planZ

What planZ does

planZ is a boutique sustainability consulting firm founded in late 2020 by Anke Peter in Northeim, Lower Saxony, and operated as a sole proprietorship under Detlef Peter. The firm sells four interconnected service modules — Externes Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement (outsourced sustainability management including EcoVadis, SEDEX and Drive Sustainability questionnaire handling), Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie (a five-step strategy process anchored in materiality analysis aligned with the UN SDGs), Nachhaltige Beschaffung (responsible sourcing advisory), and Reporting & Kommunikation (sustainability reporting and stakeholder communication) — aimed at helping SMEs navigate CSRD, LkSG, EU Taxonomy, and ESG rating requirements. planZ does not operate a proprietary software platform; the technology footprint is limited to Microsoft Office 365 for operations and a WordPress/WooCommerce website with WPML localization for client-facing content. All engagements are bespoke, project-based consulting with custom quotes; no pricing or revenue is publicly disclosed.

The client base consists of German SMEs with headcounts ranging from roughly 25 to over 1,500 employees across industries including paper, hospitality, staffing, trade, and logistics, with documented engagement footprints in Germany and Switzerland. Named client outcomes include FREIGEIST & FRIENDS GmbH & Co. KG (compact DNK sustainability reporting), prowork personal GmbH (EcoVadis Silver Medal achieved 24 points above target, plus EcoZert from Creditreform Braunschweig Göttingen — making it the first firm in the region to receive that certification). The core team numbers approximately 3-5 personnel: founder Anke Peter, co-founder and mentor Detlef Peter, and project manager Claudia Peter-Murken.

Go-to-market combines direct sales with a community-led regional channel via the quarterly NachhaltigkeitsDialog networking events in Südniedersachsen, and a curated partner ecosystem (CORSUS for strategy, iron AG for ESG, Conrisco for risk/compliance, Climate3 for climate calculation, Creditreform for EcoZert) plus minor partners (SCHIERRIEGER, Strobel Unternehmensberatung, SUSTAINABILITY ADVISOR, Elga Müller, Dr. Ines Beeck, novaCapta). The firm holds BNW association membership since August 2023, is a signatory of the Charta der Vielfalt since May 2023, and is founder-owned with no external investment, parent company, or institutional backing.

Name

planZ

Legal name

Detlef Peter

Website

https://plan-z.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

planZ is a boutique German sustainability consultancy founded in 2020 in Northeim, serving SMEs across Germany and Switzerland with outsourced sustainability management, ESG strategy, responsible sourcing, and sustainability reporting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG Reporting (GRI/SASB/ISSB/CSRD) (EUAHAJAB), GHG Accounting & Net-Zero/Decarbonization Planning (Scopes 1–3) (EUAHAJAC), ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ), Stakeholder Engagement & ESG Governance (Policies, KPIs, incentives) (EUAHAJAJ), Supply Chain (Scope 3) Emissions & Supplier Engagement Platforms (EUABAEAE)

Keywords

• Sustainability consulting
• ESG advisory services
• Sustainability strategy
• CSR management
• Sustainability reporting

Headquarters

HQ city

Northeim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: planZ provides professional consulting services for sustainable organizational development, including external sustainability management, sustainability strategy development, sustainable procurement guidance, and reporting & communication support. These are project-based engagements with clients ranging from 25 employees to over 1,500 employees across industries including paper industry, hospitality, staffing, trade, and logistics in Germany and Switzerland.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

planZ is a sustainability consulting firm that helps small and medium-sized enterprises establish sustainable organizational structures and navigate ESG requirements. The firm delivers four service modules: outsourced sustainability management, sustainability strategy development, sustainable procurement advisory, and sustainability reporting and communication. Engagements are project-based, typically covering status-quo assessment, materiality analysis, KPI-driven roadmap creation, and implementation support for regulations including CSRD, LkSG, EU Taxonomy, and EcoVadis.

Product overview

planZ is a consulting firm specializing in sustainable organizational development for small and medium-sized enterprises. The company offers a portfolio of four interconnected service modules: Externes Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement (full-cycle outsourced sustainability management), Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie (5-step strategy development), Nachhaltige Beschaffung (responsible sourcing advisory), and Reporting & Kommunikation (reporting and stakeholder communication). These services are designed to help companies navigate ESG requirements, comply with regulations (e.g., CSRD, LkSG, EU Taxonomy), and build practical sustainability management systems — from status-quo assessment through strategy and implementation. The company also organizes the regional NachhaltigkeitsDialog network event as a client engagement and thought-leadership channel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Externes Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement (External Sustainability Management) Full-service outsourced sustainability management where planZ handles all sustainability-related queries, questionnaire responses (e.g., EcoVadis, SEDEX, Drive Sustainability), and stakeholder reporting on behalf of the client company. Designed for SMEs without internal sustainability resources.
• Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie (Sustainability Strategy) A structured 5-step consulting process to develop a long-term sustainability strategy, including status-quo assessment, materiality analysis aligned with UN SDGs, goal definition, roadmap creation with KPIs, and implementation control. Designed for SMEs seeking to align operations with SDGs and regulatory frameworks.
• Nachhaltige Beschaffung (Sustainable Procurement) Responsible sourcing advisory covering supplier assessment, development of a customized sustainable procurement guideline, and stakeholder communication and training programs. Designed for SMEs seeking to integrate sustainability into their procurement processes.
• Reporting & Kommunikation (Reporting & Communication) Sustainability reporting and communication services including the development of concise reporting formats, tailored communication concepts for specific audiences, and workshops and seminars on sustainability topics. Designed for SMEs needing to communicate sustainability performance to stakeholders and meet reporting obligations.

Quantifiable outcome

• EcoVadis Silver Medal achievement for prowork personal GmbH - exceeded original target score by 24 points
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CORSUS – DIE NACHHALTIGKEITSBERATUNGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for sustainability consulting. CORSUS provides strategic consulting competence while planZ contributes specific practical knowledge. Together they support companies, municipalities, and organizations in achieving more sustainability.
• iron AG – Nachhaltigkeit & ESGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBranch-agnostic ESG consulting firm supporting companies of all sizes with sustainability strategy development, Corporate Governance implementation, voluntary and mandatory ESG reporting, sustainability communication, and ESG rating processes.
• Conrisco GmbH – Risiko- und Compliance-ManagercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConrisco specializes in active risk and compliance management, helping companies systematically manage legal duties for risk early detection, risk minimization, and damage prevention. While planZ takes over sustainability management, Conrisco handles company-specific risks and compliance organization.
• Climate3coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate3 supports companies in holistic sustainable transformation with necessary structures and climate calculations along the entire value chain, as well as creating sustainability reports. Their climate calculation system is particularly developed for SME requirements.
• SCHIERRIEGER – Nachhaltig werbenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdvertising and communication agency that accompanies clients on their way to a social-ecological future. They value planZ's holistic view of companies that can initiate long-term measures and real change.
• Dr. Ines Beeck – Digitalisierung & Smart CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigitalization consultant specializing in smart city development. Services include strategy and process consulting, workshop moderation, seminar conception, and lectures. Sees opportunity to combine sustainability and digitalization megatrends.
• Strobel Unternehmensberatung & Service GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaniel Strobel supports SMEs in strategically integrating sustainability as a certified CSR Manager (IHK). Helps companies identify relevant sustainability topics, link them with KPIs, and prepare for discussions with banks or clients.
• SUSTAINABILITY ADVISOR (Michael Werner)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability advisor with over 30 years of experience in strategy, performance, and reporting. Supports listed and mid-sized companies with CSRD reporting and EU Taxonomy implementation.
• Elga MüllerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 20 years of experience in sustainability and communication management. Supports companies in developing sustainability strategies and concepts, implementing ESG criteria for measurable results.
• novaCaptaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIT services firm that hosted an interview with planZ and Climate3 on the topic of sustainability and IT. novaCapta focuses on digital transformation and sees IT as a key factor for sustainability.
• BNW – Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft e.V.coreOthersThe BNW is the voice of sustainable business in public and politics. Vision: To drive the ecological and social transformation of the economy with heart, mind, and credibility. planZ has been a member since summer 2023.
• Unternehmensnetzwerk Wirtschaft & Familie e.V. Landkreis NortheimminorOthersNetwork supporting family-friendly businesses that ensure compatibility of professional and family life. planZ is a member as part of their commitment to being a family-friendly company.
• Charta der VielfaltminorOthersDiversity charter that planZ signed in May 2023 to demonstrate commitment to diversity in the workplace, sensitize all employees, and always consider diversity dimensions in business actions.
• Creditreform Braunschweig GöttingencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCredit agency that awarded EcoZert certification. planZ collaborated with Creditreform on a joint article in the faktor-Magazin about sustainable business practices.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• B.A.U.M. Consult GmbH: Established German sustainability and CSR consultancy supporting SMEs with sustainability strategies, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. Comparable to planZ in target segment and service mix.
• futureCamp Climate GmbH: German sustainability consultancy offering carbon accounting, ESG strategy, and CSRD reporting for SMEs and mid-market companies. Directly competitive on the same SME CSRD and climate calculation use cases as planZ.
• iron AG – Nachhaltigkeit & ESG: Branch-agnostic ESG consulting firm supporting companies with sustainability strategy, ESG reporting, and ESG rating processes. Overlaps directly with planZ on ESG advisory for SMEs and is also a known planZ partner.
• CORSUS – Die Nachhaltigkeitsberatung: Hamburg-based sustainability consulting firm offering strategic advice on sustainability strategy, ESG reporting, and value-chain topics. Directly comparable to planZ on strategy and reporting, and is a listed planZ partner.
• Conrisco GmbH: Risk and compliance consultancy for SMEs, complementing planZ's sustainability services with legal and compliance expertise. A planZ partner but also a seller into overlapping SME buyers in the DACH market.
• Climate3: SME-focused sustainability consultancy specializing in climate calculations along the value chain and sustainability reporting. Comparable to planZ's sustainable procurement and GHG-related modules, and a planZ partner.
• Ecology + Communication (öplus): Hamburg-based sustainability consultancy advising SMEs on sustainability strategy, GRI/CSRD reporting, and stakeholder communications. Directly comparable offering and customer segment to planZ.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte (Sustainability & Climate practice): Global advisory firm with a large sustainability and CSRD practice serving large enterprises and increasingly mid-market companies. Competes with planZ on the SME end of the ESG consulting market and dwarfs it in scale.
• EcoVadis: Global sustainability ratings platform widely used by SMEs in Germany. planZ itself helps clients prepare EcoVadis submissions, making EcoVadis a complementary but increasingly competitive ecosystem player as it expands advisory services.
• PwC (Sustainability Services): Big 4 advisory firm with a broad sustainability and ESG reporting practice. Increasingly targeting mid-market German companies for CSRD and LkSG support, overlapping with planZ's core regulatory-compliance offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plan-zorg

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 planZ