by Brianna Crandall — October 9, 2017 — Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the organization that independently recognizes excellence in green business industry performance and practice globally through certifications such as LEED, recently unveiled TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency), the new brand identity for its zero waste rating system. The TRUE Zero Waste rating system helps businesses and facilities define, pursue and achieve their zero waste goals through project certification and professional credentialing.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American generates 4.4 pounds of trash each day. TRUE is a whole systems approach that helps organizations understand how materials flow through their facilities and identify redesign opportunities so that all products are reused. TRUE-certified projects meet a minimum of 90 percent waste diversion for 12 months from landfills, incinerators (waste-to-energy) or the environment. TRUE is administered by GBCI and serves as a complement to the LEED green building rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC and GBCI, pointed out:
By driving the adoption of green practices at all levels of business, we significantly impact greenhouse gases, manage risk and improve the health and wellbeing of employees and the community. By closing the loop on waste, organizations can become more resource efficient, discover potential new revenue streams and save money. TRUE delivers the business case for addressing waste.
Currently, there are 88 TRUE-certified facilities around the world. TRUE focuses on helping businesses, industrial sectors and schools quantify their performance and find additional ways to move toward zero waste. Microsoft, Tesla, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Nature’s Path, Earth Friendly Products, Raytheon, Cintas and Northrop Grumman, among others, have facilities certified under the program. The TRUE Zero Waste certification, previously administered by the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC), was acquired by GBCI in 2016.
Stephanie Barger, director, TRUE Zero Waste program, stated:
Our goal is to help develop a zero waste economy for all that delivers financial, environmental and social benefits. The TRUE team is working with organizations across industries to help set benchmarks, track performance, educate employees and deliver innovative solutions that move them closer to zero waste.
GBCI rating systems, such as TRUE, LEED, Parksmart, SITES, WELL and others, are committed to driving the adoption of green business practices that foster global competitiveness and enhance environmental performance and human health benefits. From waste to responsible land development to sustainable power systems, GBCI rating systems work across all sectors, applying rigorous standards that verify performance and encourage sustainable practices that are economically, environmentally and socially responsible.
For more information, visit the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) section on the GBCI Web site.
