In the market there are today different certifications around the energy efficiency and the built environment sustainability. In this Post I will mention some features of one of the most recent: «TRUE» (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Zero Waste Certification. TRUE is a whole systems approach aimed at changing how materials flow through society, resulting in no waste.
TRUE encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. TRUE promotes processes that consider the entire lifecycle of products used within a facility. With TRUE, the facilities can demonstrate to the world what they’re doing to minimize their waste output.

ZERO WASTE DEFINITION
GBCI defines zero waste according to the Zero Wase International Alliance definition:
“Zero waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use.

Zero waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them. Implementing zero waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.”

https://www.gbci.org/
http://zwia.org/

 

GBCI & the different Certificates.
Image from https://true.gbci.org/

 

TRUE certified spaces are environmentally responsible, more resource efficient and help turn waste into savings and additional income streams. By closing the loop, they cut greenhouse gases, manage risk, reduce litter and pollution, reinvest resources locally, create jobs and add more value for their organization and community.

TRUE certified facilities:
• SAVE MONEY: Waste is a sign of inefficiency and the reduction of waste reduces costs.
• PROGRESS FASTER: A zero waste strategy improves upon production processes and environmental prevention strategies, which can lead to larger, more innovative steps.
• SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY: A zero waste strategy supports the three P’s – people, planet and profit.
• IMPROVE MATERIAL FLOWS: A zero waste strategy uses fewer new raw materials and sends no waste materials to landfills, incineration (waste-to-energy) and the environment.

 

 

Implementing the requirements and credits of TRUE Zero Waste certification has the following benefits to any facility looking for a better approach to resource use and facility operations:

• Helps eliminate pollution — in our air, water and land — which threaten public health and ecosystems
• Improves their bottom line by reducing costs
• Cuts the ecological footprint by reducing materials, using recycled and more benign materials, and giving products longer lives by increasing reparability and ease of disassembly at end of life.
• Promotes positive forces for environmental and economic sustainability in the built environment by protecting the environment, reducing costs, driving the development of new markets, and producing jobs throughout our economy.
• Fosters strong total participation including training of all employees and zero waste relationships with vendors and customers
• Allows the facility to showcase their responsibility and commitment to the local and global community and the environment

Image from https://true.gbci.org/

 

TRUE ADVISOR: Is a profesional certificate program offered by GBCI. TRUE Advisors support the implementation of TRUE programs, prepare businesses for TRUE Zero Wsate certification, and assits organizations through the certification process.

 

 

ZERO WASTE STRATEGIES
Goal: Eliminate your trash, recycling & waste bins.

  • Conduct a zero waste audit & analysis
  • Zero waste profiling – know your trash
  • Reduce size / amount of product packaging
  • Reduce risk / increase efficiency
  • Have tracking program for material flows
  • Leadership & employee engagement

 

For more information about TRUE Zero Waste:
https://true.gbci.org/