Small Islands Organisation
SMILO is a Marseille-based French nonprofit operating the Label Île Durable, an international certification program that helps small island governments and communities achieve recognized sustainable development across water, waste, marine conservation, biodiversity, and energy transition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersMarseille, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Small Islands Organisation does
SMILO (Small Islands Organisation) is a French-registered nonprofit association headquartered at 68 rue de Rome in Marseille, France, that operates the Label Île Durable (Sustainable Island Label), an international certification program for small islands. The organization works with 58 partner islands and has awarded the label to 23 islands, spanning countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and the Caribbean. Its certification framework addresses five domains: sustainable water management, waste management, marine conservation, biodiversity protection, and energy transition. The label functions as both a structured methodology and an internationally recognized credential, helping island governments and communities transform fragmented local sustainability initiatives into a cohesive, externally validated development pathway.
The organization's core product is the Label Île Durable itself, supplemented by project-level engagement in areas such as mooring management, cetacean monitoring, and agricultural heritage preservation (e.g., the Saint-Honorat olive variety protection project with the Conservatoire Méditerranéen Partagé). SMILO delivers these activities in collaboration with a network of more than 35 partner organizations spanning conservation NGOs (Fauna & Flora International, Sulubaai Foundation, Blue Forests), regional policy bodies (CPMR Islands Group, Plan Bleu, European Small Islands), and island-specific networks (Îles du Ponant, Réseau Îles Casamance, More IKRS).
SMILO operates as a community-led organization, recruiting new member islands through partnerships, regional governments, and demonstrated peer outcomes rather than a traditional sales motion. Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed but are described as likely derived from certification fees, partner island membership contributions, donations processed via HelloAsso, and project-based grants. The organization has no disclosed funding rounds, no acquisitions, no leadership transitions, and no technology product beyond the certification framework itself. SMILO shows no evidence of AI/ML capability and operates as a lean French association with a small secretariat team.
Small Islands Organisation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Small Islands Organisation
- Legal name
- Small Islands Organisation
- Website
- https://smilo-program.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SMILO is a Marseille-based French nonprofit operating the Label Île Durable, an international certification program that helps small island governments and communities achieve recognized sustainable development across water, waste, marine conservation, biodiversity, and energy transition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Small Islands Organisation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Certification Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainability & Environmental Certifications (Carbon, Water, Regenerative) (AFALAMAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL)
Keywords
Where Small Islands Organisation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Marseille
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Small Islands Organisation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Island Labeling and Certification Services: SMILO provides its Île Durable label to small islands that meet sustainability criteria. The organization likely generates revenue through certification fees, membership contributions from partner islands, and support/sponsorship programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Small Islands Organisation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Small Islands Organisation (SMILO) runs the international Label Île Durable (Sustainable Island Label) certification program, helping small islands achieve formal recognition for sustainable development. The framework covers five areas — sustainable water management, waste management, marine conservation, biodiversity protection, and energy transition — and is delivered through a structured certification process accompanied by community engagement, technical guidance, and a peer network of partner islands.
Product overview
SMILO offers a single core product: the Label Île Durable (Sustainable Island Label), an international certification program. The organization accompanies small islands through a labeling process to achieve sustainable development recognition. SMILO's solutions portfolio includes environmental projects focused on mooring management and marine conservation, cetacean monitoring, and agricultural heritage protection. The organization currently works with 58 partner islands and has certified 23 labeled islands across 5 areas of action in their network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Label Île Durable: International sustainable island certification label awarded to islands demonstrating commitment to sustainable development practices.
Products and services
- Label Île Durable (Sustainable Island Label)
Quantifiable outcome
- 23 islands have achieved the Île Durable sustainable island label
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Small Islands Organisation
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Small Islands Organisation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Small Islands Organisation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
36 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Azores GovernmentcoreRegional government partner supporting sustainable island initiatives in the Azores archipelago. Collaboration through portal.azores.gov.pt for island sustainability programs.
- Sulubaai FoundationcoreMarine conservation foundation focused on ocean protection and sustainable island development. Co-develops solutions for island marine ecosystems.
- Île de GoréecoreHistoric island partner engaged in sustainable development initiatives. Hosts SMILO partner activities and sustainable island programs.
- European Small IslandscoreEuropean network of small islands working on sustainable development. Key partner for cross-island learning and advocacy in Europe.
- Plan BleucoreMediterranean environmental organization providing expertise on sustainable development and environmental protection for island territories.
- SICRIcoreSmall Islands and Coastal Communities Initiative network supporting sustainable development for island communities globally.
- CPMR Islands GroupcoreConference of Peripheral Maritime Regions Islands Group representing island regions in European policy discussions on sustainable development.
- Global Island Partnership (GLISPA)coreInternational partnership promoting sustainable development and conservation for islands worldwide through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Greening the IslandscoreOrganization focused on sustainable tourism and green island initiatives, supporting island transition to sustainable practices.
- Fauna Flora InternationalcoreGlobal biodiversity conservation organization supporting island biodiversity protection and species conservation programs.
- Caribbean Biodiversity FundcoreRegional conservation fund supporting biodiversity protection and sustainable development in Caribbean island territories.
- Port-Cros National ParkcoreFrench Mediterranean national park partner providing expertise on marine conservation and sustainable island management practices.
- Tetiaroa SocietycoreEnvironmental organization dedicated to protecting Tetiaroa island's unique ecosystem and promoting sustainable island development.
- Island InnovationcorePlatform connecting island communities and stakeholders to share sustainable development solutions and innovations across islands worldwide.
- IntocoreInternational organization supporting sustainable development and conservation initiatives on islands globally.
- TecambientecorePortuguese environmental consultancy providing technical expertise for sustainable island development projects.
- Notre Grand BleucoreFrench marine conservation organization supporting island marine ecosystem protection and sustainable ocean management.
- OTIEcoreObservatory for Island Territories and Environments providing research and expertise on island sustainable development challenges.
- Iles du PonantcoreFrench island network representing islands off the French coast, collaborating on sustainable development and maritime heritage.
- BiodivearthcoreOrganization focused on biodiversity protection and sustainable development connecting island conservation efforts.
- Blue ForestscoreOrganization working on blue carbon and coastal ecosystem restoration supporting island marine conservation.
- Viguri Island FoundationcoreFoundation dedicated to sustainable island development and environmental conservation on Viguri Island.
- Te Mana o Te MoanacorePacific island conservation organization supporting marine ecosystem protection and sustainable island practices.
- AgbozeguecoreOrganization supporting sustainable development initiatives in African island communities.
- Sea PeoplecoreOrganization focused on marine conservation and sustainable coastal and island community development.
- The Ropes of HopecoreIsland community organization supporting sustainable development and environmental initiatives for island populations.
- CBI MolenecoreBrittany island initiative (Molène) supporting sustainable island practices in the Channel Islands region.
- More IKRScoreCroatian island network supporting sustainable development initiatives for islands in the Adriatic Sea.
- Chole MjinicoreTanzanian island organization supporting sustainable development on Chole Island and Zanzibar region.
- NebedaycoreOrganization supporting sustainable development and environmental conservation in island communities.
- BiflorescoreOrganization supporting island biodiversity and sustainable development initiatives.
- Fenagie PechecoreFishing industry organization supporting sustainable fisheries and marine resource management for island communities.
- Réseau Îles CasamancecoreRegional network of islands in Casamance, Senegal, supporting sustainable development for island communities.
- IslascoreMexican island organization supporting sustainable development for island territories.
- Abbaye de LerinscoreHistoric monastery on Saint-Honorat island, supporting sustainable practices and biodiversity protection on Mediterranean islands.
- Conservatoire Méditerranéen PartagécoreCollaborated on olive tree variety protection project on Saint-Honorat island, identifying and preserving ancient olive varieties through genetic analysis.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Small Islands Organisation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rainforest Alliance: Major international sustainability certification organization with broad ecosystem and community programs. Broad incumbent — operates at far greater scale in sustainability certification across multiple commodities and geographies, with overlapping certification mechanics but much broader scope than SMILO.
- Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC): International body that sets global standards for sustainable travel and tourism and operates a destination-level certification scheme. Broad incumbent — competes in sustainability certification for destinations/islands but at much larger scale and broader scope than SMILO's island-specialized label.
Direct peers
- Marine Stewardship Council (MSC): International nonprofit running the leading sustainability certification for seafood and marine ecosystems. Direct peer — operates an internationally recognized environmental certification framework with comparable nonprofit, label-based revenue logic and similar marine conservation overlap with SMILO's marine area.
- Green Destinations: Certification and benchmarking organization for sustainable destinations, including islands. Direct peer — runs destination-level sustainability certifications with comparable scope (environmental, social, governance) and an overlapping island and coastal destination customer base.
- EarthCheck: Certification body for sustainable tourism and destinations, including island and coastal destinations. Direct peer — operates a comparable destination-level environmental certification program targeting tourism-dependent geographies, including many islands.
- Foundation for Environmental Education (Blue Flag): International nonprofit operating the Blue Flag eco-label for beaches, marinas and sustainable tourism boats. Direct peer — comparable international sustainability eco-label model targeting coastal/island geographies with certification-based revenue and recognition mechanics similar to SMILO's Île Durable label.
- Global Island Partnership (GLISPA): International partnership promoting sustainable development for islands worldwide through collaboration and knowledge sharing. Direct peer — both organizations work on the same mission of advancing island sustainability through coordinated action, and GLISPA is explicitly listed as one of SMILO's core strategic partners.
- Greening the Islands: Organization focused on sustainable tourism and green island initiatives, supporting island transition to sustainable practices. Direct peer — both target island sustainability outcomes, and Greening the Islands is a named SMILO partner operating in the same niche.
- Island Innovation: Platform connecting island communities and stakeholders to share sustainable development solutions and innovations across islands worldwide. Direct peer — both operate as island-focused networks promoting sustainability, and Island Innovation is a named SMILO partner with comparable community/network-driven model.
- Plan Bleu: Mediterranean commission's activity center for environment and sustainable development, focused on coastal and island territories. Direct peer — operates in the same Mediterranean island sustainability space with a regional mandate, and is a named SMILO partner with overlapping island and environmental focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Small Islands Organisation social profiles
Digital presenceSmall Islands Organisation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Small Islands Organisation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Small Islands Organisation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Small Islands Organisation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Small Islands Organisation
What does Small Islands Organisation do?
Small Islands Organisation (SMILO) runs the international Label Île Durable (Sustainable Island Label) certification program, helping small islands achieve formal recognition for sustainable development. The framework covers five areas — sustainable water management, waste management, marine conservation, biodiversity protection, and energy transition — and is delivered through a structured certification process accompanied by community engagement, technical guidance, and a peer network of partner islands.
Is Small Islands Organisation a public or private company?
Small Islands Organisation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Small Islands Organisation founded?
Small Islands Organisation was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Small Islands Organisation based?
Small Islands Organisation is headquartered in Marseille, France, in the Europe region.
How does Small Islands Organisation make money?
One revenue line is on record: island Labeling and Certification Services.
Who are Small Islands Organisation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rainforest Alliance and Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Direct peers are Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Green Destinations, EarthCheck, Foundation for Environmental Education (Blue Flag), Global Island Partnership (GLISPA), Greening the Islands, Island Innovation and Plan Bleu.
Does Small Islands Organisation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Small Islands Organisation.
What industry is Small Islands Organisation in?
Small Islands Organisation's product category is Environmental Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAMAC, Sustainability & Environmental Certifications (Carbon, Water, Regenerative), with a secondary code of BPAGALAL, Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support).