What Real Zero does

Real Zero is a UK-registered nonprofit climate organisation that delivers science-based climate expertise, education, and practical decarbonisation solutions targeted at individuals and, distinctively, the UK healthcare sector — primarily NHS trusts, hospitals, and their food service suppliers. Founded by clinicians, climate scientists, and renewable-energy finance professionals and led by Director Professor Hugh Montgomery OBE (co-chair of the Lancet Countdown on Health & Climate Change), the organisation translates climate science into actionable frameworks rather than building proprietary technology. Its core product, the "7 Acts to Save the World," is a free public framework covering ethical banking, renewable energy switching, plant-based diets, green travel, pre-loved purchasing, carbon footprint monitoring, and motivating others — operationalised through a Squarespace website, newsletter, and Spotify podcast with no paid consumer product.

For institutional clients in the NHS, Real Zero has codified four interconnected programmes: Move your Power Organisation (renewable energy procurement via Power Purchase Agreements), More Plant-Based Food Organisation (sustainable hospital food with supplier partners), More Pre-Loved Organisations (Value Based Healthcare procurement), and Move your Money Organisation (ethical banking advocacy including lobbying Government Banking Services). The Junior Real Zero sub-brand extends the model into children's climate education. The organisation combines a direct-to-consumer educational GTM with a community-led, partnership-driven B2B engagement model for NHS pilot sites, supported by a high-profile advisory board drawn from the Lancet Countdown, E3G, the former NHS Chief Sustainability Officer, and other climate-policy leaders.

Real Zero operates as a donation-funded charity with no disclosed financials, pricing model, or commercial revenue. Income is sourced from supporter contributions processed via Stripe, with all frameworks, content, and resources provided free of charge. The core team is small (fewer than ten staff including the Director, Business Director, Development Director, Food Programme Lead, and Researcher), supplemented by associates and a volunteer advisory board. There is no app, no API, no disclosed AI/ML capability, and no proprietary technology stack; differentiation rests on science credibility, NHS insider access, replicable programme playbooks, and the "multiplier effect" community strategy.

Name

Real Zero

Legal name

Real Zero

Website

https://realzero.earth

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Real Zero is a UK nonprofit delivering science-based climate education and replicable decarbonisation programmes — primarily to the NHS and individuals — through its free "7 Acts" framework, four NHS-facing programmes, and a Lancet-credentialed advisory board.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate and Healthcare Sustainability Advisory

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

Decarbonization Strategy & Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) Advisory (EUABAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Net-Zero Target Setting & SBTi/Net-Zero Standard Support (EUABAKAA), Scope 1–3 GHG Inventory Strategy, Data Governance & Controls (advisory) (EUABAKAD), Climate Finance Strategy (CapEx planning, green finance, incentives & grants) (EUABAKAG)

Keywords

• Climate education
• Healthcare decarbonisation
• NHS sustainability advisory
• Renewable energy consulting
• Carbon reduction advocacy

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Support: Real Zero operates as a nonprofit and accepts donations through Stripe. Supporters can donate to fund the organisation's climate education and advocacy work targeting the health sector and beyond.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Real Zero is a nonprofit climate organisation that delivers science-based climate expertise, education, and practical solutions to individuals and healthcare organisations, with a primary focus on the UK NHS. It equips individuals with the "7 Acts to Save the World" action framework and provides NHS trusts and suppliers with organisational programmes spanning renewable energy procurement (PPAs), plant-based food transformation, value-based healthcare procurement, and ethical banking advocacy. The organisation's revenue is derived from supporter donations, and all advisory content and programmes are provided free of charge.

Product overview

Real Zero is a non-profit climate organisation offering science-based climate expertise, education, and solutions for individuals and organisations in the health sector and beyond. Their core product is the '7 Acts to Save the World' framework, which provides seven actionable steps individuals can take to combat climate change. For organisational clients (primarily NHS healthcare organisations), they offer four interconnected programmes: Move your Power Organisation (NHS energy decarbonisation via PPAs), More Plant-Based Food Organisation (sustainable food systems), More Pre-Loved Organisations (Value Based Healthcare procurement), and Move your Money Organisation (ethical banking advocacy). They also publish the Planetary Health Report on health-climate co-benefits and run Junior Real Zero for children's climate education. Their model combines expert climate science analysis with practical, replicable solutions that deliver health, financial, and carbon benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Junior Real Zero: Children's climate education program under the Real Zero umbrella focused on engaging young people in climate action.

Products and services

• 7 Acts to Save the World A framework of seven simple actions individuals can take to combat climate change: switching to ethical banking and renewable energy, embracing plant-based diets, choosing greener travel, buying second-hand, measuring CO2 impact, and inspiring others to take action. Free for individuals via the Real Zero website.
• Move your Power Organisation (NHS Energy Decarbonisation)
• More Plant-Based Food Organisation
• More Pre-Loved Organisations (Value Based Healthcare)
• Move your Money Organisation
• Planetary Health Report
• Junior Real Zero

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NHS TrustscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal Zero partners with NHS trusts to develop replicable solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Working with NHS pilot sites on renewable energy procurement through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and plant-based food initiatives.
• NHS Food Service SupplierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering with food service suppliers into the NHS to deliver increased plant-rich food options that improve dietary health, reduce carbon emissions, and potentially reduce food waste costs.
• Health Innovation and Commercial Industry PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with health innovation and commercial industry partners to develop robust solutions for NHS organisations to access renewable energy, specifically through Power Purchase Agreements.
• Government Banking Services (Barclays, NatWest, CitiBank)minorOthersReal Zero has lobbied to introduce a green element to Government Banking Services, advocating for either a non-fossil fuel investing institution or ring-fencing of public money from fossil fuel investment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• E3G (Third Generation Environmentalism): Climate think tank chaired by Real Zero advisory board member Tom Burke CBE, focused on climate policy and acceleration. Comparable in nonprofit advocacy and advisory influence, though broader in sectoral scope than Real Zero's healthcare focus.
• Health Care Without Harm: International nonprofit working to decarbonise healthcare systems globally, including through plant-based food procurement and supply chain engagement. Comparable to Real Zero's NHS food programme but at much larger global scale and resourcing.
• The Climate Group: International nonprofit working with businesses and governments on climate action, where Real Zero advisory board member Peter Myers previously campaigned. Comparable scale of nonprofit climate advocacy and stakeholder engagement.
• Greener NHS (NHS England programme): The NHS's own in-house net-zero programme with a near-£1bn budget and dedicated leadership. Real Zero's NHS-facing programmes (PPAs, plant-based food, sustainable procurement) all overlap materially with Greener NHS's mandate and priorities.

Direct peers

• Small World Consulting: Sustainability consultancy founded by Real Zero advisory board member Mike Berners-Lee, helping businesses, governments and the third sector measure carbon and embed sustainable practices. Closely comparable services, audience and advisory DNA.
• Sustainable Healthcare Coalition: UK-based coalition of healthcare organisations, suppliers and NGOs working on sustainable healthcare procurement and supply chain decarbonisation. Directly comparable to Real Zero's value-based healthcare procurement programme.
• Centre for Sustainable Healthcare: UK-based charity focused on sustainable healthcare delivery, including clinical practice transformation, carbon reduction in healthcare, and education. Directly comparable to Real Zero in mission, geography, and NHS-facing programmatic focus.
• Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU): UK non-profit supporting informed debate on energy and climate change, directed by Real Zero advisory board member Peter Chalkley. Comparable nonprofit advocacy and communications model, overlapping advisory network.

Regional players

• Practice Greenhealth: US-based membership organisation for healthcare sustainability, providing tools, data and programmes for hospitals to reduce environmental impact. Functionally similar to Real Zero's NHS-facing programmes but operating in the US healthcare market.

Emerging players

• New AutoMotive: UK non-profit using data to accelerate EV transition, founded by Real Zero advisory board member Ben Nelmes. Comparable in UK nonprofit advocacy model and shared advisory ecosystem, though focused on transport rather than healthcare.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/real-zero

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Real Zero