The updated rating system introduces a streamlined certification process, improved global applicability and greater recognition for high-impact waste reduction measures. It is delivered through Arc, the digital platform developed by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) to collect, measure, benchmark and verify sustainability performance.
For more than a decade, TRUE has provided a framework for organisations to achieve zero waste operations and develop circular materials management practices. The programme has certified more than 680 projects covering 272 million sq ft and helped divert 8.9 million tonnes of waste from landfills.
“Waste reduction is a community, environmental and business priority,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO of USGBC and GBCI. He said TRUE v2 strengthens the link between zero waste strategies and measurable outcomes, helping organisations improve performance, demonstrate sustainability progress and build long-term business resilience.
The revised rating system includes a rebalanced credit structure to support projects at different stages of their zero waste journey, clearer language and approaches for international adoption, and greater recognition for actions that deliver higher environmental impact or are more difficult to achieve.
The launch comes amid rising waste volumes, limited landfill capacity and increasing disposal costs. The United Nations Environment Programme’s Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 projects that the direct cost of waste management could double by 2050. Meanwhile, the Environmental Research and Education Foundation reported that commercial waste disposal costs in the US have increased by 15-30% since 2016.
In India, DLF Limited, which has the country’s largest portfolio of TRUE-certified projects, has used the certification framework to reduce material consumption and improve operational efficiency.
Kumaran WR, senior executive director at DLF Limited, said sustainability is integral to how the company designs, operates and manages its spaces. He added that the company’s approach focuses on treating waste as a resource, improving material recovery and embedding sustainable practices into everyday operations by engaging tenants, employees and partners.
Colgate-Palmolive, which has 53 TRUE-certified projects across 27 countries, expects TRUE v2 to simplify the onboarding of new sites, accommodate local infrastructure conditions and improve the documentation of progress. The updated framework is also expected to help organisations connect waste reduction more directly with operational performance and climate strategies.
Ann Tracy, chief sustainability officer at Colgate-Palmolive, said the company’s 2030 Sustainability Strategy focuses on initiatives that create value and deliver measurable results. TRUE supports this approach by helping its teams move from individual waste reduction projects towards a global system designed to achieve lasting impact.
USGBC developed TRUE v2 in consultation with its members and stakeholders, including the TRUE Advisory Council, and incorporated feedback from zero waste practitioners through a global public consultation.
Registration for TRUE v2 is now open through the Arc platform for projects seeking to advance their zero waste goals and pursue certification.
