What KATE Umwelt & Entwicklung e.V. does

KATE Umwelt & Entwicklung e.V. is a Stuttgart-based non-profit association (eingetragener Verein), founded in 1998, that provides sustainability consulting, training, and community-building services to German businesses, social-sector organizations, universities, sports associations, and federal agencies. With 13 employees, the organization delivers advisory work across sustainability management, climate management (THG balancing and climate risk per ISO 14090/91), and environmental management (EMAS and ISO 14001), and operates training programs such as the Nachhaltigkeitsmanager:in VSME in KMU certificate course (€2,200), VSME reporting training (€1,411 full package), climate-risk courses, and soft-skills workshops (€250/module or €650 for all three).

The organization's flagship product is We Impact, a certifiable sustainability management system co-developed with arqum and commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV), which integrates environmental, social, and governance requirements from EMAS, ISO 14001, ESRS, and LkSG. KATE packages We Impact delivery as the We Impact Konvoi — a six-month guided group program covering webinars, individual support, implementation materials, audit, and certification — and has extended it into dedicated tracks for universities and international universities. Supporting digital tools include a Digitale EMAS-Plattform and a Klimarisikoanalyse-Tool developed with CSR-Tools.

Revenue is generated through four streams: paid consulting engagements, fee-based training and certification programs, direct government contracts (notably the "Nachhaltig gewinnt!" framework contract with the Federal Ministry of the Interior via the Bundesakademie für öffentliche Verwaltung), and project funding from BMUV, BMZ, BMI, and Engagement Global for initiatives such as PLAY4SDGs (with the Deutscher Badminton-Verband) and Unternehmen FAIRändern. KATE sells both open-enrollment training and customized inhouse offerings, distributes content via LinkedIn, Instagram, and its website, and markets through free webinars and referral networks anchored in government and association partnerships. Notable customers and partners include NDR, Deutsche Welle, Evangelische Bank, Universität zu Köln, Deutscher Caritasverband, Diakonie Deutschland, BAköV, and IG Kölner Gastro. The organization itself is EMASplus certified.

Name

KATE Umwelt & Entwicklung e.V.

Legal name

KATE Umwelt & Entwicklung e. V.

Website

https://kate-stuttgart.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KATE Umwelt & Entwicklung e.V. is a Stuttgart-based non-profit association that delivers sustainability consulting, training, and certification (including its BMUV-commissioned We Impact system) to SMEs, social-sector organizations, universities, sports associations, and German federal agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Adaptation & Resilience Planning Platforms (CAPEX Prioritization, Cost–Benefit, NBS) (EUABALAH), Climate Target-Setting, Transition Planning & Performance Management Platforms (EUABAEAF)

Keywords

• Sustainability consulting services
• Environmental management systems
• Climate risk management
• Corporate sustainability training
• ESG management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Advisory services for sustainability management, climate protection, environmental management, and climate risk analysis. Provided to businesses, organizations, and government agencies.
2. Training and Certification Programs: Professional development courses including Nachhaltigkeitsmanager VSME certification (2,200 EUR), VSME reporting training (1,411 EUR full course), and soft skills workshops (250 EUR per module or 650 EUR for all three). Certificate examination available for 250 EUR additional.
3. Government Contracts: Framework contract services for German federal administration under 'Nachhaltig gewinnt!' program, providing sensitization and training services to government agencies on sustainability topics.
4. Project Funding: Non-profit organization receives project funding from government sources (BMUV, BMZ, BMI, Engagement Global) and EU programs to conduct sustainability transformation projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KATE Umwelt & Entwicklung e.V. provides sustainability management consulting, climate and environmental management services, and fee-based training programs for businesses, social institutions, universities, government agencies, and sports organizations. Its flagship is the We Impact certifiable sustainability management system, co-developed with arqum under a BMUV mandate, integrating EMAS, ISO 14001, ESRS and LkSG requirements. Supporting offerings include GHG balancing, climate risk analysis per ISO 14090/91, VSME reporting training, and group-based implementation programs (We Impact Konvoi).

Product overview

KATE Umwelt & Entwicklung e.V. is a non-profit consulting and education organization offering a portfolio of sustainability services. The core product is the We Impact sustainability management system, which is a certifiable system developed for the German Federal Ministry for Environment. The organization provides consulting services for sustainability management, climate management, and environmental management (EMAS/ISO 14001). Educational offerings include training programs such as VSME Reporting, Sustainability Manager for SMEs, Climate Risk Management, and Soft Skills for Sustainability Officers. Additionally, KATE runs various sustainability projects including Unternehmen FAIRändern (cross-departmental green teams), PLAY4SDGs (badminton sport SDG awareness), and Nachhaltig gewinnt! (federal administration sensitization). All products and services work together to provide end-to-end support from strategy development through implementation to certification and reporting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• We Impact Sustainability Management System
• Nachhaltigkeitsberatung (Sustainability Consulting)
• Klimamanagement (Climate Management)
• Umweltmanagement (Environmental Management)
• Nachhaltigkeitsmanager:in VSME in KMU (Certificate Course)
• Berichterstattung nach VSME (Training)
• Klimarisiken und Klimafolgen systematisch managen (Training)
• Soft Skills f\u00fcr Nachhaltigkeitsverantwortliche (Training)
• We Impact Konvoi

Quantifiable outcome

• Organizations achieve certified sustainability management systems through We Impact Level 1 with independent audit verification
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• arqumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Co-developed the We Impact sustainability management system with KATE, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). Arqum is a professional services firm specializing in sustainability and corporate responsibility.
• Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz (BMUV)coreOthersCommissioned the development of We Impact management system. Provides ongoing support and recognition for KATE's sustainability initiatives. Primary government partner for national sustainability programs.
• Bundesakademie für öffentliche Verwaltung (BAköV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership under the framework contract 'Nachhaltig gewinnt!' for sustainability sensitization in German federal administration. BAköV supports the federal government and funding recipients in strengthening sustainability in the workplace.
• Deutscher Badminton-Verband (DBV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the PLAY4SDGs project promoting the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals in badminton sport. The project runs from July 2024 to December 2025, targeting multipliers in the badminton sport.
• Sportvereinigung FeuerbachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in the Klimafit project for climate protection in sports clubs. Development and introduction of a climate management concept for sports clubs.
• Diakonie BadenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for specialized sustainability management training course for social institutions (Sozialwirtschaft). Certificate course developed in cooperation.
• ENGAGEMENT GLOBALminorOthersFunding organization for the PLAY4SDGs project with funds from the BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development).
• Marina Schwarz ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcoVadis consultant partnership for joint webinar on sustainability management for EcoVadis, VSME and supply chain requirements.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• EY Germany (Climate Change and Sustainability Services): Big Four advisory offering ESG strategy, non-financial reporting, and sustainability assurance in Germany — an incumbent with broader scale and integrated assurance that could displace smaller specialists like KATE.
• PwC Germany (ESG/Sustainability): Big Four advisory with deep German sustainability reporting, climate risk, and assurance capabilities. Competes for the same SME and federal administration sustainability mandates as KATE.
• Accenture Germany (Sustainability Services): Global consultancy with a strong German sustainability practice covering CSRD, ESG data, and climate strategy for enterprise and public-sector clients — a broad incumbent competing in KATE's target market.
• Deloitte Germany (Sustainability & Climate practice): Global advisory firm with a sizable German sustainability practice serving both SME and public-sector clients on CSRD/ESRS, climate risk, and ESG strategy — a broad incumbent competing for the same regulatory-driven demand.

Direct peers

• adelphi: Berlin-based independent think tank and consultancy working on climate, environment, and sustainable development. Comparable to KATE in sustainability advisory, capacity building, and government-funded transformation projects.
• GFA Consulting Group: Hamburg-based consultancy implementing international development and sustainability projects funded by BMZ, BMUV, and EU programs — directly comparable to KATE in non-profit/development-driven sustainability project work.
• arqum GmbH: Munich/Stuttgart-based sustainability and corporate responsibility consultancy. arqum is KATE's co-development partner on We Impact and operates in the same German SME sustainability advisory market with overlapping EMAS/ISO 14001 and ESG reporting offerings.
• Sustainable AG: German sustainability consultancy supporting SMEs and corporates with sustainability management, reporting (CSRD/VSME), and climate strategy. Closely comparable services and customer segments to KATE.
• FUTURE CAMP Climate GmbH: German consultancy specialized in climate accounting, ESG reporting, and sustainability strategy. Directly competes with KATE in the SME and public-sector sustainability advisory space.

Emerging players

• GAIA Consulting: Smaller German sustainability consultancy focused on ESG reporting, climate accounting, and sustainable corporate governance — an emerging peer with overlapping offerings for German SMEs and social-sector clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kate-stuttgart
• Instagraminstagram.com/kate_umwelt_und_entwicklung

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 KATE Umwelt & Entwicklung e.V.