EcoSchools Canada
EcoSchools Canada is a registered charity that delivers the largest bilingual K-12 environmental certification program in Canada, serving 2,000 schools, 66,000 teachers, and 175 school boards/districts via its custom-built EcoSchools Certification Application platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What EcoSchools Canada does
EcoSchools Canada is a federally registered Canadian charity (Charitable Number 725827729 RR 0001) founded in 2005 as Ontario EcoSchools and rebranded under its current name in 2017 to operate nationally. It is the Canadian National Operator of the international EcoSchools program overseen by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), which is endorsed by UNEP and UNESCO. The organization delivers the largest bilingual, voluntary environmental certification program for K-12 schools in Canada, reaching approximately 1 million students annually across 2,000 schools and 175 school boards/districts (65% of Canadian school boards) through 66,000 teachers.
The core product is the EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA), a custom-built online platform developed in-house over three years of stakeholder consultation. The ECA houses more than 50 environmental and climate change actions with curriculum-linked resources, supports unlimited team-member collaboration, tracks waste diversion and greenhouse gas emissions, and awards digital certification seals at Bronze (50-65 points), Silver (66-74), Gold (75-100), and Platinum (101+) tiers. A complementary EcoSchools Board Program provides school-board-level administrator access, customized support, and climate-resilience planning tools. An e-commerce storefront (EcoSchools Market) sells branded merchandise and exclusive partner products. Technology integrations include a partnership with Arc Skoru to convert platform data into GHG reduction estimates.
The business model is a hybrid charity/earned-revenue structure. Publicly funded schools receive certification free of charge (freemium model) creating a top-of-funnel for the network. Independent and private schools pay annual fees of up to $1,000, and boards/districts pay annual membership fees for administrator access and analytics. Additional revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring via CanadaHelps), securities donations, corporate giving through 1% for the Planet and Benevity, foundation grants (McConnell, Trottier, Peter Gilgan, Catherine Donnelly), commissioned studies from Environment and Climate Change Canada, and merchandise sales. Distribution relies on self-service registration through the ECA, board-level partnership sales, community-driven student EcoTeams, and a multi-channel marketing mix including social media, webinars, and an annual certification celebration event.
EcoSchools Canada firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EcoSchools Canada
- Legal name
- EcoSchools Canada
- Website
- https://ecoschools.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- EcoSchools Canada is a registered charity that delivers the largest bilingual K-12 environmental certification program in Canada, serving 2,000 schools, 66,000 teachers, and 175 school boards/districts via its custom-built EcoSchools Certification Application platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EcoSchools Canada industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Education Certification
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Physical Education & Health Instruction (EDAJAFAL), Digital/Interactive Curriculum Content (Apps, Games, Multimedia Lessons) (EDACAJAK)
Keywords
Where EcoSchools Canada is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
EcoSchools Canada business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Monthly recurring donations and one-time donations from individual supporters. Donors can contribute via the website or through CanadaHelps platform. The organization reached over one million students last year with donor support.
- Securities Donations: Donors can transfer securities as the most efficient way to give, providing tax advantages for donors while supporting the organization.
- Corporate Giving Programs: Corporate donations via 1% for the Planet and Benevity employee giving platforms. Includes support from RBC, various foundations, and corporate partners.
- Foundation and Government Grants: Funding from government bodies, foundations including McConnell Foundation, Trottier Foundation, Peter Gilgan Foundation, Catherine Donnelly Foundation, and others. Commissioned studies from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
- E-commerce Merchandise Sales: Sale of EcoSchools branded merchandise including Action Card Decks, banners, stickers, celebration packages, decals, plaques, t-shirts, and flags. Products available to all of Canada with free shipping on celebration packages.
- Independent School Membership Fees: Independent/private schools pay an annual fee up to $1,000 for certification and access to the ECA platform. Fee enables access to curriculum-linked resources, certification support, and recognition materials. Smaller schools under 50 students may qualify for reduced rates.
- Board/District Membership Fees: School boards and districts pay a small annual fee for member status, including administrator access to ECA data and analytics, customized support from EcoSchools Canada staff, and enhanced certification guidance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free certification for publicly funded schools |
| Subscription | Annual | Independent/Private School annual fee |
| Subscription | Annual | Board/District Membership annual fee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | EcoSchools Market merchandise pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels16 records
EcoSchools Canada product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EcoSchools Canada delivers a bilingual (English/French) environmental education and certification program for K-12 schools in Canada through a custom online platform called the EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA). Schools form EcoTeams, complete more than 50 environmental and climate change actions, and earn tiered Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum digital certification seals. The core program is free for publicly funded schools, with paid annual memberships for independent/private schools (up to $1,000) and school boards/districts that unlock administrator access and data analytics.
Product overview
EcoSchools Canada operates primarily as a certification program and online platform rather than a traditional product company. The core offering is the EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA) - a bilingual online platform that enables K-12 schools to track environmental actions, earn certification points, and achieve Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum status. The program is free for publicly funded schools and includes access to over 50 environmental actions, curriculum-linked resources, and an impact tracking dashboard. The organization also offers a complementary EcoSchools Board Program - a free online platform for school boards to baseline, develop, and track GHG reductions through individualized action plans. Supporting offerings include the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) competition, the Bondar Challenge photography program, coaching sessions, and various merchandise items including the Action Card Deck, banners, stickers, decals, plaques, flags, and apparel. Exclusive partner products through the EcoSchools Market include the Plantaform Indoor Garden, Mini Worm Studio, and NOVA 30 Composter available at member pricing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- EcoSchools Certification Program (ECA)
- Independent/Private School Membership
- Board/District Membership Program
- EcoSchools Market Merchandise
- Action Card Deck
- Stand-up Banner
- Lights Off Stickers
- EcoSchools Certification Celebration Package
- Window Decal
- Milestone Window Decal
- EcoSchools Plaque
- EcoSchools Canada T-Shirt
- EcoSchools Green Flag
Quantifiable outcome
- Reach of 1 million students annually across 2,000 schools in Canada
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use EcoSchools Canada
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
EcoSchools Canada technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
EcoSchools Canada partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Circular MaterialscorePartnership to expand recycling education across Ontario schools as the province transitions to extended producer responsibility. Circular Materials collaborates with Earth Rangers and EcoSchools Canada to deliver assemblies, classroom activities, digital modules, and take-home resources to hundreds of elementary schools, helping students connect everyday actions to environmental outcomes.
- Earth RangerscoreEarth Rangers partners with Circular Materials and EcoSchools Canada for Ontario school recycling education initiative. Delivers assemblies, classroom activities, digital modules, and resources to help students and families understand environmental outcomes.
- Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)coreEcoSchools Canada is the Canadian National Operator of the international EcoSchools program, overseen by FEE. FEE is endorsed by UNEP and UNESCO and aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. EcoSchools Canada is part of a community of 74 other national EcoSchools programs around the globe.
- Clean50minorEcoSchools Canada received Clean 50 Top Project recognition in 2024 for scaling their online platform nationally.
- Novaterra (Groupe Novaterra)minorExclusive promotion in EcoSchools Market offering NOVA 30 Composter to schools with preferred pricing. Every purchase supports EcoSchools Canada.
- PlantaformminorExclusive promotion offering Plantaform Indoor Garden with smart technology and app connectivity for classrooms. EcoSchools members receive exclusive pricing, and every purchase supports EcoSchools Canada.
- The Box of LifeminorPartner offering Mini Worm Studio for EcoSchools - plastic-free worm farm kits for classrooms with preferred pricing for members. Every purchase supports EcoSchools Canada.
- CascadesminorCorporate partner supporting EcoSchools Canada. Cascades provides paper life-cycle resources and paper activities resources for schools.
- CNminorCorporate partner of EcoSchools Canada supporting environmental education initiatives.
- UNESCO Greening Education PartnershipcoreEcoSchools Canada participates in UNESCO's Greening Education Partnership, connecting Canadian schools to international environmental education frameworks.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
EcoSchools Canada competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Earth Rangers: Canada-based environmental charity that delivers school assemblies, classroom programs, and student engagement around sustainability. Already a partnership counterparty with EcoSchools Canada on the Circular Materials recycling initiative, it targets the same K–12 environmental education segment.
- Ducks Unlimited Canada (Conservation Education): Canadian conservation nonprofit that delivers wetland-focused K–12 curriculum and schoolyard programs. Overlaps with EcoSchools in targeting Canadian elementary and secondary schools with environmental learning content and teacher resources.
- Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF): Canadian nonprofit that provides sustainability curriculum resources, professional development, and K–12 programming—sharing the same Canadian K–12 audience and education-for-sustainability mission as EcoSchools Canada, with overlapping teacher networks and school partnerships.
- Green Schools Alliance: Network of K–12 schools focused on sustainability, providing peer benchmarking, resources, and recognition for green initiatives. Direct peer in the U.S. that competes for the same school sustainability certification mindshare EcoSchools Canada holds in Canada.
- National Wildlife Federation (Eco-Schools USA): The U.S. National Operator of the FEE Eco-Schools framework and the most direct global peer to EcoSchools Canada. It runs the same international certification model, awards Bronze–Green Flag tiers, and targets K–12 schools in the U.S. with curriculum-linked environmental actions—directly comparable structure, customer, and program design.
- Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE): FEE is the parent body that EcoSchools Canada operates under and coordinates 74 national Eco-Schools programs globally. While not a commercial competitor, it is the closest institutional peer governing the same certification framework, training, and brand that EcoSchools Canada delivers.
- Project Learning Tree (Sustainable Forestry Initiative): U.S. environmental education program offering K–12 curriculum and teacher training focused on forests and sustainability. Overlaps with EcoSchools in target audience (K–12 teachers and students) and product (curriculum-linked environmental lesson plans and school certification pathways).
- Canadian Wildlife Federation (WILD Education): Canadian national charity running WILD Education and school programs focused on biodiversity and conservation. Comparable as a Canada-focused K–12 environmental education provider competing for school attention, teacher time, and donor dollars.
Regional players
- Eco-Schools Scotland: Scottish national operator of the FEE Eco-Schools framework, delivering the same Green Flag certification model to Scottish schools. Direct peer in program design but does not compete geographically with EcoSchools Canada.
Others
- Circular Materials: Canadian producer-responsibility organization that funds recycling education programs in schools—a current EcoSchools Canada partner. Relevant as a comparable/funder in the school sustainability education ecosystem rather than a competing program provider.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EcoSchools Canada social profiles
Digital presenceEcoSchools Canada financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EcoSchools Canada leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
EcoSchools Canada funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EcoSchools Canada 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 EcoSchools Canada
What does EcoSchools Canada do?
EcoSchools Canada delivers a bilingual (English/French) environmental education and certification program for K-12 schools in Canada through a custom online platform called the EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA). Schools form EcoTeams, complete more than 50 environmental and climate change actions, and earn tiered Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum digital certification seals. The core program is free for publicly funded schools, with paid annual memberships for independent/private schools (up to $1,000) and school boards/districts that unlock administrator access and data analytics.
Is EcoSchools Canada a public or private company?
EcoSchools Canada is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was EcoSchools Canada founded?
EcoSchools Canada was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is EcoSchools Canada based?
EcoSchools Canada is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does EcoSchools Canada make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are securities Donations, corporate Giving Programs, foundation and Government Grants, E-commerce Merchandise Sales, independent School Membership Fees and board/District Membership Fees.
Who are EcoSchools Canada's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Earth Rangers, Ducks Unlimited Canada (Conservation Education), Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF), Green Schools Alliance, National Wildlife Federation (Eco-Schools USA), Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Project Learning Tree (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) and Canadian Wildlife Federation (WILD Education). Eco-Schools Scotland is listed as a regional player. Circular Materials is listed as an others.
Does EcoSchools Canada have an API?
No public API is recorded for EcoSchools Canada.
What industry is EcoSchools Canada in?
EcoSchools Canada's product category is Environmental Education Certification. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAH, Environmental Education & Outreach, with a secondary code of EDAJAFAL, Physical Education & Health Instruction. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.