Greenbuild 2023 in Washington, DC
Sustainability at Scale
Learn how you can transform your organization by implementing zero waste at scale through the TRUE Portfolio program. According to the United Nations Environment Program, an estimated 11.2 billion tons of solid waste is collected annually worldwide, with decay of this material contributing to about 5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. There is a critical need for organizations to implement zero waste strategies to protect the world’s ecosystems and reduce the emissions that come from the creation and disposal of waste. GBCI’s TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Rating System provides a comprehensive roadmap to achieve zero waste, and TRUE certification recognizes this achievement. Today’s organizations are moving beyond single facilities and committing to zero waste targets across their portfolio of assets: large organizations like Colgate-Palmolive, Microsoft, and Subaru have already announced sweeping zero waste commitments and many others are close behind. But how do you achieve such large-scale commitments? The TRUE Portfolio program was designed to help organizations reach their ambitious zero waste goals at scale and gain recognition for their transformational leadership.
The session will begin by providing an overview of zero waste and TRUE as well as presenting the TRUE Portfolio program to highlight opportunities to use TRUE as a road map for scaling zero waste practices. Many conference attendees are likely aware of zero waste, and may be aware of TRUE, but may not be aware of the Portfolio program which allows for wider standardization and more efficient implementation of zero waste practices across a portfolio of sites. The goal of this session is to discuss the benefits of engaging with zero waste at scale, focusing on opportunities for financial and environmental value. The session will also include audience engagement via a structured discussion.
Holly R. Griffith, TRUE Advisor (she/her/hers)
Product Manager, TRUE Certification
Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)
Seattle, Washington
Celia Ristow, TRUE Advisor (she/her/hers)
Certification Manager, TRUE Certification
Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)
Vijaya Yellamraju, LEED AP BD+C, TRUE Advisor, GRI Sustainability Professional
Vice President, Product Management
USGBC
Austin, Texas