Fondazione Ecosistemi

What Fondazione Ecosistemi does

Fondazione Ecosistemi is an Italian non-profit foundation established in 1998 and headquartered in Rome, specializing in Green Public Procurement (GPP) and sustainable purchasing policy. The organization serves Italian and European public administrations, SMEs, and cultural organizations by providing advisory services, training programs, and practical tools for implementing Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) and the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) principle in public procurement processes. Its core intellectual property includes the Osservatorio Appalti Verdi monitoring system (co-founded with Legambiente), the DNSH Vademecum operational guidelines for PNRR-funded projects, and the Green Spoon Assessment Tool developed under the SchoolFood4Change European project.

The foundation operates a multi-channel go-to-market model combining annual events (Forum Compraverde Buygreen, now in its 20th edition), regional government contracts, EU-funded consortium projects (Erasmus+, LIFE, Horizon Europe), and ministry-level partnerships. Notable initiatives include the SchoolFood4Change project reaching over 1 million children across 3,000 schools in 12 European countries, the proCURE Erasmus+ project for sustainable procurement in small municipalities, the ECO network for cultural organizations, and the BESA advocacy campaign for European procurement directive reform. The organization is led by Director Silvano Falocco and operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees, leveraging a broad network of consortium partnerships to deliver impact at scale.

Name

Fondazione Ecosistemi

Legal name

Fondazione Ecosistemi

Website

https://fondazioneecosistemi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fondazione Ecosistemi is an Italian non-profit foundation that advises public administrations and businesses on Green Public Procurement, developing CAM/DNSH methodologies, training programs, and the annual Forum Compraverde Buygreen across Italy and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability and Green Public Procurement Advisory Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition Technical Assistance (BPADAEAG), Resilient Livelihoods & Climate-Smart Food Security (BPADAJAH)

Keywords

• Green Public Procurement
• Sustainable Procurement Advisory
• Environmental Consulting Services
• Sustainability Capacity Building
• Circular Economy Training

Headquarters

HQ city

Roma

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. European Project Funding: Participation as consortium partner in EU-funded projects including Erasmus+, LIFE Programme, Horizon Europe, and other European initiatives that provide operational funding for sustainable procurement, circular economy, and environmental education activities.
2. Regional Government Contracts: Direct contracts with Italian regional governments (Sardegna, Veneto, Lazio, Friuli Venezia Giulia) for GPP training, technical assistance, and capacity building programs. Funded through regional operational programs such as PR Sardegna FESR 2021-2027.
3. Ministry and Public Institution Partnerships: Collaborations with national ministries (Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Cultural Heritage) and public institutions for training programs, guideline development, and GPP implementation support under projects like CReIAMO PA.
4. Event Organization and Publications: Organization of Forum Compraverde and regional forums, publication sales, and educational materials distribution for sustainable procurement knowledge dissemination.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fondazione Ecosistemi is an Italian non-profit foundation that provides advisory, training, and capacity-building services focused on Green Public Procurement (GPP) and sustainable purchasing for Italian public administrations and businesses. Its core offerings include the Forum Compraverde Buygreen annual conference, Osservatorio Appalti Verdi civic monitoring reports on CAM (Minimum Environmental Criteria) application, the DNSH Vademecum operational guide, the Green Spoon school meal assessment tool, and the Buygreen Community knowledge-sharing network. The foundation also participates as a specialist partner in EU-funded projects (SchoolFood4Change, proCURE) and runs the BESA European policy advocacy campaign.

Product overview

Fondazione Ecosistemi is a non-profit foundation and consultancy organization that serves as a leading entity in Green Public Procurement (GPP) and sustainable purchasing in Italy and Europe. Rather than a single technology product, the organization offers a portfolio of services including advisory consulting, capacity building/training programs, and coordinates various European projects (SchoolFood4Change, proCURE). It organizes the annual Forum Compraverde Buygreen, operates the Osservatorio Appalti Verdi monitoring initiative, and manages the Premio Compraverde award program. The foundation also publishes practical tools like the DNSH Vademecum and maintains the Buygreen Community network for knowledge sharing among public administrations and businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forum Compraverde Buygreen Annual national and European forum dedicated to Green Public Procurement (GPP) and sustainable purchasing policies, bringing together public administrations, businesses, and civil society to discuss and promote green procurement practices.
• Osservatorio Appalti Verdi (Green Procurement Observatory) Civic monitoring initiative in partnership with Legambiente that tracks the application of Green Public Procurement and Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) in Italian public procurement procedures, producing annual reports benchmarking 137+ contracting authorities.
• GPP Advisory and Capacity Building Services Consulting services and training programs for public administrations and businesses on integrating Green Public Procurement criteria, Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM), DNSH principle, and sustainability principles into procurement processes.
• DNSH Vademecum Operational guide providing instructions for applying the 'Do No Significant Harm' principle in public projects, supporting municipalities and public officials in complying with EU environmental standards under PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) funding.
• Buygreen Community Network Community platform connecting public administrations and businesses to share knowledge and best practices on sustainable procurement and circular economy.
• Green Spoon Assessment Tool European tool developed under the SchoolFood4Change project for measuring environmental and nutritional impact of school meals, helping cities assess and improve their catering services across 12 European countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33% emission reduction in Rome school catering through sustainable procurement model with plant-based menus and local organic supply chains
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• LegambientecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founding partner of Osservatorio Appalti Verdi, the primary civic monitoring initiative tracking Green Public Procurement and Minimum Environmental Criteria application in Italian public administration. Produces annual monitoring reports and organizes Ecoforum national conference.
• MIRA NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-signatory of joint recommendations on the EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework 2028-2034, advocating for maintenance of DNSH principle and environmental safeguards in European budget negotiations.
• ECCO - Italian Climate Think TankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on policy papers including 'Green Stories' video series on construction sector decarbonization and joint advocacy on European procurement policy reform (BESA).
• WWF ItaliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Fondazione Ecosistemi to produce report on economic and employment impacts of Italian electricity system decarbonization, demonstrating 160 billion euro investment generating 350 billion euro in benefits.
• Promo PA FondazionecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-promoter of OESC (Osservatorio Eventi Sostenibili nella Cultura) producing annual national report on environmental sustainability of cultural events in Italy.
• Fondazione IFEL (Istituto per la Finanza e l'Economia Locale)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDNSH experts from Fondazione Ecosistemi support IFEL's 'L'esperto rispondə' service for municipal RUPs (Responsible for Public Contracts), providing free consultation on Do No Significant Harm principle application in public projects.
• EconomiaCircolare.comcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-producer of 'Con Criterio' videopodcast exploring sustainability decision-making processes, combining Fondazione Ecosistemi's policy expertise with EconomiaCircolare.com's digital media reach.
• European Parliament / MEP Nicola ZingarettiflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBESA (Buy European and Sustainable Act) campaign collaboration with European Parliament S&D Group delegation, organizing events at European Parliament to advocate for sustainable procurement reform.
• ICLEI - Local Governments for SustainabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean partnership for sustainable procurement events and training, collaborating on Farm to Fork sustainable food procurement workshops in Brussels.
• Regione Autonoma della SardegnacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMulti-year technical assistance partnership for GPP implementation through PR Sardegna FESR 2021-2027, including HELP DESK GPP service, technical laboratories, and PAPERS 2024-2026 action plan development.
• Regione VenetocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThree-year regional action plan 2024-2026 for Green Public Procurement development, including innovative procurement training laboratories and sustainable procurement support.
• Regione LaziocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerINFEAS network activation support with ARPA Lazio, Lazio Abitare Green CAM construction workshops, and co-design meetings for environmental education network development.
• CNR (National Research Council of Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost partner for Smile City Urban Living Lab workshop on off-grid e-bike charging station eco-design, involving researchers and designers in circular mobility solutions.
• Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy SecuritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner for CReIAMO PA project delivering GPP training and diffusion activities, and collaborative support for DNSH vademecum development for PNRR projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Legambiente: Italy's largest environmental NGO and co-founding partner of Fondazione Ecosistemi in the Osservatorio Appalti Verdi. Operates in overlapping sustainability advocacy, civic monitoring, and ecological transition spaces with shared customer base across Italian municipalities.
• European Environmental Bureau (EEB): EU-level federation of environmental citizens' organisations active on EU policy including sustainable procurement directives. Comparable in advocacy on EU green public procurement rules and multi-stakeholder coalition building.
• WWF Italia: Italian branch of global environmental NGO that has commissioned Fondazione Ecosistemi for reports on electricity system decarbonization. Operates in similar environmental advocacy, sustainability research, and policy engagement spaces targeting Italian and EU institutions.
• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability: Global network of local governments for sustainability, partnered with Fondazione Ecosistemi on sustainable procurement events in Brussels. Delivers comparable GPP training, sustainable food procurement workshops, and capacity building to cities and municipalities.
• Fondazione IFEL: Italian foundation for local finance and economy that distributes Fondazione Ecosistemi's DNSH expertise through its municipal 'L'esperto risponde' service. Closely aligned in delivering sustainability and procurement guidance to Italian municipalities.
• ECCO - Italian Climate Think Tank: Italian climate policy think tank collaborating with Fondazione Ecosistemi on BESA campaign and 'Green Stories' construction decarbonization series. Overlapping audience of EU and Italian policy stakeholders on sustainable procurement and decarbonization advocacy.
• Promo PA Fondazione: Italian foundation co-promoting OESC (Osservatorio Eventi Sostenibili nella Cultura) with Fondazione Ecosistemi. Operates in adjacent public administration capacity building and sustainability training for Italian public entities.

Regional players

• Risorse per Roma: Italian development agency working on local sustainable development and public policy support. Comparable in advising Italian public administrations on sustainability transitions and territorial planning.

Emerging players

• EconomiaCircolare.com: Italian digital media platform on circular economy that co-produces the Con Criterio videopodcast with Fondazione Ecosistemi. Overlaps in disseminating sustainability and procurement knowledge to Italian public and private stakeholders.
• ECOS - Environmental Coalition on Standards: International NGO advocating for sustainable standards and procurement criteria in EU regulation. Overlaps with Fondazione Ecosistemi on policy advocacy around CAM, DNSH and EU procurement directive reform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ecosistemi_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyy364qDGQdRh-fiGEWn1XA
• Facebookfacebook.com/fondazionecosistemi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecosistemi

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 Fondazione Ecosistemi