Small Islands Organisation

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.

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

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

• Sustainable island certification
• Environmental certification labels
• Island sustainability programs
• Marine conservation frameworks
• Biodiversity protection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Marseille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers14 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Azores GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government partner supporting sustainable island initiatives in the Azores archipelago. Collaboration through portal.azores.gov.pt for island sustainability programs.
• Sulubaai FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine conservation foundation focused on ocean protection and sustainable island development. Co-develops solutions for island marine ecosystems.
• Île de GoréecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric island partner engaged in sustainable development initiatives. Hosts SMILO partner activities and sustainable island programs.
• European Small IslandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network of small islands working on sustainable development. Key partner for cross-island learning and advocacy in Europe.
• Plan BleucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMediterranean environmental organization providing expertise on sustainable development and environmental protection for island territories.
• SICRIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmall Islands and Coastal Communities Initiative network supporting sustainable development for island communities globally.
• CPMR Islands GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConference of Peripheral Maritime Regions Islands Group representing island regions in European policy discussions on sustainable development.
• Global Island Partnership (GLISPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership promoting sustainable development and conservation for islands worldwide through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Greening the IslandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on sustainable tourism and green island initiatives, supporting island transition to sustainable practices.
• Fauna Flora InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal biodiversity conservation organization supporting island biodiversity protection and species conservation programs.
• Caribbean Biodiversity FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional conservation fund supporting biodiversity protection and sustainable development in Caribbean island territories.
• Port-Cros National ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Mediterranean national park partner providing expertise on marine conservation and sustainable island management practices.
• Tetiaroa SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization dedicated to protecting Tetiaroa island's unique ecosystem and promoting sustainable island development.
• Island InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform connecting island communities and stakeholders to share sustainable development solutions and innovations across islands worldwide.
• IntocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization supporting sustainable development and conservation initiatives on islands globally.
• TecambientecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese environmental consultancy providing technical expertise for sustainable island development projects.
• Notre Grand BleucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench marine conservation organization supporting island marine ecosystem protection and sustainable ocean management.
• OTIEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerObservatory for Island Territories and Environments providing research and expertise on island sustainable development challenges.
• Iles du PonantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench island network representing islands off the French coast, collaborating on sustainable development and maritime heritage.
• BiodivearthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on biodiversity protection and sustainable development connecting island conservation efforts.
• Blue ForestscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization working on blue carbon and coastal ecosystem restoration supporting island marine conservation.
• Viguri Island FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation dedicated to sustainable island development and environmental conservation on Viguri Island.
• Te Mana o Te MoanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacific island conservation organization supporting marine ecosystem protection and sustainable island practices.
• AgbozeguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting sustainable development initiatives in African island communities.
• Sea PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on marine conservation and sustainable coastal and island community development.
• The Ropes of HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsland community organization supporting sustainable development and environmental initiatives for island populations.
• CBI MolenecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrittany island initiative (Molène) supporting sustainable island practices in the Channel Islands region.
• More IKRScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCroatian island network supporting sustainable development initiatives for islands in the Adriatic Sea.
• Chole MjinicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTanzanian island organization supporting sustainable development on Chole Island and Zanzibar region.
• NebedaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting sustainable development and environmental conservation in island communities.
• BiflorescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting island biodiversity and sustainable development initiatives.
• Fenagie PechecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFishing industry organization supporting sustainable fisheries and marine resource management for island communities.
• Réseau Îles CasamancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network of islands in Casamance, Senegal, supporting sustainable development for island communities.
• IslascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexican island organization supporting sustainable development for island territories.
• Abbaye de LerinscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric monastery on Saint-Honorat island, supporting sustainable practices and biodiversity protection on Mediterranean islands.
• Conservatoire Méditerranéen PartagécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/smilo_org
• Facebookfacebook.com/smiloprogram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/small-islands-organisation-smilo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Small Islands Organisation