IBDN | Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa da Natureza

What IBDN | Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa da Natureza does

The Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa da Natureza (IBDN) is a São Paulo-based nonprofit environmental certification institute founded in 1991, operating under OSCIP (Organização da Sociedade Civil de Interesse Público) status since 2007. It sells five nationally validated "Selos Verdes" (Green Seals) — EPN for sustainable companies, NC for carbon neutrality, PES for eco-friendly products, ER for renewable energy, and HER for hotels — and offers a complementary Carbon Inventory (Inventário de Carbono) service aligned with GHG Protocol, IPCC, and ISO 14064 standards. Each certification runs 1-2 years with renewal requirements, and pricing is quote-based on company size and evaluation complexity. The underlying methodology rests on a proprietary IBS scoring system (Environmental/Social/Governance pillars out of 100), an IBER framework specialized for hospitality, and GPS-verified reforestation offsets produced through native seedling cultivation at the São Paulo state-administered nurseries at Parque Ecológico do Tietê.

IBDN generates revenue from certification fees, carbon inventory consulting, and corporate sponsorships that fund its environmental education programs (school visits, booklets, tree planting). The certification process is fully online — form submission, evaluation, contract, and seal issuance — supported by specialist consultants for larger enterprise accounts. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through ibdn.org.br, with regional offices in Manaus and Paraná, and a homologated certifier network for Selo ER (renewable energy). The organization has 500+ certified partner brands, 600+ completed neutralization projects, and reports 430,000+ trees planted, 4,000+ schools visited, and 3 million educational booklets distributed. It maintains a diversified customer base across ports (ICTSI Rio Brasil Terminal), hospitality (Novotel, Bourbon Cataratas), beverages (Café Pilão), banking and insurance (Itaú Cultural, Sompo Seguros), telecommunications (Orion), and renewable energy (Newsun, Aton, Vertys), with no disclosed reliance on a single anchor account.

Name

IBDN | Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa da Natureza

Legal name

Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa da Natureza

Website

https://ibdn.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa da Natureza (IBDN) is a São Paulo-based nonprofit founded in 1991 that issues five nationally validated environmental green seal certifications (corporate sustainability, carbon neutral, eco-product, renewable energy, and eco-hotel) and carbon inventory services to Brazilian companies, events, and products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Certification Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & Environmental Certifications (Carbon, Water, Regenerative) (AFALAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI), Carbon & Climate-Aligned Forest Certification Add-ons (e.g., FSC Ecosystem Services, climate modules) (AFAMALAH), Forest Certification, Compliance & Chain-of-Custody Support (AFAMAAAH)

Keywords

• Environmental certification services
• Green seal certification
• Carbon inventory consulting
• ESG sustainability assessment
• Carbon neutral certification

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Environmental Certification Services (Selos Verdes): IBDN generates revenue through the sale of environmental certifications to companies, organizations, events, and products. Fees are charged based on the size and complexity of the organization and the type of certification sought. The process is quote-based with costs varying by seal type (EPN, NC, PES, ER, HER), company size, and evaluation requirements. Certifications are valid for 1–2 years with renewal fees.
2. Carbon Inventory and Consultancy Services: Revenue is generated from carbon inventory (Inventário de Carbono) consulting services, including data collection support, emission calculations, report preparation, and GHG Protocol registration. These services complement the Carbon Neutral certification and represent an additional revenue stream for organizations seeking to understand and reduce their emissions.
3. Sponsorships and Environmental Project Support: Certified companies sponsor IBDN's environmental education and reforestation projects, with a portion of certification fees reinvested into initiatives such as school visits, educational booklets, and tree planting. This creates a self-sustaining cycle where certification revenue funds environmental action.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

IBDN provides environmental certification services through five nationally validated green seals (Selo EPN, NC, PES, ER, HER) covering corporate sustainability, carbon neutrality, eco-friendly products, renewable energy, and hotels. It also delivers carbon inventory consulting (GHG Protocol / ISO 14064) and carbon offset via native tree planting, all funded by certification fees that sustain its environmental education programs.

Product overview

IBDN offers a portfolio of five green certification seals (Selo EPN, Selo NC, Selo PES, Selo ER, Selo HER) and carbon inventory services. The certification system integrates environmental education, allowing companies to implement sustainable concepts tailored to their impact reality. Certifications align with ESG indicators and UN Sustainable Development Goals (ODS).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Selo EPN - Empresa Parceira da Natureza: Green certification seal recognizing companies committed to environmental sustainability and ESG practices.
• Selo NC - Neutro de Carbono
• Selo PES - Produto ECO Sustentável
• Selo ER - Energia Renovável
• Selo HER - Hotel Eco Responsável

Products and services

• Selo EPN - Empresa Parceira da Natureza The most comprehensive environmental certification from IBDN, recognizing companies committed to reducing natural impacts, promoting sustainability practices, and conscious resource use. Valid for 2 years and includes ESG mentorship and consulting.
• Selo NC - Neutro de Carbono Carbon neutrality certification that calculates, reduces, and compensates greenhouse gas emissions through native tree planting or UN-homologated carbon credits. Valid for 1 year with continuous renewal requirements. Includes GPS-verified compensation reports with QR codes.
• Selo PES - Produto Eco Sustentável Product certification that confirms and values products manufactured with sustainable practices, considering raw materials, production process, and lifecycle until disposal. Valid for 2 years. References ISO 14024 environmental labeling guidelines and ISO 14040/14044 LCA standards.
• Selo ER - Energia Renovável Certification for companies that adopt clean energy sources such as solar, wind, or biomass, highlighting commitment to environmental impact reduction and energy efficiency. Valid for 1 year. Includes a homologated certifier network (Aton Energy, Vertys Energy Group, Newsun Energy Brazil).
• Selo HER - Hotel Eco Responsável Brazil's only environmental certification program exclusively for hospitality, recognizing hotels, resorts, and inns (pousadas) that implement sustainable management practices. Valid for 2 years. Aligned with ISO 21401:2020 and Brazilian Tourism Law 14.978/24.
• Inventário de Carbono (Carbon Inventory Service) Carbon inventory service following GHG Protocol methodology that quantifies greenhouse gas emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3. Includes data collection, analysis, emission calculation, validation, and reporting with publication on official registries. Supports compliance with Brazil's Lei nº 15.042/2024 for companies emitting over 10,000 tonnes CO2e/year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 430,000 trees planted and 70,000+ tonnes of carbon to be removed from atmosphere through reforestation programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sompo SegurosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Created the 'Floresta Sompo' project in 2016, planting over 30,000 trees at Parque Ecológico do Tietê through a corporate sponsorship partnership.
• Government of the State of São PaulocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Partnership to administer the nurseries at Parque Ecológico do Tietê, São Paulo since 2008. IBDN manages the production of native tree seedlings used for carbon offset programs and reforestation of degraded areas. The park spans from the Tietê River sources in Salesópolis to São Paulo city.
• Robson Miguel Tukumbó (Cacique)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Partnership with indigenous chief and violinist Robson Miguel Tukumbó for the 'Índios do Brasil' project, promoting indigenous culture through fairs, workshops, and cultural presentations.
• Café Pilão (and Café do Ponto)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 200510-year partnership (2005-2015) certified with Selo Verde EPN. Generated hundreds of social actions nationwide and '+10 billion packages on the market' with sustainable packaging. A flagship case demonstrating the impact of corporate-environmental partnerships.
• WordcomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWordcom handled communications, event management, and experience design for the Encontro Nacional Indústria Porto, which received Carbon Neutral Event certification for the 4th consecutive year. Wordcom specializes in communication strategies connecting brands with strategic sectors.
• André Ursini (Encontro Nacional Indústria Porto)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndividual event organizer who initiated the Carbon Neutral event certification for the Encontro Nacional Indústria Porto, creating a repeatable model for corporate events.
• SESI EaglesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSESI Eagles developed ArqueoSift, a portable automatic archaeological sieve powered by photovoltaic energy, which received IBDN's Selo Verde de Energia Renovável. The project won 1st place at regional level and advanced to national competition.
• Vertys Energy GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified renewable energy company and homologated as a certifier for IBDN's Selo ER (Energia Renovável) certification. Can certify renewable energy systems on behalf of IBDN.
• Aton EnergyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified renewable energy company and homologated certifier for Selo ER. Validates renewable energy installations for IBDN certification.
• Newsun Energy Brazil S.A.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as both a certified company and a certified certifier (certificadora) for Selo ER. Develops and certifies renewable energy projects.
• ICTSI - Rio Brasil TerminalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort operating company certified with both Selo EPN and Selo NC. Achieved IBS score of 88/100 in ESG maturity assessment. Operating at Porto do Rio de Janeiro since 1998.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Imaflora: Imaflora (Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola) is a Brazilian nonprofit that certifies sustainable forestry, agricultural, and chain-of-custody operations. It is IBDN's most direct domestic peer in environmental certification and chain-of-custody validation.
• B Lab: B Lab administers the B Corp certification, a global sustainability and ESG credential for companies. Like IBDN's Selo EPN, it certifies whole companies across environmental, social, and governance criteria, making it the closest direct comparable in business sustainability certification.
• GreenSign Institut: GreenSign certifies hotels and hospitality businesses on sustainability criteria — a direct international parallel to IBDN's Selo HER. Comparable use case (lodging ESG certification) but operates primarily in Europe.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): FSC operates the leading global forest certification and chain-of-custody standard. It is comparable to IBDN's chain-of-custody and reforestation components and competes for the same sustainability-procurement budgets.
• Climate Neutral: Climate Neutral certifies brands as carbon neutral by measuring, reducing, and offsetting emissions. It is directly comparable to IBDN's Selo NC (Neutro de Carbono) and Inventário de Carbono services, though operating primarily in the U.S. market.
• Rainforest Alliance: Rainforest Alliance certifies sustainable land use, agriculture, forestry, and tourism businesses globally. It overlaps with IBDN's PES (product), EPN (enterprise), and reforestation/carbon neutralization offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) giant with ISO 14001, ISO 14064, and sustainability assurance services. It competes with IBDN's enterprise certification offerings as part of a much broader compliance portfolio.
• Carbon Trust: Carbon Trust certifies carbon footprints, reductions, and neutral/zero claims for corporates. It is a broader incumbent offering overlapping services to IBDN's Selo NC but as part of a wider climate advisory portfolio.
• SGS: SGS is one of the world's largest testing, inspection, and certification companies, offering ISO-based environmental audits and ESG assurance. Comparable to IBDN as a broad TIC incumbent rather than a specialist.

Emerging players

• Gold Standard: Gold Standard certifies high-quality carbon credits and climate interventions. It overlaps with IBDN's carbon inventory and offset services, particularly where clients need internationally tradable carbon credits rather than domestic reforestation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ongIBDN
• Facebookfacebook.com/ibdnoficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibdnoficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibdnoficial

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 IBDN | Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa da Natureza