Karbon Ethic
Karbon Ethic is a French non-profit association founded in 2020 that provides carbon footprint assessments, life cycle analysis, and decarbonization training to small and medium enterprises (PME/TPE) through a national network of 20-30 carbon transition experts, complemented by Qualiopi-certified training programs and membership-based engagement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersPloufragan, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Karbon Ethic does
Karbon Ethic is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 2020 by environmental engineer Régis Janvier and formally established as an independent entity in May 2021 after being developed within his consultancy J3i. The association is dedicated to carbon sobriety and decarbonization services for small and medium enterprises (PME/TPE) in France, addressing the gap between the sophisticated carbon accounting infrastructure available to large corporations and the limited resources of smaller businesses facing the same regulatory and stakeholder pressures.
The core service portfolio comprises Bilan Carbone® (carbon footprint assessment across the value chain), Life Cycle Analysis (ACV), and ACT Pas-à-Pas strategic decarbonization planning methodology developed by ADEME. These are differentiated by the proprietary Ratio Utilité/Carbone framework, which classifies human consumption based on utility-to-carbon ratio to prioritize decarbonization actions. The association complements its consulting services with a family of branded training programs (Karbon Challenge, Karbon Learning, Karbon Saver, Karbon Starter, Karbon Watcher, and CSRD training) that are Qualiopi-certified and accessible via e-learning or in-person formats. Delivery is performed through a national network of 20-30 carbon transition experts distributed across France, organized into three governance colleges: beneficiary members (certified committed companies), benefactor members (financial contributors), and expert members (carbon and RSE consultants).
The revenue model combines professional services (tiered consulting at €4,000 for 1-249 employee companies and €6,000 for 250-499 employee companies), Qualiopi-certified training programs, recurring association memberships, and subsidized services through the Diag Décarbonaction program co-financed by BPI France and ADEME. The go-to-market is hybrid sales-led and community-led: expert network direct sales for individualized engagements, combined with group training programs (Karbon Challenge) that leverage collective dynamics and peer learning. Customer segments span TPE/PME (primary), large enterprises requiring regulatory Bilan Carbone (secondary), entrepreneurs integrating carbon strategy into new ventures, and carbon/RSE experts joining the network as members. The association operates from Ploufragan, France, with approximately 21 direct employees and reports activities across the majority of French territory.
Karbon Ethic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Karbon Ethic
- Legal name
- Karbon Ethic
- Website
- https://karbonethic.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Karbon Ethic is a French non-profit association founded in 2020 that provides carbon footprint assessments, life cycle analysis, and decarbonization training to small and medium enterprises (PME/TPE) through a national network of 20-30 carbon transition experts, complemented by Qualiopi-certified training programs and membership-based engagement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Karbon Ethic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainability & Carbon Consulting
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification) (IMAMAJAE)
Keywords
Where Karbon Ethic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ploufragan
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Karbon Ethic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Consulting & Accompaniment Services: Core revenue stream from carbon footprint assessments (Bilan Carbone®), strategic accompaniment, and action plan development for enterprises. Pricing is tiered by company size (4000€ for 1-249 employees, 6000€ for 250-499 employees).
- Training Programs: E-learning and in-person training programs including Karbon Challenge, Karbon Learning, Karbon Saver, Karbon Starter, Karbon Watcher, and CSRD formation. Revenue generated through participant fees, with pricing varying by program and participant count.
- Association Membership: Companies can join as beneficiary members (engaged companies certified Karbon Ethic), benefactor members (contributing to association operations), or expert members (carbon and RSE consultants). Membership fees support the association's mission.
- Diag Décarbonaction Subsidized Services: BPI France and ADEME-backed financing program for companies under 500 employees subsidizing carbon assessment costs, making services more accessible.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Bilan Carbone® for 1-249 employees |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Bilan Carbone® for 250-499 employees |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Impact Carbone (TPE) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Regulatory Bilan Carbone® (500+ employees) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Karbon Watcher |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Karbon Starter |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Karbon Saver |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | CSRD Training |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Karbon Ethic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Karbon Ethic provides carbon footprint assessments (Bilan Carbone®), Life Cycle Analyses (ACV), and strategic decarbonization roadmaps (ACT Pas-à-Pas) for French SMEs and small enterprises, delivered through a national network of carbon transition experts. It also runs a family of Qualiopi-certified training programs (Karbon Challenge, Karbon Learning, Karbon Saver, Karbon Starter, Karbon Watcher, Formation CSRD) that combine individual company accompaniment with group learning.
Product overview
Karbon Ethic offers a suite of carbon sobriety and decarbonization services primarily targeted at SMEs and small businesses in France. The core portfolio includes Bilan Carbone® (carbon footprint assessment), Analyse du Cycle de Vie (Life Cycle Assessment), and ACT Pas-à-Pas (strategic decarbonization methodology). These are complemented by a family of branded training programs: Karbon Challenge (year-long group coaching), Karbon Learning (6h e-learning), Karbon Saver (2h employee awareness), Karbon Starter (7h for business creators), Karbon Watcher (3-day comprehensive program), and Formation CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive training). The organization operates as an associative enterprise with a network of over 20 carbon experts distributed across France, combining consulting services with Qualiopi-certified training delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Karbon Challenge: A one-year accompaniment program for business leaders to develop their carbon strategy, calculate their carbon balance, and understand European and French frameworks.
- Karbon Learning
- Karbon Saver
- Karbon Starter
- Karbon Watcher
Products and services
- Bilan Carbone® Comprehensive carbon footprint assessment service that inventories greenhouse gas emissions across the entire value chain of a company — from raw material sourcing to waste management — enabling businesses to understand their climate impact and develop decarbonization strategies. Priced at €4,000 (1–249 employees) and €6,000 (250–499 employees); custom pricing for 500+ regulatory assessments.
- Analyse du Cycle de Vie (ACV) Life Cycle Assessment service providing precise environmental impact analysis of goods, services, or processes; identifies optimization potential and supports comparative product analysis for improved eco-design decisions.
- ACT Pas-à-Pas Strategic climate planning methodology that helps businesses envision their future under climate constraints, progressing from carbon assessment to a concrete decarbonization action plan aligned with Paris Agreement trajectories.
- Karbon Challenge Year-long training and support program that brings together carbon initiative leaders from different companies for multiple days of shared learning through the stages of a greenhouse gas emissions assessment, including collective workshops and individual strategic reflection.
- Karbon Learning 6-hour e-learning course for project leaders covering climate challenges, business plan connections, carbon impact calculation, and decarbonization strategies.
- Karbon Saver 2-hour e-learning course that helps employees understand climate change, their individual carbon footprint, and the link between carbon sobriety and business strategy.
- Karbon Starter 7-hour training course for business creators covering climate/energy issues, carbon impact calculation, future context impacts, and eco-design to embed climate awareness into a new venture from inception.
- Karbon Watcher 3-day training and support program combining e-learning on climate issues and group workshops to help companies calculate their carbon impact and develop an action plan.
- Formation CSRD One-day in-person training designed to help carbon transition experts and client-facing professionals understand CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) requirements, including its philosophy, sustainability reporting methodology, and the connection between carbon footprint and sustainability reporting.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in France related to transportation
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Karbon Ethic
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Karbon Ethic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Karbon Ethic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- APCC (Association des Professionnels en Conseil Climat)minorKarbon Ethic was featured in an APCC web conference where experts Régis Janvier and Olivier Pons Y Moll presented on carbon sobriety and decarbonization strategies, demonstrating expertise sharing within the professional climate consulting community.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Karbon Ethic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Greenly: French carbon-accounting SaaS platform targeting SMEs and mid-market with automated Bilan Carbone® and CSRD-ready reporting. Same French SME customer segment but tech-enabled delivery model versus Karbon Ethic's expert-led approach.
- Sweep: French-founded carbon and ESG management SaaS platform. Targets enterprise and mid-market with automated carbon accounting, partially overlapping with Karbon Ethic on the carbon-footprinting functional layer.
- Plan A: Berlin-based carbon-accounting and CSRD platform serving European SMEs. Comparable in serving the small-business decarbonization segment that Karbon Ethic targets, but with a SaaS-first model rather than expert delivery.
- Normative: Swedish carbon-accounting software company. Comparable as a tech-enabled carbon-footprinting and CSRD solution, serving a similar European SME-and-up customer base as Karbon Ethic.
Direct peers
- EcoAct: French-origin carbon consultancy (now owned by Schneider Electric) providing carbon footprinting, climate strategy, and training services. Closely comparable business model and Bilan Carbone®-style methodology, with broader enterprise reach.
- Carbone 4: Leading French carbon strategy and decarbonization consultancy founded in 2010. Most direct functional peer to Karbon Ethic - both deliver carbon footprinting, strategy, and training - though Carbone 4 serves larger enterprises while Karbon Ethic focuses on SMEs/TPEs.
Broad incumbents
- Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification giant with carbon and sustainability assurance services. Overlaps with Karbon Ethic on Bilan Carbone®-style audits and certification but operates at much larger scale across many verticals.
- South Pole: Global climate consultancy and carbon project developer with strong European presence. Comparable on climate strategy and decarbonization advisory services, but with much broader portfolio including carbon credit origination.
- Quantis: International sustainability consultancy specializing in Life Cycle Assessment, carbon footprinting, and science-based target strategy. Directly comparable on ACV/LCA service offering that Karbon Ethic provides.
Others
- RSE France (APCC réseau): APCC is the French Association of Climate Consulting Professionals - an industry body that Karbon Ethic already collaborates with. Comparable as a peer professional network in the French climate-consulting ecosystem, though not a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Karbon Ethic social profiles
Digital presenceKarbon Ethic compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Karbon Ethic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Karbon Ethic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Karbon Ethic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Karbon Ethic 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 Karbon Ethic
What does Karbon Ethic do?
Karbon Ethic provides carbon footprint assessments (Bilan Carbone®), Life Cycle Analyses (ACV), and strategic decarbonization roadmaps (ACT Pas-à-Pas) for French SMEs and small enterprises, delivered through a national network of carbon transition experts. It also runs a family of Qualiopi-certified training programs (Karbon Challenge, Karbon Learning, Karbon Saver, Karbon Starter, Karbon Watcher, Formation CSRD) that combine individual company accompaniment with group learning.
Is Karbon Ethic a public or private company?
Karbon Ethic is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Karbon Ethic founded?
Karbon Ethic was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Karbon Ethic based?
Karbon Ethic is headquartered in Ploufragan, France, in the Europe region.
How does Karbon Ethic make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Consulting & Accompaniment Services are the primary driver. The others are training Programs, association Membership and diag Décarbonaction Subsidized Services.
Who are Karbon Ethic's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Greenly, Sweep, Plan A and Normative. Direct peers are EcoAct and Carbone 4. Broad incumbents are Bureau Veritas, South Pole and Quantis. RSE France (APCC réseau) is listed as an others.
Does Karbon Ethic have an API?
No public API is recorded for Karbon Ethic.
What industry is Karbon Ethic in?
Karbon Ethic's product category is Sustainability & Carbon Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAJAE, Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification). Its SIC code is 8731.