Biosphere Sustainable

What Biosphere Sustainable does

Biosphere Sustainable is a Spain-based sustainability certification and management platform operating as a private limited company (Biosphere Responsible Tourism SL) headquartered in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, founded in 1997 by the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI). The company operates a 100% online platform that enables businesses, destinations, and DMOs to create dynamic sustainability plans aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and 169 targets, verified through 232 UN-derived indicators and an external third-party audit process. Its two core products are the Companies Platform (for individual businesses and multi-unit chains) and the Biosphere Destination platform (for territorial managers overseeing business networks), both backed by certifications recognized by major OTAs and search engines including Booking, Google, Agoda, EasyJet, TUI, and Expedia.

The platform's underlying technology is a configurable, multi-entity SaaS system supporting 7 languages, real-time QR-code and widget-based communication of sustainability progress, and a methodology rooted in a 1997 UNESCO Memorandum of Understanding and RTI's founding membership in the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Biosphere has received multiple international recognitions, including being named the best sustainability certification tool in the world in 2021 by the University of Sherbrooke, Canada.

Biosphere generates revenue through a freemium-to-paid subscription model: a free Starter tier, a Biosphere Certified tier at EUR 359/year including audit and OTA-recognized certification, and contact-priced Enterprise and destination contracts. Its go-to-market combines self-serve product-led growth (5-day free trial), community-led engagement through the Biosphere Circle, and direct enterprise sales for chain accounts and destination clients across at least six countries.

Name

Biosphere Sustainable

Legal name

Biosphere Responsible Tourism SL

Website

https://biospheresustainable.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Biosphere Sustainable is a Spain-based online sustainability certification and management platform that helps businesses, hotel chains, and destinations create, audit, and communicate UN 2030 Agenda-aligned sustainability plans across 27+ entity types and 7 languages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Certification Software

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Eco-Certification, Auditing & Standards (Green Lodging, Tour Operator Certification) (THAAANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI), Carbon Footprint Measurement, Reporting & Management (Travel Emissions Accounting) (THAAANAB)

Keywords

• Sustainability certification
• ESG management
• Sustainable tourism
• Third-party audit
• SDG alignment software

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz De Tenerife

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Annual Subscription - Starter: Free tier providing access to personalized Biosphere plan, SDG activities catalog, and hundreds of sustainable activities. Serves as lead generation for paid tiers.
2. Annual Subscription - Biosphere Certified: €359/year subscription providing full platform access, external third-party audit process, downloadable recognition and certification recognized by major OTAs (Booking, Google, Agoda, Easyjet, TUI, Expedia) and search engines.
3. Enterprise Subscription: Contact-based pricing for lifestyle/inclusive packages with all features. Includes chain/group management for multiple business units under one corporate account.
4. Destination Certification: Pricing based on destination population number and contracted services (training workshops, business network certification, additional communication activities). Annual renewal pricing model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Biosphere Sustainable operates a 100% online sustainability management and certification platform that enables organizations, tourism businesses, and destinations to build dynamic sustainability plans aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda and 17 SDGs. It offers subscription tiers (free Starter, €359/year Biosphere Certified with external third-party audit, and Enterprise) plus destination certification services based on population and scope, producing downloadable recognition and certification badges recognized by major OTAs.

Product overview

Biosphere Sustainable operates as a unified online sustainability management and certification platform comprising two core offerings: the Companies Platform for business sustainability management and the Biosphere Destination platform for territorial sustainability. The company was founded in 1997 by the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI), which maintains a UNESCO MoU and is a founding member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The platform offers three subscription tiers (Starter free, Biosphere Certified at 359 EUR/year, and Enterprise) and is available in 7 languages. Both the company and destination platforms provide tools for creating dynamic sustainability action plans aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda and 17 SDGs, featuring real-time monitoring, third-party audit certification, and recognition badges. The ecosystem is accessible online without requiring software installation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Biosphere Sustainable Companies Platform 100% online sustainability management and certification platform enabling companies to create customized dynamic sustainability plans aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda and 17 SDGs, track actions and KPIs, undergo an external third-party audit, and obtain downloadable Biosphere certification recognized by major OTAs. Serves hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, tour operators, shops, and over 27 entity types worldwide.
• Biosphere Destination Platform Comprehensive territorial sustainability management platform for destination managers (DMOs), municipalities, provinces, and regions. Enables oversight of local business networks, alignment of all stakeholders with the 2030 Agenda and 17 SDGs, training workshops, business adherence processes, and destination-level certification based on 232 indicators. Pricing scales by population and contracted services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% of travelers are looking for sustainable experiences
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTI is the founding organization of the Biosphere system, established in 1995. It maintains an MoU with UNESCO and serves as the governing body for the Biosphere certification methodology. Located at C/La Rosa 1, 1, 38002, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiosphere system was founded in 1997 with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNESCO to convey UN guidelines on sustainability in an accessible way to societies worldwide.
• Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTI (founding organization of Biosphere) is a founding member of the GSTC, the global body for sustainable tourism standards.
• SDSN-Spain (Sustainable Development Solutions Network)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration agreement with SDSN-Spain to develop the connection between Agenda 2030 and tourism through Biosphere, accompanying and advising destinations and companies in continuous improvement towards Horizon 2030.
• Tourisme Durable QuebecstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in the research that led to Biosphere being recognized as the best sustainability certification tool in the world in 2021, as documented by University of Sherbrooke.
• University of Sherbrooke, CanadastrategicOthersAcademic partner that conducted research and published the 2021 report recommending Biosphere as the best sustainability certification tool in the world.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EarthCheck: Science-based benchmarking and certification for the travel and tourism industry, with a focus on environmental and social performance. Competes directly with Biosphere for hotel, tour operator, and destination certification contracts.
• Green Key: One of the largest sustainability certification programs for tourism and hospitality, including hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Operates in 60+ countries with a global recognition network — directly comparable to Biosphere's tourism certification offering.
• Travelife: Sustainability certification and management system specifically designed for the tourism industry, covering hotels, tour operators, and destinations. Closely aligned with GSTC criteria — directly competing with Biosphere in the same target segments.
• Green Globe: Global sustainability certification standard for the travel and tourism industry based on ISO 19011, ISO 14001, and GSTC criteria. Provides certification to hotels, resorts, and conference centers — directly comparable scope and customer base.

Regional players

• TourCert: German-based sustainability certification organization focused on tour operators, travel agencies, and destinations, primarily in the German-speaking market. Comparable scope to Biosphere but with regional European concentration.
• Green Tourism (UK): UK-focused sustainability certification program for tourism businesses with strong penetration in the British and Irish markets. Comparable offering to Biosphere but with a regionally concentrated footprint that limits global overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC): The global standards-setting body for sustainable tourism, of which Biosphere's parent RTI is a founding member. GSTC sets criteria but does not directly certify, positioning it as both an indirect competitor (through accredited certifiers) and a strategic partner.
• B Lab / B Corp Certification: Largest and most recognized broad sustainability certification covering businesses across all sectors. While not tourism-specific, B Corp is a competing badge for SMEs and enterprises Biosphere targets with its 'all business sectors' expansion strategy.

Emerging players

• Responsible Tourism Partnership (RTP): Industry-led initiative providing sustainability guidance and standards for tourism businesses, often overlapping with the SME and destination certification segment Biosphere serves.
• Climate Neutral Certified: Certification standard focused specifically on carbon footprint measurement and offsetting for brands across multiple sectors. Adjacent to Biosphere's SDG framework with narrower scope but growing brand recognition among consumers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BiosphereSust
• Facebookfacebook.com/biospheresustainable
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biospheresustainable
• Instagraminstagram.com/biospheresustainable
• TikToktiktok.com/@biospheresustainable

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Biosphere Sustainable