Ready to achieve TRUE Zero Waste certification? We’ve got answers to all your burning questions with our TRUE Zero Waste FAQs.
At Great Forest, we know Zero Waste can seem daunting, but we know it is a very achievable goal—and worth it. We went through the process ourselves, earning TRUE Gold Certification for our NYC HQ with a 91.3% diversion rate.
Over the years we have helped many businesses reduce waste and navigate their own way toward TRUE certification, and these are the Top 6 TRUE Zero Waste FAQs that we are asked again and again. Have a question you don’t see here? Just ask us.
Learn more: Get insights with our TRUE case study and guide to the certification process.
Top 6 TRUE Zer0 Waste FAQs
1. How long does the TRUE process take, from inception to certification?
From start to finish, the timeline varies based on your existing waste programs and data collection efforts. A full year of data is needed to document at least 90% waste diversion, followed by up to 10 weeks for the application submission and review. So pursuing TRUE can take less than a year or several years to achieve.
2. What are the common barriers an organization might encounter on the path to certification? And what strategies can help overcome these barriers?
The biggest barrier is often the level of organizational buy-in. Without it, data collection and process implementation can stall. The solution? Engagement from the top down. Management sets the tone, followed by staff education and the creation of a Zero Waste team to lead the charge. This core team will take on the task of understanding what programs the organization already has in place, what more can be done, and how to formalize Zero Waste policies to help achieve and maintain certification.
In our own certification journey at Great Forest, we achieved buy-in by communicating our efforts and providing staff with a unifying goal. As a result, we saw an increase in engagement across departments, and began receiving an influx of ideas, not just from our Zero Waste-certified employees. These new waste reduction program suggestions have since been implemented at our HQ.
3) Are there any credits that are particularly challenging to achieve?
Every organization will have some credits that are easier for them to achieve than others, depending on the type of business.
For example, large organizations will find it easier to earn credits by using their purchasing power to demand more sustainable products or shipping options from their suppliers. Smaller companies often do not have the same influence over their suppliers.
But the key to remember is that there are still ways to secure wins. Small businesses might earn those purchasing credits, for example, if they use a responsible printer for their business cards.
4) How has TRUE certification generated interest in or elevated the perception of your organization?
Reputation matters. Studies have shown that customers seek out and are willing to pay a premium to do business with a sustainable-minded company. TRUE certification is a credible and measurable demonstration of an organization’s commitment to, and success in, reducing waste and increasing sustainability. It acts as a marker of the corporation’s leadership in sustainability, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and other matters important to all stakeholders, from investors to new hires.
5) What are the benefits of TRUE certification that might not be as well known?
TRUE helps with LEED certification: Earned TRUE credits can be used to document LEED credits if the TRUE project has the same scope as the project pursuing LEED O+M.
TRUE is crucial for any long-term strategy: Effective waste management is necessary for businesses to control rising waste costs. By going through the process of TRUE Zero Waste certification, businesses will put themselves on a path to Zero Waste with practices that are essential for long-term survival in a changing landscape.
TRUE advances global goals: TRUE was designed to help move the world towards the UN’s Sustainable Development goals.
6) Why pursue TRUE over other Zero Waste certifications?
Administered by the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the same body that oversees LEED and other green rating systems, TRUE is the most trusted and recognized system in the industry. As with LEED, TRUE is considered the benchmark for sustainability-minded businesses.