Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the launch of TRUE v2—the next iteration of the TRUE zero waste certification program. The new version of the rating system emphasizes zero waste impacts and global applicability, and it helps organizations advance their decarbonization, business transformation and circularity goals.

For more than 10 years, TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) has provided a proven roadmap toward zero waste operations and supported the development of circular materials management infrastructure, behavior, and best practices worldwide. It has reshaped waste operations for organizations, companies and small businesses, with over 680 certified projects totaling 272 million square feet and diverting 8.9 million tons of waste from landfills.

“Waste reduction is a community, environmental and business priority,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). “TRUE v2 strengthens the connection between zero waste strategies and measurable impact, providing clearer pathways to improve performance and showcase excellence. This results-driven approach supports sustainability goals, improves the bottom line, and strengthens long-term business resilience.”

What’s new with TRUE v2

TRUE v2 takes the trusted standard for measuring zero waste efforts and makes the path to certification clearer, faster, and more valuable than ever. The streamlined rating system is delivered through Arc, the digital platform created by GBCI to collect, measure, benchmark and verify sustainability performance. Updates to the TRUE v2 rating system include:  

  • Rebalanced credit structure to support projects starting their zero waste journey while also rewarding high performers

  • Improved global usability with clearer, internationally applicable language and approaches

  • Greater rewards for higher-impact and harder-to-achieve actions

Meeting today’s waste challenges

TRUE v2 comes as more organizations seek clarity on zero waste roadmaps, with waste volumes rising, landfill capacity tightening, and disposal costs escalating. The Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 projects that the direct cost of waste management could double by 2050, and the Environmental Research and Education Foundation found that commercial waste disposal costs in the U.S. have grown by 15-30% since 2016.

DLF Limited, a leading real estate developer in India with the largest portfolio of TRUE-certified projects in the country, has used TRUE certification to decrease material consumption and increase operational efficiency.  

“At DLF, sustainability is not a standalone initiative; it is fundamental to how we design, operate, and manage our spaces,” said Mr. Kumaran WR, senior executive director at DLF Limited. “We view waste not as a by-product to be managed, but as a resource to be reimagined. Our TRUE certification journey reflects our ambition to advance a circular economy, where waste is minimized, resources are continuously recovered, and sustainability is embedded into everyday operations. By bringing together tenants, employees, and partners around a shared vision, we are demonstrating how large-scale real estate can create regenerative, zero-waste ecosystems and help shape a more resilient and sustainable future.”

Colgate-Palmolive, another leader in zero waste with 53 TRUE-certified projects across 27 countries, anticipates that enhancements in TRUE v2 will make it easier to onboard new sites, adapt to local infrastructure conditions, consistently document progress, and connect zero waste work more directly to operational value and climate strategy.

“Colgate-Palmolive is a caring, innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all,” said Ann Tracy, chief sustainability officer, Colgate-Palmolive. “Our 2030 Sustainability Strategy is focused on value-creating initiatives that drive measurable results. TRUE supports us on this journey, helping our teams move from individual waste-reduction projects to a global system that drives lasting impact.”

TRUE v2 was developed with USGBC members and stakeholders, including the TRUE Advisory Council, and informed by global public consultation from zero waste practitioners.

Registration for TRUE v2 is now open on the Arc platform for projects interested in advancing their zero waste goals and pursuing certification.

About the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) 

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) accelerates and scales the transformation of the built environment to minimize climate impacts and enhance the well-being of people, the environment, and communities worldwide. USGBC leads market transformation through LEED and other green building certification and enablement programs, robust educational offerings, an international network of industry leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram,  Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

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