What Theresponse does

The Response gGmbH is a Munich-based non-profit sustainability services company founded in 2023 that operates reforestation, climate education, and CO2 management programs for companies, schools, and individuals in Germany. The company originated from the Racks4Roots initiative at EMC Home of Data's data center campus, where one tree is planted for every server rack, and formalized as an independent entity with seven founding shareholders drawn from the cloud, data center, and IT ecosystem.

The core product portfolio consists of three tree-planting programs (Racks4Roots for digital companies, Fiber4Roots for network carriers, and Kids4Roots for 3rd-grade schoolchildren), team-building planting events (Teams4Roots), and the CorporateClimateResponse (CCR) framework — a single KPI that aggregates CO2 reduction, certified international compensation, and regional engagement into a measurable number, supported by a CCR Dashboard, CCR Label, and tree certificates with GPS coordinates. The company has no proprietary technology platform; carbon accounting methodology is delivered through a strategic partnership with Fokus Zukunft, and all planting operations are conducted with SDW Bayern forest experts in protected German forests.

Revenue is generated through annual partnership memberships (starting at 500 EUR plus VAT), team planting events (65 EUR/person with minimum 5 trees), a children's book (24.99 EUR), and tree planting donations purchased via the company website. Go-to-market is sales-led B2B partnership enrollment complemented by content marketing (blog, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), earned media (Munich Engagementpreis 2025), and community-driven planting events. The company serves 50+ corporate partners across cloud, data center, internet exchange, and digital marketing verticals, with all operations currently concentrated in Bavaria, Germany.

Name

Theresponse

Legal name

The Response gGmbH

Website

https://theresponse.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Response gGmbH is a Munich-based non-profit that runs reforestation and CO2 management programs for German companies, schools, and individuals through its Racks4Roots, Fiber4Roots, Kids4Roots, and CorporateClimateResponse (CCR) platforms, with all tree planting delivered via SDW Bayern in protected German forests.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Carbon Offset and Reforestation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Carbon Forestry Project Development & Origination (Afforestation/Reforestation/IFM) (IMAMAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD), Forest Ecosystem Services & Carbon/Conservation Programs (AFAMAAAJ), Audit-Ready Controls, Assurance & Compliance Workflow Tools (CSRD/SEC/ISSB) (EUABAEAG), Benchmarking, Ratings & Stakeholder Reporting Portals (Scorecards, Dashboards) (EUABAEAJ), Regulatory & Disclosure Strategy (CSRD/ESRS, ISSB/IFRS S2, SEC, TCFD) (EUABAKAH)

Keywords

• Carbon offset services
• Reforestation programs
• Climate education services
• Corporate sustainability partnerships
• Tree planting initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Annual Partnership Membership: Companies pay annual membership fees starting at 500 EUR per year (plus VAT) to become Response Partners. Membership includes CO2 footprint determination, access to CCR Dashboard, tree planting certificates, and event participation rights.
2. Tree Planting Services: Revenue from calculating and selling tree planting equivalents based on digital business processes (server racks, emails, video calls, workstations). Partners plant trees as compensation for their digital carbon footprint.
3. Team Planting Events: Corporate team events at 65 EUR per person, including minimum 5 trees per participant, materials, professional guidance, and certificate with GPS coordinates.
4. Children's Book Sales: Sale of the Rooty children's book (24.99 EUR) which includes a tree planting donation for Kids4Roots project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Response is a Munich-based sustainability services company that runs reforestation, climate education, and CO2 management programs. Its core services include annual CO2 footprint assessment, certified international carbon offsetting, and regional tree planting projects in German protected forests delivered through the CorporateClimateResponse (CCR) framework. It also operates dedicated programs for digital companies (Racks4Roots), network carriers (Fiber4Roots), schools (Kids4Roots), and corporate team events, plus sells a related children's book.

Product overview

The Response is a sustainability services company that operates multiple interconnected environmental programs. The core offerings include Racks4Roots, Fiber4Roots, and Kids4Roots (tree planting programs for businesses, network operators, and schoolchildren respectively), supported by team-building planting events. The CorporateClimateResponse (CCR) platform aggregates all sustainability activities into a single KPI, incorporating CO2 footprint assessment, certified carbon offsetting, and regional engagement. The company partners with Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald Bayern e.V. for tree planting in German protection forests. The business model centers on annual partnerships starting at 500 EUR plus VAT, with various tree calculator tools helping businesses determine their planting commitments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Racks4Roots: Schutzwald-Projekt for digital companies: tree planting equivalent for server racks, laptops, workstations, emails, and video conferences to compensate digital carbon footprint.
• Fiber4Roots
• Kids4Roots
• Teams4Roots
• CorporateClimateResponse (CCR)

Quantifiable outcome

• CCR over 100% indicates positive environmental contribution
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, founding and minor.

• Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald Bayern e.V. (SDW Bayern)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDW Bayern is the core operational partner for all tree planting activities. Their forest experts select planting locations in protected forests, provide professional guidance during planting events, and monitor long-term forest development. The Response plants exclusively in SDW-selected protected areas (Schutzwälder). Simon Tangerding, SDW Bayern CEO, serves as quoted expert on forest conservation needs.
• Stiftung 'Wir helfen dem Wald' (SDW Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation affiliated with SDW Bayern that selects and manages specific planting areas, particularly for mountain protection forests. Responsible for identifying critical planting zones such as Spitzingsee area requiring forest regeneration from spruce monoculture to climate-stable mixed forests.
• Fokus ZukunftcoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partner for CO2 footprint determination services. Fokus Zukunft provides certified carbon accounting methodology and annual CO2 calculations for Response Partner companies. Part of the CCR (CorporateClimateResponse) framework offering.
• EMC Home of DatafoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginator of Racks4Roots initiative - internal sustainability project at EMC Home of Data campus where each server rack equals one tree planted annually. EMC's initiative inspired the broader The Response organization and Racks4Roots community. Gunter Hahn (CTO) and Bernhard Huter (CEO) from EMC Home of Data are founding shareholders of The Response.
• artcodixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRacks4Roots partner company. Benjamin Fischer from artcodix participated in 2022 planting event and provided testimonial on importance of forest conservation awareness.
• Genesis CloudminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCloud provider partner in Racks4Roots initiative. Cesare Bosi (Technical Marketing Manager) provided testimonial praising the initiative's alignment with environmental sustainability commitment and community of like-minded companies.
• DE-CIXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternet exchange operator partner in Racks4Roots. Andreas Sturm (CBDO) traveled from Frankfurt to participate in planting event and committed to stronger participation in following year.
• Net-D-Sign GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital marketing company partner in Racks4Roots. Isabel Schumann participated with her daughter, emphasizing importance of future generation responsibility in environmental protection.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Treedom: Platform enabling individuals and companies to plant trees remotely and gift them with GPS tracking, with a strong B2B gifting and corporate sustainability offering — directly comparable to The Response's tree certificate and planting model.
• PUR Projet: Regenerative agriculture and forest restoration project developer offering corporate carbon offset partnerships with verified ecosystem impact — comparable to The Response's certified carbon compensation and reforestation projects.
• Plant-for-the-Planet: German-based non-profit focused on global reforestation and climate education, including a personal tree sponsorship program for children — highly comparable to The Response's Kids4Roots and reforestation mission.
• Eden Reforestation Projects: Global reforestation non-profit partnering with companies and communities to restore forests at scale — comparable model of corporate-funded reforestation with ecological and community impact.
• Primaklima: German non-profit funding reforestation and climate protection projects domestically and internationally — comparable forest carbon project portfolio and donor/sponsor model.

Broad incumbents

• myclimate: Swiss/German non-profit offering CO2 footprint calculation, certified offset projects, and educational programs — comparable scope of corporate carbon services and educational outreach.
• ClimatePartner: Established German-based provider of corporate carbon footprint calculation, reduction, and certified offset solutions — broad incumbent in the same corporate climate-neutrality space as The Response's CCR framework.
• South Pole: Global climate solutions provider offering corporate carbon accounting, certified offset project portfolios, and net-zero strategy services — broader incumbent in the climate services category.

Regional players

• Ecosia: Berlin-based search engine that funds reforestation projects from search ad revenue — comparable mission of financing tree planting, though through a different consumer model rather than corporate partnerships.
• Fairventures Worldwide: German non-profit implementing large-scale forest restoration projects with corporate partnerships — comparable B2B reforestation partnership model in the DACH region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheResponsehq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theresponse
• Instagraminstagram.com/theresponsehq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Theresponse