eco-union

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.

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

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

• Sustainability research services
• Environmental policy advocacy
• Sustainable tourism advisory
• Green economy consulting
• Climate transition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona, Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Environmental Bureau (EEB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive 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 & EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of CAN Europe, participating in climate advocacy networks and policy development for climate action in Europe.
• EuroMeSCocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of EuroMeSCo network, participating in annual conferences and joint initiatives on Mediterranean cooperation and sustainability.
• Green Economy CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Green Economy Coalition, promoting inclusive green economy transition and sustainable business practices in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
• MIO-ECSDEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of MIO-ECSDE (Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development), participating in Mediterranean environmental networks.
• Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of SDSN, participating in sustainable development solutions and SDG implementation initiatives.
• Green Budget EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Green Budget Europe initiative, working on environmental budget analysis and sustainable fiscal policies.
• Med-OCEaN (Offshore Coalition for Energy and Climate)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in offshore energy and climate coalition, contributing to renewable energy transition discussions.
• Alianza por el ClimaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Spanish climate alliance, coordinating climate action advocacy at national level.
• Barcelona + SostenibleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Barcelona Sustainable Network, contributing to local sustainability initiatives.
• O3SACminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in O3SAC network, participating in air quality and environmental monitoring initiatives.
• OIDP (Observatory on Innovation in Public Services)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in OIDP, contributing to public innovation and governance discussions.
• OECDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated with OECD initiatives, participating in international policy development discussions.
• Anna Lindh FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Anna Lindh Foundation network, contributing to Euro-Mediterranean intercultural dialogue.
• Escuela de Movilidad SostenibleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in sustainable mobility education initiative, supporting training and awareness on sustainable transport.
• Democracy for Transition (D4T) CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of D4T Coalition, jointly advocating for democratic governance and civic participation in EU climate and environmental policy-making.
• Union for the MediterraneancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Union for the Mediterranean consultations on climate action and sustainable development in the Mediterranean region.
• RezerocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-coordinator of Zero Beach project, working together on beach waste prevention and zero waste initiatives.
• Ajuntament del Prat de LlobregatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Zero Beach pilot implementation at municipal beaches.
• Ajuntament de GavàminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Zero Beach pilot implementation at municipal beaches.
• Ajuntament de CastelldefelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Zero Beach pilot implementation at municipal beaches.

Scale indicators5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct 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

• Xtwitter.com/ecounion
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@eco-union
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eco-union

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about eco-union