on Europe and the Mediterranean. Its work is organized through initiatives including Viaja en Verde, the Global Eco Forum, INCORE-MED, Barcelona Food Lab, BioPirineo, the Blue Tourism Initiative, Zero Beach, INCITE-DEM, Tipping+, and GOTA. The association has 11 technical team members plus board and advisory participants.
No commercial software product, proprietary platform, or AI/ML system is disclosed. Delivery appears to rely on project-based research, training, convening, and advocacy rather than a product or licensing model.
Its nonprofit revenue model combines public and private subsidies, membership fees, and donations. Named funding relationships include the European Climate Foundation, the EU Horizon 2020 program, and the Agència de Residus de Catalunya; revenue amounts, contract values, and customer or funder concentration are not disclosed.
eco-union firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- eco-union
- Legal name
- ASOCIACIÓN ECO-UNION
- Website
- https://ecounion.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Founded in 2005, eco-union is a Barcelona-based nonprofit that develops environmental research, training, advocacy, and resilience projects for public, private, nonprofit, and Mediterranean stakeholders across Europe through project-based collaborations and grant programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
eco-union industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Sustainability Research and Advocacy
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainability & Carbon Management for Business Travel (THACAMAJ), Eco-Certification, Auditing & Standards (Green Lodging, Tour Operator Certification) (THAAANAA), Environment, Climate & Sustainability Congresses (THAHAJAH)
Keywords
Where eco-union is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barcelona, Barcelona
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
eco-union business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Public and Private Subsidies: Projects are developed through funds from public and private subsidies from various entities. eco-union publishes transparency reports and annual activity reports from 2016 onwards.
- Membership Fees: Members (full partners and collaborative partners) pay membership fees. eco-union offers two types of membership: full partners and collaborative partners who participate actively in projects and activities.
- Donations: One-time donations accepted via bank transfer (ES55 3025 0001 1114 3333 4510) or PayPal to support independent civil society organizations and their public policy work.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
eco-union product offering
Product offeringCore offering
eco-union is a non-profit association headquartered in Barcelona that conducts research, training, and policy advocacy on sustainability transitions across the Euro-Mediterranean region. It delivers this work through project-based initiatives focused on green economy, blue economy, climate change, energy transition, sustainable tourism, governance, and democratic participation, supported by publications, events (such as the Global Eco Forum), training programs, and coalition-driven advocacy with EU and Mediterranean institutions.
Product overview
eco-union is a non-profit environmental association (founded 2005, Barcelona) that does not operate a software product or SaaS platform. Its offerings consist of advocacy programs, knowledge-dissemination initiatives, and consultancy-style projects. The portfolio includes: the Global Eco Forum (annual Euro-Mediterranean sustainability conference series); Viaja en Verde (sustainable tourism mobility initiative); INCORE-MED (coastal resilience project); Barcelona Food Lab (sustainable food systems); BioPirineo (Pyrenees biodiversity); Blue Tourism Initiative (sustainable coastal tourism); Zero Beach (marine litter prevention); INCITE-DEM (democratic participation); Tipping+ (Horizon 2020 climate tipping points); and GOTA (governance for sustainability). These are programmatic initiatives, not software products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Viaja en Verde: Initiative led by eco-union and financed by the European Climate Foundation aimed at reducing the environmental impact of tourist mobility in Spain through promoting rail travel and sustainable mobility.
- Zero Beach
- INCORE-MED
- Barcelona Food Lab
- BioPirineo
- Blue Tourism Initiative
- INCITE-DEM
- Global Eco Forum
Products and services
- Viaja en Verde (Travel Green) Sustainable tourism mobility initiative promoting modal shift from aviation and road transport to rail and sustainable travel patterns in Spain.
- Global Eco Forum Euro-Mediterranean sustainability convening platform organized by eco-union, encompassing the Energy, City & Climate Forum and the Blue Eco Forum.
- INCORE-MED (Inclusive Coastal Resilience in the Euro-Med) Project connecting scientific research, participatory processes, and policy advocacy for climate adaptation in coastal Euro-Mediterranean areas.
- Barcelona Food Lab Project focused on sustainable food systems and practices in the Barcelona metropolitan area.
- BioPirineo Project focused on biodiversity and sustainable tourism impact diagnostics in the Pyrenees region.
- Blue Tourism Initiative Initiative promoting sustainable and low-impact coastal and maritime tourism in the Mediterranean.
- Zero Beach Project for marine litter prevention on Catalan beaches using smoke-free zones, single-use plastic reduction, and deposit-return systems; achieved up to 80% reduction in cigarette butt presence during pilot.
- INCITE-DEM (Co-designing for Democracy) Project co-designing democratic governance mechanisms and citizen participation frameworks as part of the Democracy for Transition Coalition.
- Tipping+ (Horizon 2020) European Horizon 2020 project coordinated by eco-union focused on understanding and addressing climate tipping points.
- GOTA (Governance, Opportunities, Trade, and Sustainability) European project focused on governance arrangements for sustainable development policy in which eco-union participates.
Quantifiable outcome
- Zero Beach project reduced cigarette butt presence on beaches by up to 80%
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use eco-union
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
eco-union technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
eco-union partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- European Environmental Bureau (EEB)coreActive partner and member of EEB, participating in environmental policy advocacy at EU level. eco-union contributes to EEB initiatives on sustainability and environmental protection.
- Transport & EnvironmentcoreActive partner working on sustainable mobility and transport decarbonization. eco-union represents T&E in local networks including o3sac and Barcelona's sustainability council.
- Climate Action Network Europe (CAN Europe)coreActive member of CAN Europe, participating in climate advocacy networks and policy development for climate action in Europe.
- EuroMeSCocoreActive member of EuroMeSCo network, participating in annual conferences and joint initiatives on Mediterranean cooperation and sustainability.
- Green Economy CoalitioncorePart of Green Economy Coalition, promoting inclusive green economy transition and sustainable business practices in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
- MIO-ECSDEcoreMember of MIO-ECSDE (Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development), participating in Mediterranean environmental networks.
- Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)minorMember of SDSN, participating in sustainable development solutions and SDG implementation initiatives.
- Green Budget EuropeminorPartner in Green Budget Europe initiative, working on environmental budget analysis and sustainable fiscal policies.
- Med-OCEaN (Offshore Coalition for Energy and Climate)minorPartner in offshore energy and climate coalition, contributing to renewable energy transition discussions.
- Alianza por el ClimaminorPartner in Spanish climate alliance, coordinating climate action advocacy at national level.
- Barcelona + SostenibleminorPartner in Barcelona Sustainable Network, contributing to local sustainability initiatives.
- O3SACminorPartner in O3SAC network, participating in air quality and environmental monitoring initiatives.
- OIDP (Observatory on Innovation in Public Services)minorPartner in OIDP, contributing to public innovation and governance discussions.
- OECDminorAssociated with OECD initiatives, participating in international policy development discussions.
- Anna Lindh FoundationminorPartner in Anna Lindh Foundation network, contributing to Euro-Mediterranean intercultural dialogue.
- Escuela de Movilidad SostenibleminorPartner in sustainable mobility education initiative, supporting training and awareness on sustainable transport.
- Democracy for Transition (D4T) CoalitioncoreMember of D4T Coalition, jointly advocating for democratic governance and civic participation in EU climate and environmental policy-making.
- Union for the MediterraneancorePartner in Union for the Mediterranean consultations on climate action and sustainable development in the Mediterranean region.
- RezerocoreCo-coordinator of Zero Beach project, working together on beach waste prevention and zero waste initiatives.
- Ajuntament del Prat de LlobregatminorLocal government partner in Zero Beach pilot implementation at municipal beaches.
- Ajuntament de GavàminorLocal government partner in Zero Beach pilot implementation at municipal beaches.
- Ajuntament de CastelldefelsminorLocal government partner in Zero Beach pilot implementation at municipal beaches.
Scale indicators5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
eco-union competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Amigos de la Tierra (Friends of the Earth Spain): Spanish member of Friends of the Earth International focused on environmental justice, climate, and sustainability advocacy. Comparable in mission and Spain-based advocacy model to eco-union, though with a stronger environmental justice orientation.
- SEO/BirdLife: Spain's leading conservation NGO, focused on biodiversity, climate, and sustainability policy. Comparable as a Spain-based environmental NGO with policy advocacy, citizen science programmes, and EU-level engagement overlapping with eco-union's INCORE-MED and BioPirineo work.
- Transport & Environment: European clean-transport advocacy organisation that eco-union partners with locally in Barcelona (o3sac, Consell de Sostenibilitat). Directly comparable as a specialist NGO producing policy analysis, research, and advocacy on sustainable mobility — overlapping with eco-union's Viaja en Verde and Mobility Eco Forum.
- Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe: European coalition of 180+ NGOs working on climate policy. eco-union is an active member; CAN Europe's pan-European advocacy network, research publications, and coalition management directly parallel eco-union's convening, research, and policy influence model.
- Green Economy Coalition: Multi-stakeholder coalition promoting inclusive green economy transition — a partner of eco-union. Closely comparable as a network-driven advocacy and research initiative focused on green economy transitions in the Euro-Mediterranean space.
- European Environmental Bureau (EEB): Europe's largest network of environmental citizens' organisations, focused on EU environmental policy advocacy. eco-union is an active member, and EEB's coalition-based advocacy and EU consultation model is highly comparable to eco-union's Euro-Mediterranean advocacy approach.
- ECOLOGISTAS EN ACCIÓN: Spanish federation of over 300 environmental groups operating as a horizontal, grassroots advocacy network. Highly comparable to eco-union in size, structure, and mission, with overlapping focus on climate, energy, and sustainability policy advocacy across Spain.
- Rezero: Catalan NGO promoting zero-waste and circular economy. Direct co-coordinator of eco-union's Zero Beach project, and a comparable small-to-mid-sized Catalan/Mediterranean sustainability NGO with overlapping advocacy, research, and project-execution model.
Broad incumbents
- Greenpeace Spain: Major international environmental advocacy organisation with a Spain office. Shares eco-union's focus on climate, ocean, and sustainability advocacy but with vastly larger membership, fundraising capacity, and campaign reach.
- WWF Spain: Larger, well-funded international conservation organisation with a Spain chapter. Overlaps with eco-union in Mediterranean sustainability, climate, and policy advocacy, but operates with significantly greater resources and brand recognition.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
eco-union social profiles
Digital presenceeco-union financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
eco-union leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
eco-union funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
eco-union 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 eco-union
What does eco-union do?
eco-union is a non-profit association headquartered in Barcelona that conducts research, training, and policy advocacy on sustainability transitions across the Euro-Mediterranean region. It delivers this work through project-based initiatives focused on green economy, blue economy, climate change, energy transition, sustainable tourism, governance, and democratic participation, supported by publications, events (such as the Global Eco Forum), training programs, and coalition-driven advocacy with EU and Mediterranean institutions.
Is eco-union a public or private company?
eco-union is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was eco-union founded?
eco-union was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is eco-union based?
eco-union is headquartered in Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does eco-union make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Public and Private Subsidies are the primary driver. The others are membership Fees and donations.
Who are eco-union's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Amigos de la Tierra (Friends of the Earth Spain), SEO/BirdLife, Transport & Environment, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, Green Economy Coalition, European Environmental Bureau (EEB), ECOLOGISTAS EN ACCIÓN and Rezero. Broad incumbents are Greenpeace Spain and WWF Spain.
Does eco-union have an API?
No public API is recorded for eco-union.
What industry is eco-union in?
eco-union's product category is Environmental Sustainability Research and Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAL, Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health, with a secondary code of THACAMAJ, Sustainability & Carbon Management for Business Travel. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8600.