Companies like Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, Kellogg, and Tesla that are leaders in sustainability continually work to understand and track how materials flow through their facilities, how to redesign products for a minimum of wasted material, and how to reach zero waste. This week, Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) announced a new brand identity for its zero waste rating system that helps companies do just that.
The newly branded TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Zero Waste rating system is designed to help businesses and facilities achieve their zero waste goals through project certification. The TRUE team works with organizations across industries to help them set benchmarks, educate employees, find solutions that move them closer to zero waste, and track performance.
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,” according to GBCI. TRUE is administered by GBCI and is meant to serve as a complement to the LEED green building rating system created by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
Mahesh Ramanujam, president and chief executive of the USGBC and GBCI, tells organizations that they can become more resource efficient, discover potential new revenue streams and save money by “closing the loop on waste.”
Currently, there are 88 TRUE-certified facilities around the world. 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.
In order to qualify for TRUE certification:
By dumpster diving, identifying waste streams, and asking employees to find ways to both recycle and reduce the amount of waste from its fruit snack manufacturing operation, the company has reduced the cost of its waste management program by almost 80%. The focus has now shifted to reducing the amount of waste generated on the front end, as well as implementing reuse systems for transportation and storage. For example, Kellogg's Chicago facility has reduced the size of its finished goods packaging by 21%, and many of its conveyors have been updated to eliminate food waste.
As a direct result of these zero waste policies and practices, the facility reached a diversion rate of 95.5% and achieved TRUE Zero Waste certification for our facility by reaching a diversion rate of 95.5 percent over the last 12 months.
The TRUE Zero Waste certification, previously administered by the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council, was acquired by GBCI in 2016.
Rating systems in the sustainability space are generally meant to apply rigorous standards that verify performance and encourage sustainable practices that are economically, environmentally and socially responsible.
