Ressourcen Forum Austria

What Ressourcen Forum Austria does

Ressourcen Forum Austria (RFA) is a Salzburg-based non-profit association (Verein), founded in 2013 by the Industriellenvereinigung Salzburg and the Landwirtschaftskammer Salzburg, that promotes circular economy and resource efficiency in Austria. Its core products are free online self-assessment tools, including the Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft for manufacturing SMEs (developed with Circular Economy Forum Austria and TU Wien, with an added Schnellcheck quick-assessment feature), the Ressourcen Check für Kreislaufwirtschaft in der Gemeinde for Austrian municipalities (co-developed with the Österreichischer Gemeindebund), and the Ressourcen Check für die Land- und Forstwirtschaft for the agriculture and forestry sector, supplemented by the Iverschwendnix regional reuse/repair/swap platform and a publications and video library. RFA complements its digital tools with a dense programme of events, including workshops, webinars, excursions, and the biennial Nationales Ressourcenforum (6th edition in 2025), distributed via its own website, Sendinblue-powered newsletter, and press/media channels.

The organization operates a Freemium model: tools, publications, and most events are free of charge, while membership is open to natural and legal persons. Revenue is sourced from membership fees, public-sector project grants (BMK, FFG FTI-Kreislaufwirtschaft, Climate and Energy Fund, EU Interreg VA Austria/Bavaria), and supporting member contributions (SalzburgAG, Stiegl, Raiffeisen Nachhaltig Invest, Werner Mertz). Its GTM is event-driven and community-led, targeting three primary beneficiary segments: producing SMEs, municipalities and regions, and agriculture and forestry operations across Austria and the broader D-A-CH region, with cross-border activity into Bavaria through the EUREGIO Salzburg-Berchtesgadener Land-Traunstein partnership.

Name

Ressourcen Forum Austria

Legal name

Ressourcen Forum Austria

Website

https://www.ressourcenforum.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ressourcen Forum Austria is a Salzburg-based non-profit association that promotes circular economy and resource efficiency in Austria through free online self-assessment tools, events, publications, and a multi-stakeholder network spanning producing SMEs, municipalities, and the agriculture and forestry sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Sustainability Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADALAM

Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

SECONDARYEUAIANAC

Reuse & Resale / Recommerce Operations

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Services (Waste Management, Recycling & Remediation)/Resource Recovery & Circular Economy Services (Reuse, Take-back, Refurbishment)

Keywords

• Circular economy network
• Resource efficiency association
• Sustainability assessment tools
• Non-profit environmental platform
• D-A-CH circular economy events

Headquarters

HQ city

Oberndorf Bei Salzburg

HQ country

Austria

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. Membership fees: The association is a registered non-profit association (Verein) funded in part through membership fees. Membership is open to natural and legal persons who share the goal of advancing the resource transition in Austria.
2. Project funding and grants: RFA operates multiple funded projects supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection (BMK), FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency), EU Interreg programmes, and the Climate and Energy Fund. Project examples include RessourcenRegionEUREGIO+ (Interreg VA Austria/Bavaria), the Material Efficiency Laboratory, the Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft (FTI circular economy call 2023), and Team Kreislaufwirtschaft.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ressourcen Forum Austria is a non-profit association that advances the transition to a circular economy and resource-efficient economy in Austria. It delivers this through free online self-assessment tools (Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft, Ressourcen Checks), a portfolio of publications and videos, and a year-round programme of events including the biennial Nationales Ressourcenforum, while operating a cross-sector membership network that connects businesses, municipalities, agricultural/forestry organisations, research bodies, and public authorities.

Product overview

Ressourcen Forum Austria operates as a non-profit platform focused on resource efficiency and circular economy in Austria. The organization offers a portfolio of online self-assessment tools including the Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft (a free tool for manufacturing SMEs), Ressourcen Checks for municipalities and agriculture/forestry sectors, and the Iverschwendnix platform for reuse and repair activities. These tools are complemented by publications, videos, webinars, workshops, and the biennial Nationales Ressourcenforum conference. The organization functions as a knowledge platform and network rather than a traditional product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft: Online self-assessment tool for SMEs to evaluate circular economy readiness, developed in cooperation with Circular Economy Forum Austria and TU Wien
• Ressourcen Check für Kreislaufwirtschaft in der Gemeinde
• Ressourcen Check für die Land- und Forstwirtschaft
• Circular Monday Österreich
• Team Kreislaufwirtschaft
• Iverschwendnix
• RessourcenRegionEUREGIO+

Products and services

• Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft Online self-assessment tool for Austrian manufacturing SMEs that evaluates circular-economy status in approximately 20 minutes, providing detailed evaluations, individual recommendations, and curated good practices. Free and publicly accessible.
• Ressourcen Check für Kreislaufwirtschaft in der Gemeinde Free self-analysis check for Austrian municipalities, co-developed with the Österreichischer Gemeindebund and funded by the Climate and Energy Fund, providing a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of local circular-economy performance.
• Ressourcen Check für die Land- und Forstwirtschaft Free online self-check tool for agriculture and forestry operations in Austria that identifies circular-economy potentials and provides practical recommendations to improve sustainability practices.
• Iverschwendnix Online platform that promotes regional sustainability by aggregating reuse, repair, swap, and lending activities and initiatives across Austria.
• Nationales Ressourcenforum Biennial national conference series organised by RFA on resource efficiency and circular economy, bringing together Austrian and D-A-CH stakeholders from industry, municipalities, agriculture, research, and policy (6th edition held in 2025).
• Ressourcen Forum Austria Membership Annual membership programme for natural and legal persons that supports the association's resource-transition mission and provides members with access to the member area, networking events, and joint projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft tool enables SMEs to complete a circular economy assessment in approximately 20 minutes and receive individual recommendations.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Circular Economy Forum AustriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023RFA cooperates with the Circular Economy Forum Austria on joint projects including the development of the Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft online self-assessment tool for Austrian SMEs. The partnership combines RFA's network and circular economy expertise with the forum's industry engagement capabilities.
• Institut für Managementwissenschaften, TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023Academic partner in the development of the Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft tool. The institute contributed research expertise in management sciences and circular economy assessment methodologies to create a rigorous and practically applicable self-assessment framework for SMEs.
• FFG – Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbHcoreOthersThe FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency) funded the Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft project through the FTI-Kreislaufwirtschaft call 2023, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection (BMK). RFA acts as a beneficiary in this publicly funded research and development initiative.
• Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilität, Innovation und Technologie (BMK)coreOthersThe Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection funds RFA projects including the Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft through FFG and directly commissions studies and initiatives in resource efficiency and circular economy. RFA contributes to the ministry's circular economy and bioeconomy strategy objectives.
• Österreichischer Gemeindebund (Austrian Municipalities Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRFA collaborated with the Austrian Municipalities Association to develop the Ressourcen Check für Kreislaufwirtschaft in der Gemeinde, a free self-analysis tool for all Austrian municipalities. The project was funded by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund.
• EUREGIO Salzburg – Berchtesgadener Land – TraunsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRFA partners with EUREGIO on cross-border projects such as RessourcenRegionEUREGIO+, funded by the EU Interreg VA Austria/Bavaria programme. The partnership facilitates knowledge exchange and circular economy initiatives across the Austrian-Bavarian border region.
• STENUM GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRFA works with STENUM GmbH as a consulting partner on multiple funded projects including the Material Efficiency Laboratory and the webinar series on resource efficiency and circular economy in Austrian production companies, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism.
• Industriellenvereinigung Salzburg (Industrial Association Salzburg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Industriellenvereinigung Salzburg is a founding member of RFA. It co-founded the association alongside the Landwirtschaftskammer Salzburg in 2013 and continues to support the association's mission through leadership and governance involvement.
• Landwirtschaftskammer Salzburg (Chamber of Agriculture Salzburg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Landwirtschaftskammer Salzburg is a co-founding member of RFA and provides governance representation alongside industry. The chamber contributes expertise in agriculture and forestry resource management and supports the association's work in the food and agriculture sector.
• Fachverband der Elektro- und Elektronikindustrie (FEEI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRFA cooperated with FEEI on the webinar 'Design für geschlossene Kreisläufe' focused on product design and circular economy in the electrical and electronics industry. The partnership leveraged FEEI's industry network for event promotion and knowledge exchange.
• Reffnet.ch (Switzerland)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss circular economy network Reffnet.ch is a cooperation partner in RFA's webinar series on resource efficiency, contributing D-A-CH-wide perspectives and cross-border knowledge exchange.
• SalzburgAGminorOthersSalzburgAG is listed as a supporting member of RFA, providing financial or in-kind support to the association's activities.
• StieglbrauereiminorOthersStieglbrauerei (Stiegl) is listed as a supporting member of RFA, contributing to the association's funding base.
• Raiffeisen Nachhaltig Invest (RNI)minorOthersRaiffeisen Nachhaltig Invest (RNI) is listed as a supporting member of RFA, providing financial support to the association.
• Werner Mertz (Hallein)minorOthersWerner Mertz from Hallein is listed as a supporting member of RFA, contributing to the association's funding base.
• ThirtySix Degrees Sustainability ConsultingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in the Circular Monday 2025 Austria coordination, along with RFA, Circular Economy Forum Austria, and The Good Tribe. Contributed to the national online session and campaign coordination.
• The Good TribeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in the Circular Monday 2025 Austria campaign, contributing to the national online session and broad engagement across Austrian circular economy actors.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Circular Economy Forum Austria: Austrian platform promoting circular economy with a closely overlapping audience of producing businesses and policymakers. Co-developed Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft with RFA, so offers nearly identical membership, event, and project formats.

Regional players

• Reffnet.ch: Swiss resource efficiency network that runs events and working groups on the same themes as RFA's webinars and workshops. Listed as a cooperation partner in RFA's D-A-CH webinar series, indicating direct content overlap.

Emerging players

• STENUM GmbH: Austrian consultancy specialising in material efficiency and circular economy in production. Implements the Material Efficiency Laboratory and other RFA projects, so it competes for the same project delivery mandates RFA itself delivers.
• Circular Monday: International campaign promoting circular consumption, coordinated in Austria by RFA. Operates a much narrower campaign-only model but competes for the same awareness budget and audience attention.

Broad incumbents

• Industriellenvereinigung Salzburg: Salzburg chapter of the Austrian Federation of Industries and a co-founder of RFA. Operates a broader industry-policy mandate but shares the producing-economy target segment and frequently engages on the same circular economy themes.
• The Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global non-profit advancing the circular economy. Operates at significantly larger scale with corporate partner programmes and thought-leadership work that frames the same agenda RFA promotes at national level.
• Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute: International non-profit offering a widely adopted product-level circular economy certification. Competes for mindshare and corporate engagement budgets around circular-economy assessment, though it focuses on certification rather than community events.

Others

• FEEI – Fachverband der Elektro- und Elektronikindustrie: Austrian electrical and electronics industry association. Co-hosted RFA's 'Design für geschlossene Kreisläufe' webinar and runs its own circular-economy activities, so it is an adjacent industry-association peer rather than a head-to-head competitor.
• Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy: German research institute producing widely cited work on resource efficiency and circular economy. An adjacent think-tank peer that informs the same policy debate RFA engages with at Austrian and D-A-CH level.
• Umweltbundesamt (Environment Agency Austria): Austrian federal environment agency producing reports, data, and policy advice on resource use and circular economy. Functions as a public-sector counterpart rather than a commercial competitor, but shapes the same stakeholder agenda.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ressourcen-forum-austria

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 Ressourcen Forum Austria