The Natural Step Israel

What The Natural Step Israel does

The Natural Step Israel (TNS Israel) is an Israeli nonprofit public benefit company (a social business) that operates as the Israeli node of the international The Natural Step network, which has been active globally since 1989. TNS Israel was originally established in 1993 and was reestablished in its current form in 2012 under the leadership of Dr. Michal Bitterman and three co-founders. The organization is headquartered in Tel Aviv-Yafo and operates with a small team of 1-10 employees.

TNS Israel's core activities are sustainability consulting, executive training, and food-systems programming aimed at reducing food waste and advancing sustainable agriculture in Israel. Its flagship offerings include the Shikma leadership program for senior executives, the Food Lab (a nine-year-plus food waste reduction initiative with corporate partners including Tnuva, Shufersal, Unilever Israel, and Leket Israel), Tsimbuz Week (an annual intensive sustainability seminar running 8+ years in partnership with Israeli universities), Urban Sustainability programming for the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality, and the more recently launched "Buying Israeli Agriculture" initiative (October 2023) responding to wartime disruption of Israeli food supply chains.

The organization's business model blends fee-based consulting, premium executive-program tuition (Shikma), training workshops and events, and likely grant or partnership funding from government and corporate partners. It serves a diverse client base of more than 40 organizations across Israeli ministries, municipal government, large food and hospitality corporates (Unilever Israel, Tnuva, Dan Hotels, Shufersal), NGOs (Leket Israel), and academic institutions. TNS Israel also operates within an international network, providing access to global sustainability frameworks and methodologies developed since 1989.

Name

The Natural Step Israel

Legal name

The Natural Step Israel (TNS Israel)

Website

https://thenaturalstep.co.il

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Natural Step Israel is an Israeli nonprofit public benefit company that provides sustainability consulting, executive leadership programs (Shikma), and food-waste reduction initiatives to government ministries, municipalities, corporates, NGOs, and universities across Israel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Consulting and Food System Programs

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH), Community Development & Social Impact Programs (EDAIAGAA), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Sustainability consulting services
• Food waste reduction programs
• Food system resilience
• Sustainability leadership training
• Urban sustainability initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Tel Aviv-yafo

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Advisory Services: The organization provides paid consulting and advisory services to businesses and municipalities for strategic sustainability implementation.
2. Shikma Leadership Program: The flagship Shikma leadership accelerator program provides training for decision-makers in sustainability, targeting participants from all sectors.
3. Training and Workshops: The organization conducts training sessions, workshops, and lectures for various audiences including corporations, schools, and the general public on topics such as food waste reduction and sustainability.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Natural Step Israel is a nonprofit social business that delivers strategic sustainability consulting, leadership training, advocacy, and multi-stakeholder collaboration programs aimed at reducing food waste and strengthening Israel's food system. Its paid offerings include organizational consulting and the Shikma leadership accelerator, complemented by public campaigns such as Tsimbuz Week, the Food Waste Lab, and the Buying Israeli Agriculture initiative that connects war-affected farmers with buyers.

Product overview

The Natural Step Israel operates as a nonprofit social enterprise (registered as a public benefit company) offering a portfolio of interconnected sustainability programs and initiatives focused on food system resilience and food waste reduction. The core offerings include the Shikma Leadership Program for sustainability decision-makers, advocacy initiatives like Dynamic Pricing and the Food Waste Lab (a multi-stakeholder collaboration model), community programs such as Buying Israeli Agriculture and Urban Sustainability initiatives, and educational offerings including Masa experiential events, workshops, and training. The organization also publishes research reports and maintains the Tsimbuz food waste reduction resource hub with the annual Tsimbuz Week campaign. Fee-based consulting services complement the free public programs. The organization does not offer a technology product, API, or SaaS platform but rather provides educational, advocacy, and research services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tsimbuz (צמבוז): A movement and initiative for reducing food waste (צמצום בזבוז מזון), including awareness campaigns, workshops, and the national Tsimbuz Week.
• Shikma (שקמה)
• Food Lab (מעבדת הקיימות והחדשנות)
• Buying Israeli Agriculture (קונים חקלאות ישראלית)
• Masa Events (אירועי מסה)

Products and services

• Shikma Leadership Program (תכנית שקמה)
• Food Waste Lab / Sustainability and Innovation Lab (מעבדת הקיימות והחדשנות)
• Dynamic Pricing Initiative (תמחור דינמי)
• Buying Israeli Agriculture (קונים חקלאות ישראלית)
• Urban Sustainability Programs (תכניות קיימות עירונית)
• Training and Workshops (הכשרות וסדנאות)
• Consulting and Organizational Services (שירותים)
• Tsimbuz Week and Tsimbuz Month (שבוע הצמבוז / חודש הצמבוז)

Quantifiable outcome

• 35% of local food production thrown away annually; dynamic pricing could save 3.5 billion NIS per year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered active, strategic and core.

• Center for Local GovernmentactiveStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2023Partner in the 'Buying Israeli Agriculture' initiative established after October 7, 2023, helping connect small food businesses and farmers affected by the war with customers.
• Brothers for the Farm (Achim L'Meshak)activeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2023Partner in the 'Buying Israeli Agriculture' initiative supporting agricultural communities impacted by the war.
• Order 8 for Agriculture (Tzav 8)activeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2023Partner in the 'Buying Israeli Agriculture' initiative supporting farmers affected by the conflict.
• Alternative Builders (Bonot Alternativa)activeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2023Partner in the 'Buying Israeli Agriculture' initiative for agricultural support.
• Leket IsraelstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Strategic partner in the Food Sustainability Lab, working together on food rescue and waste reduction initiatives. Leket Israel is the national food bank organization.
• Unilever IsraelstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Strategic partner in the Food Sustainability Lab, contributing to multi-stakeholder food waste reduction efforts in Israel.
• TnuvastrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Strategic partner in the Food Sustainability Lab, collaborating on food system sustainability initiatives.
• Israeli Ministry of Environmental ProtectionstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Government ministry partner supporting the organization's website and participating in the Food Sustainability Lab initiative.
• Israeli Ministry of AgriculturestrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partner in the Food Sustainability Lab, working on agricultural sustainability and food waste reduction.
• Israeli Ministry of EducationstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partner in sustainability education programs and the Food Sustainability Lab initiative.
• Tel Aviv MunicipalitystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Municipal partner in urban sustainability initiatives and the Food Sustainability Lab.
• LatetactiveStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partner in food waste reduction efforts, working to combat food insecurity and reduce waste.
• Adam V'Din (Israel Union for Environmental Defense)activeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partner in environmental advocacy and sustainability initiatives.
• Israeli Forum for Sustainable NutritionactiveStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partner organization in the Food Sustainability Lab working on sustainable nutrition issues.
• IDC Herzliya (Interdisciplinary Center)activeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Academic partner providing research support and participating in the Food Sustainability Lab.
• Bezalel Academy of Arts and DesignactiveStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Academic partner in the sustainability initiative, contributing design and creative perspectives.
• Hebrew University of JerusalemactiveStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Academic partner including the Porter School of Environmental Studies contributing research expertise.
• Dan HotelsactiveStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Hotel chain partner working on sustainability implementation and food waste reduction.
• ShufersalactiveStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Major Israeli supermarket chain partner in food waste reduction initiatives.
• The Israeli Food Industries AssociationactiveStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Industry association partner representing food manufacturers in sustainability initiatives.
• Maala (Israeli Business Council for Human Rights and Social Policy)activeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Corporate social responsibility organization partner in sustainability efforts.
• Israel Defense Forces (IDF)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Defense forces partner in the food sector sustainability initiative, working on military food system resilience.
• The Natural Step InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTNS Israel is part of the international The Natural Step network, which has been operating since 1989 to promote strategic sustainability implementation among business and public organizations globally. The international network supports Israeli operations with methodology and global best practices.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme): UK-based nonprofit leading food waste reduction, policy advocacy, and supply-chain sustainability programs. Operates very similar convening, behavioral change campaigns, and corporate partnership models, with comparable food waste metrics research.
• Feedback Global: International NGO working to end food waste through policy, campaigning, and on-the-ground projects, with strong activity in Israel-related work. Comparable as a food-waste-specific advocacy and consulting nonprofit.
• The Natural Step International: Parent network from which TNS Israel derives its methodology and brand. Operates the same strategic sustainability framework globally across business and public sectors, making it the most direct conceptual and operational peer.
• ReFED: US nonprofit focused on food waste reduction with data-driven insights, policy work, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Strongly comparable in mission (food waste), methodology (data + convening), and target ecosystem.

Regional players

• Leket Israel: Israel's national food bank and a direct partner of TNS Israel's Food Lab. Addresses adjacent elements of the food system (food rescue vs. waste prevention) and serves a similar cross-sector Israeli coalition.
• Green Course (HaKursa HaYeruqа): Israel's largest environmental volunteer organization, where TNS Israel co-founder Maya Miller-Gevaon previously served as co-chair. Comparable as an Israeli grassroots environmental NGO addressing food-waste and broader sustainability issues.
• Sustainable Brands Israel / Adam Teva V'Din (Adam VaDin): Israeli environmental advocacy organization and direct TNS Israel partner. Comparable as an Israeli sustainability nonprofit that collaborates with the same corporate, government, and civil society stakeholders.

Emerging players

• Winnow Solutions: Technology company providing AI-based food waste tracking tools for hospitality and food service operations. Comparable as it sells into the same corporate food-waste buyer ecosystem TNS Israel serves via consulting.
• Too Good To Go: Marketplace app connecting consumers with surplus food from businesses to reduce waste. Comparable as a consumer-facing food waste initiative and a potential partner for TNS Israel's public campaigns like Tsimbuz.

Broad incumbents

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global thought leader in circular economy and food system transformation, with multi-stakeholder partnerships across business, government, and academia. Comparable as a strategic sustainability NGO with network and methodology assets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thenaturalstepisrael4542
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheNaturalStepIsrael
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-natural-step-israel
• Instagraminstagram.com/tnsisrael
• TikToktiktok.com/@tns_israel3

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 The Natural Step Israel