macondo publishing GmbH

What macondo publishing GmbH does

macondo publishing GmbH is a Münster-headquartered, founder-owned German media and software firm operating in the sustainability communications space since 1998 (originally as Mediengruppe macondo). The company is structured around three functional pillars: (1) sustainability publishing — including the UmweltDialog magazine, Global Goals Yearbook, Global Compact Deutschland yearbook series, and corporate sustainability reports produced for clients; (2) ESG consulting and training — covering CSRD/ESRS implementation, sustainability strategy, and reporter education delivered alongside GRI, IHKs, and universities; and (3) SaaS — the proprietary CSRmanager platform for SME sustainability data consolidation, audit management, and report generation against ESRS, GRI, DNK, TCFD, SASB, CDP, GHG Protocol, and ISO standards, hosted on GDPR-compliant infrastructure in Germany.

CSRmanager is delivered through a dedicated product site (csr-manager.org) and sold on a quote-based annual subscription to small and mid-sized enterprises, with named customers including Volkswagen Immobilien, Papyrus, HoCaX, and Zinq. Publications are sold through macondo.de at price points from free (digital yearbooks) to €39.80 for specialist titles, distributed via the firm's own e-commerce shop and book trade channels. Consulting and corporate publishing engagements are project-based, with named clients spanning German federal ministries, EY (EY Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2020), ISOE, IBU, and DGCN. Founder and Managing Director Dr. Elmer Lenzen sits on the GRI Stakeholder Council for Europe and Central Asia; macondo is the first German publishing house admitted to the UN Global Compact.

Revenue is generated across three streams: low-unit-value publication sales (one-time, roughly €9–€40 per item), recurring CSRmanager subscriptions (annual, quote-based to SMEs), and project-based professional services (higher-value, concentrated in government and large-enterprise work). The core team is 1–10 employees, supplemented by an external contractor and partner network with nodes in Argentina (Buenos Aires), Mexico, and Spain. The company is privately held with no institutional funding, no M&A activity, and no public capital structure events disclosed.

Name

macondo publishing GmbH

Legal name

macondo publishing GmbH

Website

https://macondo.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

macondo publishing GmbH is a Münster-based, founder-owned German sustainability media and software firm offering ESG publishing, consulting, and the CSRmanager SME SaaS for reporting against ESRS, GRI, and 15+ frameworks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Publishing & ESG Consulting

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Periodical Publishers (51312), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Reporting (GRI/SASB/ISSB/CSRD) (EUAHAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG/Sustainability Reporting & Disclosure Platforms (EUABAEAB), Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ)

Keywords

• Sustainability publishing
• ESG reporting software
• CSR consulting services
• Sustainability training programs
• Corporate publishing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Münster

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Publication Sales (E-commerce): Sale of printed and digital publications including UmweltDialog magazines, Global Goals Yearbooks, Global Compact Deutschland yearbooks, and specialist books through the company's e-commerce shop. Publications priced from free (e.g., Global Goals Yearbook 2023 digital) to €39.80 (Berufsbild CSR-Manager). Also available through bookstores.
2. CSRmanager Software Subscription: SaaS subscription for the CSRmanager sustainability reporting software, targeting small and medium enterprises for ESG reporting, carbon footprint management, and sustainability data consolidation. Server location Germany with GDPR-compliant data processing.
3. Corporate Publishing & Agency Services: Bespoke sustainability reports, studies, and customer magazines produced on behalf of clients including German federal ministries (Bundesministerien), as well as conference and stakeholder dialogue organization services.
4. Continuing Education & Training: Sustainability management and CSR reporting training programs, with long-standing expertise and close cooperation with GRI, IHKs (German Chambers of Commerce and Industry), and universities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

macondo publishing GmbH operates a three-pillar sustainability business: (1) publishing — UmweltDialog magazine, Global Goals Yearbook, and Global Compact Deutschland Yearbook; (2) proprietary ESG reporting software — CSRmanager, a cloud-based platform with integrated support for 15+ reporting frameworks; and (3) consulting and corporate publishing services for German federal ministries and enterprises, plus sustainability/CSR training programs. The company serves as a one-stop sustainability content, technology, and advisory provider.

Product overview

macondo publishing GmbH operates a multi-product portfolio centered on sustainability and corporate responsibility. The core software product is CSRmanager, a customizable sustainability reporting platform that enables data consolidation, carbon footprint tracking (Scope 1,2,3), and reporting aligned with international frameworks such as ESRS, GRI, DNK, TCFD, and GHG Protocol. Complementing the software are publishing offerings including the UmweltDialog Magazine, the annual Global Goals Yearbook series (recognized as a UN flagship publication), and the Global Compact Deutschland Yearbook. The company also provides strategic consulting services, CSR Academy continuing education programs, and corporate publishing services for ministries and enterprise clients, as well as conference and stakeholder dialogue organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSRmanager: Award-winning sustainability reporting software for SMEs that enables companies to manage sustainability data, audits, and risk management according to international standards including ESRS, GRI, DNK, TCFD, SASB, CDP, UNGC, GHG Protocol, UNGP, EFFAS, ISO 26000, SA 8000:2014, EMAS III, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2016, and ISO 50001:2016.

Products and services

• CSRmanager Sustainability Reporting Software Award-winning cloud-based SaaS sustainability reporting software enabling companies — primarily SMEs — to independently process, evaluate, and report on sustainability data, audits, and risk management according to international standards including ESRS, GRI, DNK, TCFD, SASB, CDP, UNGC, GHG Protocol, ISO standards, and more. Features data consolidation over n-levels, plausibility checks, Scope 1/2/3 carbon footprint management, shared inheritance, unlimited user management with rights management and changelog, and GDPR-compliant infrastructure with server location in Germany.
• UmweltDialog Magazine Magazine publication covering sustainability topics such as climate management and reporting, purpose-driven business, the future of sustainability, globalization, and luxury and sustainability. Sold as single print/digital issues at €9.00 per issue. Available via the company's e-commerce shop and bookstore distribution.
• Global Goals Yearbook Annual publication series focusing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their measurable impact. Recognized as a UN flagship publication by the United Nations (2018) and recipient of a US Book Award (2019) for the 'Partnership' edition. Sold at €25.00 per copy, with the Global Goals Yearbook 2023 available free of charge in digital format.
• Global Compact Deutschland Yearbook Annual yearbook of the Deutsches Global Compact Netzwerk (DGCN) featuring contributions from experts and member companies on topics including human rights, migration, and SDG implementation in Germany. Sold at €15.00 per copy (2016-2020 editions). The 2016 edition received a Silver Medal.
• Corporate Publishing Services Bespoke sustainability reports, studies, and customer magazines created on behalf of clients including German federal ministries (Bundesministerien), EY, ISOE, IBU, and DGCN. Includes stakeholder dialogue formats and agency-style publishing partnerships.
• Strategic Consulting Services Advisory services for sustainability strategy, ESG reporting, and sustainability communication, including modular and tailored solutions for SMEs under ESRS requirements. Provided by macondo and external consulting partners including Dr. Frank Simon and Dr. Christopher Whittle.
• CSR Academy / Nachhaltigkeitsakademie Continuing education programs focused on sustainability management and CSR reporting, leveraging long-standing expertise and close cooperation with GRI, IHKs (German Chambers of Commerce and Industry), and universities. Includes the European Sustainability Reporting Academy (ESRA) partnership.
• Conference and Event Organization Organization of conferences and other dialogue formats in the sustainability space, including the Global Goals Forum, DGCN jubilee conference, and IBU symposium. Stakeholder dialogue moderation is also offered as a service.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sustainability reporting with 15+ integrated frameworks including ESRS, GRI, DNK, TCFD, SASB, CDP, UNGC, GHG Protocol, and multiple ISO standards.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016macondo publishing is a GRI GOLD member and its founder Dr. Elmer Lenzen has served as GRI Stakeholder Counsellor for Europe and Central Asia since 2017. The company maintains a long-standing close cooperation with GRI, integrating GRI standards into its consulting offerings and publications.
• WWF (World Wildlife Fund)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012macondo publishing regularly supports WWF with monetary donations for projects protecting tropical rainforests and the wildlife within them, as part of its environmental protection commitment.
• UN Global CompactcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003macondo publishing was the first German publishing house to join the UN Global Compact initiative and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). As a signatory, the company publishes annual Communication on Progress (CoP) reports and produces the Global Compact Deutschland yearbooks.
• UmweltDialogcoreOthersUmweltDialog is macondo's own sustainability news service and magazine brand, operated as a sister domain (umweltdialog.de) to its main publishing business.
• CSRmanagercoreOthersCSRmanager is macondo's own ESG/sustainability reporting software product, promoted via csr-manager.org. It integrates with multiple reporting frameworks and supports companies in meeting European sustainability reporting requirements.
• European Sustainability Reporting Academy (ESRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESRA (European Sustainability Reporting Academy) is listed as a partner page on macondo.de, with the website linking to esra-academy.org. ESRA likely provides training and education related to sustainability reporting.
• Global Goals Yearbook / Global Goals ForumcoreOthersmacondo publishes the annual Global Goals Yearbook and organizes the Global Goals Forum as an event format. The Global Goals Yearbook 2023 has been recognized as a UN flagship publication. The Global Goals Forum addresses sustainability in times of crises and conflicts.
• macondo foundationminorOthersThe macondo foundation (macondo-foundation.org) is a nonprofit organization affiliated with macondo publishing, with its own website referenced on the partner pages section of macondo.de.
• natureOfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnernatureOffice is a partner in the Project Togo afforestation initiative supported by macondo publishing. natureOffice implements tree planting with the local population in southwestern Togo, Africa, on a 1,000 ha nature protection zone.
• Goethe University FrankfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoethe University Frankfurt provides scientific monitoring and advisory services for macondo's Project Togo afforestation initiative in Togo, Africa.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• DGCN (Deutsches Global Compact Netzwerk): DGCN is the German UN Global Compact network that macondo already works with as a content partner (yearbooks, anniversary conference); it functions as a strategic ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, and represents a key distribution and credibility channel for macondo's publications.

Direct peers

• IntegrityNext: IntegrityNext is a Munich-based supplier ESG and supply-chain compliance SaaS platform covering CSRD, LkSG, and supplier evaluation requirements, directly comparable to CSRmanager's data-consolidation and ESRS-aligned reporting positioning for European mid-market customers.
• GreenBiz Group: GreenBiz Group is a US-based sustainability media, events, and research business (GreenBiz.com, GreenFin event, VERGE conference) closely comparable to macondo's publishing and events pillars (UmweltDialog magazine, Global Goals Forum) as a content-driven sustainability media brand.
• Sustainserv: Sustainserv is a sustainability strategy and ESG advisory firm with offices in Europe and the US, directly comparable to macondo's consulting and training practice around CSRD/ESRS implementation, GRI reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
• Plan A: Plan A is a Berlin-based ESG and carbon accounting SaaS platform serving European SMEs and mid-market clients, directly comparable to macondo's CSRmanager in target segment, framework coverage (CSRD/ESRS, GHG Protocol), and DACH market focus.
• Sweep: Sweep is an ESG and carbon management SaaS platform targeting mid-market and enterprise companies, very closely comparable to CSRmanager in multi-framework coverage (CSRD, GHG Protocol, TCFD) and SME-friendly onboarding. Both are positioned as integrated, user-friendly alternatives to legacy GRC suites.

Broad incumbents

• Workiva: Workiva is the leading enterprise ESG and integrated reporting SaaS platform with native CSRD/ESRS support and broad Fortune 1000 adoption. It overlaps with CSRmanager at the ESG-reporting layer but operates at vastly greater scale and breadth across multiple compliance domains.
• Watershed: Watershed is a well-funded enterprise carbon accounting and ESG disclosure platform, comparable to CSRmanager in carbon footprint (Scope 1/2/3) and disclosure functionality, but operating at much larger scale with a more enterprise-led GTM motion.
• GreenFlex: GreenFlex (part of GreenYellow) is a European ESG consulting and sustainability advisory firm offering CSRD implementation and climate strategy services comparable to macondo's consulting pillar, but operating at significantly larger enterprise scale.

Regional players

• FutureCamp Climate: FutureCamp Climate is a German sustainability and climate strategy consultancy headquartered in Munich, directly comparable to macondo's German-language, DACH-focused ESG advisory and CSRD/ESRS implementation services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat8 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/umweltdialog
• Facebookfacebook.com/UmweltDialog
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/macondo-publishing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 macondo publishing GmbH