International Geosynthetics Society (IGS)

What International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) does

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) is a non-profit learned society founded in 1977 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, that serves as the global authority on geosynthetics — engineered materials including geotextiles, geomembranes, and related products used in civil and environmental infrastructure for soil reinforcement, drainage, erosion control, and environmental protection. IGS operates a membership-based knowledge ecosystem rather than a traditional product business, anchored by official peer-reviewed journals (Geotextiles and Geomembranes; Geosynthetics International), the IGS Geosynthetics Handbook, a Digital Library, a Sustainability Calculator, and the Educate the Educators program, all delivered through a ToucanTech-powered Member Portal and a network of 45 local chapters worldwide. The society's revenue is generated from individual, corporate, and premium corporate membership dues (with a premium tier offering enhanced visibility and strategic engagement), one-time publication and handbook sales (e.g., $50 per handbook for non-members), and a tri-regional conference cycle across GeoAmericas, EUROGEO, and GeoAsia, supplemented by webinars, courses, and chapter-level events. IGS serves a horizontal mix of civil engineers, geotechnical researchers, educators, students, and geosynthetics manufacturers/ suppliers, setting de facto technical standards through committees on Barrier Systems, Hydraulic Applications, Soil Reinforcement, and Roads/Railways/Airfields, and collaborating with sister societies such as ISSMGE.

Name

International Geosynthetics Society (IGS)

Legal name

The International Geosynthetics Society

Website

https://geosyntheticssociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) is a non-profit learned society founded in 1977, headquartered in Austin, Texas, that serves ~4,000 civil engineers, geotechnical researchers, educators, and geosynthetics manufacturers globally through peer-reviewed journals, the IGS Handbook, chapters in 45 countries, and regional conferences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from individual, corporate, and premium corporate members that provide access to resources, events, and networking opportunities.
2. Publication Sales: Sale of the IGS Geosynthetics Handbook and other publications. Non-members pay $50; members receive a $50 discount.
3. Premium Corporate Membership: Enhanced visibility, priority event access, VIP meeting room access, and strategic engagement with IGS leadership for premium tier corporate members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) is a non-profit learned society that advances the scientific and engineering development of geosynthetics (geotextiles, geomembranes, and related products) used in civil and environmental infrastructure. It operates a global membership program with individual, corporate, and premium corporate tiers, supported by peer-reviewed journals (Geotextiles and Geomembranes; Geosynthetics International), the IGS Geosynthetics Handbook, a Digital Library, a Sustainability Calculator, and the Educate the Educators program. The society delivers conferences (GeoAmericas, EUROGEO, GeoAsia), webinars, and professional development through 45 local chapters worldwide.

Product overview

The International Geosynthetics Society operates as a learned society offering a membership-based platform and knowledge ecosystem rather than a traditional product company. The core offerings include: the IGS Geosynthetics Handbook (a comprehensive peer-reviewed publication), a Member Portal (powered by ToucanTech) providing access to digital libraries, journals, and proceedings, a Sustainability Calculator tool, professional development through the Educate the Educators Program, and global events and conferences. The society also facilitates networking through 45 regional chapters worldwide and offers corporate membership programs. This portfolio serves engineers, researchers, and industry professionals in the geosynthetics field.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IGS Geosynthetics Handbook, First Edition A comprehensive peer-reviewed reference handbook covering geosynthetic materials, their applications, design considerations, and installation practices across infrastructure works; intended as a frequent reference tool for civil engineering professionals and available for direct purchase.
• IGS Membership Program Global membership program offered to individuals (including students), corporate organisations, and premium corporate partners that delivers access to peer-reviewed journals, the Digital Library, conferences, webinars, local chapter activities, and networking opportunities.
• Premium Corporate Membership Annual subscription tier for corporate organisations that provides enhanced global visibility, priority access to IGS events and sponsorship, VIP meeting room access, and strategic engagement with IGS leadership.
• IGS Events and Conferences Global events program comprising conferences (GeoAmericas, EUROGEO, GeoAsia), webinars, and professional development courses delivered regionally through IGS chapters for engineers, researchers, and industry professionals.
• IGS Chapters Network Global network of 45 local chapters that organise regional events, webinars, networking, and professional development activities for members within specific countries or regions.
• Digital Library Digital repository that provides members access to peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and educational documents in geosynthetics.
• Educate the Educators Program Professional development program designed to train educators on the delivery of geosynthetics curriculum within civil and geotechnical engineering courses.
• Sustainability Calculator Online tool that assesses and calculates the sustainability benefits of using geosynthetics in infrastructure projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Geosynthetics extend the service life of roads, reduce the use of aggregates, conserve and protect water, minimize land disturbance and control soil erosion

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• HUESKER Synthetic GmbHcoreOthersPremium Corporate Member of IGS. Receives enhanced global visibility, priority access to events and sponsorship, strategic engagement with IGS leadership, and opportunities beyond IGS events.
• Naue GmbH & Co. KGcoreOthersPremium Corporate Member of IGS. Receives enhanced global visibility, priority access to events and sponsorship, strategic engagement with IGS leadership.
• TechFab India Industries LtdcoreOthersPremium Corporate Member of IGS. Receives enhanced global visibility, priority access to events and sponsorship, strategic engagement with IGS leadership.
• Solmax InternationalcoreOthersWorld leader in sustainable construction solutions for civil and environmental infrastructure. Premium Corporate Member of IGS since 1997. Headquartered in Quebec, Canada.
• TRI/Environmental Inc.coreOthersFull-service independent laboratory serving polymer-centric industries. Premium Corporate Member since 2008. Located in Austin, Texas, USA.
• IGS FoundationcoreOthersPartner charity of IGS. Data sharing arrangement where member data may be shared with the IGS Foundation.
• International Association of GeomaterialsminorOthersProfessional association to which IGS council member Wang Deqi also belongs.
• ISSMGE (International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering)moderateOthersGlobal geotechnical engineering society with which IGS collaborates through shared technical committees such as TC218 on Reinforced Fill Structures and TC307 on Sustainability in Geotechnical Engineering.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI): A larger trade association for the industrial fabrics industry with a defined geosynthetics segment. Comparable in that it serves manufacturers and end-users of geosynthetics via events and publications, though it covers a wider textile/fabrication scope than IGS.
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): The dominant generalist professional society for civil engineers in the US (and globally influential). ASCE's portfolio spans the entire civil engineering discipline — including its Geo-Institute — and competes for the same member mindshare and conference sponsorship dollars, but at much greater scale and breadth than IGS.

Direct peers

• International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE): IGS's explicitly named sister society for geotechnical engineering. Both are non-profit learned societies with global membership, peer-reviewed journals, technical committees, and regional chapters serving overlapping civil/geotechnical engineering audiences.
• International Erosion Control Association (IECA): A global non-profit membership organization for erosion control and stormwater professionals. Highly comparable to IGS in operating model (learned society, chapters, conferences, certification, technical resources) and overlapping application domains (geosynthetics for erosion control is a shared use case).
• Geo-Institute (G-I) of ASCE: A specialty membership organization within ASCE focused on geotechnical engineering. Shares IGS's professional-society model, member-driven committees, conferences, and publications, with significant overlap in member base and event programming.

Emerging players

• Deep Foundations Institute (DFI): An international non-profit association serving the deep foundations industry, with a similar member-driven model, conferences, and technical committees. Partial overlap with IGS through geotechnical-engineering practitioners and shared end-user segments (infrastructure designers and contractors).

Others

• ASTM International (Committee D35 on Geosynthetics): Not-for-profit international standards body that develops the formal geosynthetics standards (D35) underpinning the industry. Comparable in ecosystem role and non-profit structure, but as an enabler/standards setter rather than a competing membership organization.

Regional players

• European Association of Geosynthetic product manufacturers (EAGM): European-focused trade association for geosynthetics manufacturers. Closely aligned to IGS in subject matter, but predominantly industry-side (producers) rather than the broader professional/society mix IGS serves, and concentrated on the EU regulatory and standards arena.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IntGeosynthSoc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCt-N4NlX6xkbYc5F8Z6Md_g
• Facebookfacebook.com/GeosyntheticsSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-geosynthetics-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 International Geosynthetics Society (IGS)