Zukunftswerk eG

What Zukunftswerk eG does

Zukunftswerk eG is a German sustainability and climate consulting cooperative (eingetragene Genossenschaft) founded in 2012 and headquartered in Peißenberg, Bavaria. The firm operates across three advisory pillars: Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement (sustainability management — materiality analyses, sustainability reporting under ESRS, GRI, VSME, DNK, biodiversity consulting, CSR communication); Klimamanagement (climate management — greenhouse gas inventories per GHG Protocol, ISO 14064-1, and BISKO, science-based target setting, climate strategy, and voluntary carbon offset brokering); and Seminare und Workshops (training of internal sustainability officers, peer-to-peer formats, and the SDG-Spiel tool). A fourth, newer productized service line is EmpCo-Compliance — a four-step framework for the EU Empowering Consumers Directive (EU 2024/825, effective September 2026) — co-delivered with partner law firm Rossner and offered in tiered packages (Basic €2,490, Professional €5,490, Enterprise from €7,900).

The firm serves a horizontal mix of customers: CSRD-mandated large enterprises (e.g., Lactalis Deutschland, Bausch + Ströbel), SMEs preparing for upcoming reporting obligations, municipalities and public-sector entities (Stadtwerke Bad Tölz, Landkreis München, university case studies), and civil-society organizations. Its technology base consists of recognized sustainability and climate accounting standards applied by a multidisciplinary ~11-person team distributed across Germany, Austria, and Italy, supplemented by content assets (podcast, blog, downloadable reports under VSME and GRI) and carbon-registry registrations (Gold Standard, EU-Unionsregister, APX VCS).

Revenue is generated primarily through project-based and retainer consulting engagements, packaged compliance offerings billed as multi-year contracts, fees from seminars/workshops, and transaction-related fees on carbon-credit management through KLIMAZIELE+. Customer acquisition combines direct B2B sales with free initial consultation, the monthly Peer-to-Peer practitioner format, published case studies, and content marketing via podcast ('Zukunftswerk — Nachhaltigkeit genau genommen') and LinkedIn/Twitter/X. The cooperative governance model means employees hold membership shares, and the sister organization Zukunftswerk Klimaschutz e.V. operates regional climate-protection projects (forest restructuring, moor rewetting, education).

Name

Zukunftswerk eG

Legal name

Zukunftswerk eG

Website

https://zukunftswerk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zukunftswerk eG is a German sustainability and climate consulting cooperative (founded 2012, Peißenberg, Bavaria) advising enterprises, SMEs, and municipalities on CSRD/ESRS reporting, greenhouse gas accounting under GHG Protocol/ISO 14064, biodiversity consulting, and EmpCo-Compliance across the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability and climate consulting services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ), Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH), Sustainability & ESG Reporting (GRI/SASB/ISSB/CSRD) (EUAHAJAB), ESG/Sustainability Reporting & Disclosure Platforms (EUABAEAB), Supply Chain (Scope 3) Emissions & Supplier Engagement Platforms (EUABAEAE)

Keywords

• Sustainability consulting
• Climate management
• GHG accounting
• CSRD compliance
• Sustainability reporting

Headquarters

HQ city

Peißenberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sustainability Consulting Services: Core revenue stream from providing sustainability management, climate management, and sustainability reporting advisory services to companies, municipalities, and organizations. Services are delivered as consulting engagements typically billed on a project or retainer basis. The firm also offers modular consulting packages such as the EmpCo-Compliance packages at defined price points.
2. Seminars and Workshops: Revenue from conducting professional development programs, workshops, webinars, and training sessions to qualify sustainability officers. Formats include intensive 3-day workshops, multi-week programs with practical components, online seminars, and in-house training delivered at client sites.
3. Carbon Offset Services (KLIMAZIELE+): The firm supports clients in selecting and documenting emission credits, purchasing and managing certificates in trust, retiring credits with compliant documentation, and providing accompanying climate communication. Zukunftswerk is registered with EU-Unionsregister Climate Action, Gold Standard Foundation, and APX VCS Registry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Zukunftswerk eG is a sustainability consulting cooperative that advises companies, municipalities, and NGOs on sustainability strategy, double materiality analyses, and sustainability reporting under ESRS, GRI, VSME, DNK, and related standards. It also delivers greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories per GHG Protocol, ISO 14064-1, and BISKO, develops climate strategies, and supports voluntary climate compensation through registered carbon registries. A structured package offering, EmpCo-Compliance, prepares clients for the EU Empowering Consumers Directive (effective September 2026) in partnership with law firm Rossner.

Product overview

Zukunftswerk eG is a consulting cooperative founded in 2012, offering advisory and qualification services across three interconnected practice areas: Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement (sustainability management), Klimamanagement (climate management), and Seminare und Workshops (seminars and workshops). The Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement pillar covers strategy development, materiality analyses, sustainability reporting (ESRS, GRI, VSME, DNK, UNGC), biodiversity consulting, and CSR communication. Klimamanagement encompasses THG accounting (GHG Protocol, ISO 14064-1, BISKO), science-based target setting, decarbonization planning, and voluntary carbon market advisory. The Seminare und Workshops practice area qualifies employees as internal sustainability experts through intensive workshops, online seminars, peer-to-peer formats, and the SDG-Spiel tool. A distinct offering is EmpCo-Compliance — a structured four-step compliance program (Basic, Professional, Enterprise tiers) preparing companies for the EU Empowering Consumers Directive effective September 2026. The company also publishes its own Nachhaltigkeitsbericht (sustainability report) and Impact Report following VSME standards, and produces the 'Zukunftswerk — Nachhaltigkeit genau genommen' podcast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zukunftswerk Podcast: Podcast named 'Zukunftswerk — Nachhaltigkeit genau genommen' covering sustainability topics and climate protection.
• KLIMAZIELE+

Products and services

• Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement (Sustainability Management Consulting)

Quantifiable outcome

• Client in construction materials sector achieved approximately 40% emission reduction since base reporting year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 minor and core.

• Energieagentur Ebersberg-MünchenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The Energieagentur Ebersberg-München initiated the 'Aktion Zukunft+' program in cooperation with Landkreis München, in which Zukunftswerk participates as a carbon certificate provider. The program enables citizens, companies, and organizations to support climate protection projects through donation-based crowdfunding, with equal funding flowing to local and international projects. Zukunftswerk provides verified CO₂ certificates from its registered registries.
• Zukunftswerk Klimaschutz e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZukunftswerk Klimaschutz e.V. is the sister organization and registered environmental/climate protection association of Zukunftswerk eG. The association designs and implements local projects such as forest restructuring measures, moor rewetting, and educational programs for school and youth groups. These efforts are meaningful, transparent, and effective for the region. The cooperative model and the association together form the holistic sustainability offering of the organization.
• Anwaltskanzlei Rossner (Law Firm Rossner)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZukunftswerk partners with law firm Rossner to deliver the joint EmpCo-Compliance service. Together they guide clients through all four steps of the compliance process — from claim inventory to monitoring — combining Zukunftswerk's sustainability expertise with Rossner's legal and regulatory knowledge. Alexander Rossner, Vorstand (board member) of Zukunftswerk, is also associated with this law firm.
• Privatwaldgemeinschaft OberammergauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the KLIMAZIELE+ program, clients can purchase emissions credits with an additional premium supporting the Privatwaldgemeinschaft Oberammergau (Private Forest Community Oberammergau) for afforestation of calamity areas. The forest community holds PEFC certification and manages protected forest under Bavarian forest law, providing flood and avalanche protection for the region. The rule of thumb is that every €10 finances one tree and its care.
• Gold Standard FoundationcoreOthersZukunftswerk is registered as an actor with the Gold Standard Foundation (Account No. 103000000005877). The firm exclusively uses recognized quality standards including Gold Standard certificates for carbon offset projects, alongside CER (Certified Emission Reductions) of UNFCCC and Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) projects.
• EU-Unionsregister Climate ActioncoreOthersZukunftswerk is registered with the EU-Unionsregister Climate Action (Account No. EU-100-5016768-0-3), enabling the firm to manage carbon credits and emissions certificates within the EU regulatory framework.
• APX VCS RegistrycoreOthersZukunftswerk is registered with the APX VCS Registry (Account No. 098A9958) for managing Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) emissions certificates and supporting client carbon offset activities.
• everi GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZukunftswerk partnered with everi GmbH to develop and implement the 'Future Soils' climate protection project in Brandenburg, Germany. The project focuses on soil carbon sequestration through regenerative agriculture practices. Zukunftswerk contributes certification expertise and quality assurance for CO₂ certificates generated by the project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• South Pole Group: Global climate consultancy and project developer offering carbon credit origination, GHG inventory, climate strategy, and ESG advisory. Directly comparable to Zukunftswerk's Klimamanagement and KLIMAZIELE+ offset services, with much broader international scale but similar DACH roots.
• Carbon Trust: UK-origin independent climate consultancy providing carbon footprinting, climate strategy, and sustainability advisory to corporates and governments. Comparable to Zukunftswerk on THG accounting, climate strategy development, and municipal/public-sector climate programs, with stronger brand recognition and global footprint.
• Fokus Zukunft: Germany-based sustainability and climate protection consultancy serving mid-market companies with GHG inventories, climate strategies, and sustainability reporting. Comparable to Zukunftswerk on DACH mid-market focus, BISKO/GHG Protocol accounting, and CO2 footprint offerings.
• Quantis: International sustainability consultancy specializing in product carbon footprints, Scope 3 emissions, and science-based target setting. Closely comparable to Zukunftswerk on GHG accounting (GHG Protocol, ISO 14064) and PCF work (e.g., the Bodensee apple PCF case study), serving food, agriculture, and manufacturing clients.
• GUTcert: German certification and sustainability advisory body offering ISO 14001/14064 audits, ESG/CSRD advisory, and energy management consulting. Most directly comparable DACH peer to Zukunftswerk on standards-based environmental consulting (GHG Protocol, BISKO) and SME-focused sustainability services.
• EcoAct: France-based sustainability consultancy offering carbon footprinting, climate strategy, and CSRD advisory (now part of Accenture). Comparable to Zukunftswerk on ESRS/CSRD, GHG Protocol accounting, and science-based target services for European enterprises.
• ClimatePartner: Germany-based sustainability solutions provider offering carbon accounting, climate strategy, and carbon offset services to enterprises. Highly comparable to Zukunftswerk on GHG accounting, offset brokerage (with major registries), and DACH-centric enterprise and SME client base, though ClimatePartner is significantly larger and more software-enabled.

Broad incumbents

• Sphera: Enterprise ESG and operational risk software plus advisory firm, with deep coverage of carbon accounting, ESRS/CSRD reporting, and supply chain sustainability. Comparable to Zukunftswerk on ESG reporting and GHG accounting, but operates at much larger scale with proprietary SaaS (e.g., SpheraCloud).
• Deloitte Sustainability Services: Big 4 advisory practice offering end-to-end CSRD/ESRS assurance, climate strategy, GHG accounting, and ESG transformation across Europe. Comparable to Zukunftswerk on CSRD and Klimamanagement advisory, with vastly greater scale and bundled audit services.

Emerging players

• Watershed: Enterprise climate accounting and reduction platform for Scope 1/2/3 emissions, CSRD reporting, and supplier engagement. Comparable to Zukunftswerk on GHG accounting and ESRS-related reporting workflows, though operating as a software platform rather than pure consulting.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zukunftswerk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zukunftswerk-eg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Zukunftswerk eG