200 TRUE certifications for zero waste

For Waste Reduction Week, we highlight how TRUE certification helps buildings, businesses and communities strengthen commitments to resource management

Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the world’s leading sustainability and health certification and credentialing body, recently announced it has surpassed 200 TRUE certified projects. TRUE (or Total Resource Use and Efficiency) is administered by GBCI and is the first zero waste certification program dedicated to measuring, improving and recognizing zero waste performance by encouraging the adoption of sustainable waste management and reduction practices that contribute to positive environmental, health and economic outcomes.

In Canada, TRUE is administered by GBCI Canada. Canadian TRUE facilities including certifying facilities from Riverside Natural Foods and Que Pasa, and Cintas Corporation’s Toronto Distribution Centre. Read more about these Canadian projects.

Integrating zero waste strategies presents one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to protect the environment, promote human health and mitigate climate change.

Companies pursuing TRUE certification demonstrate leadership by shifting to circular thinking and prioritizing processes, operations and actions to reduce waste and limit upstream resource extraction and use.

Facilities achieve TRUE certification by meeting an average of 90 per cent or greater overall waste diversion from landfill, incineration (waste-to-energy) and the environment over a period of 12 months, as well as implementing minimum program requirements within the TRUE Rating System. With more than 86 million square feet certified across 16 countries, TRUE projects have been able to divert a total of 3,075,301 tons of waste from landfill since 2017 — a number that increases daily. TRUE certification also helps these projects collectively average an estimated savings of more than $47.5 million per year.

Global organizations are deploying TRUE as their zero waste management system to meet their sustainability and corporate social responsibility goals, achieve carbon emission and waste reduction targets, standardize implementation practices in their operations and streamline their educational efforts to onboard their staff. TRUE certification also lends itself to buildings outside of manufacturing covering agriculture, distribution and warehousing, hospitality, office, and retail.

As the world collectively turns its attention to ESG and circular economy principles, these TRUE certified buildings, restaurants, manufacturing facilities and more are proving that zero waste is within reach. To learn more about how companies are utilizing TRUE to support zero waste goals, visit GBCICanada.ca/true.

Based on an article from GBCI posted September 15, 2021