USGBC Empowers Zero Waste Industry: USGBC & USZWBC join forces

This summer the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) stepped into Zero Waste WE Consciousness with an empowering announcement!

On July 1, 2016, the USGBC issued a LEED Interpretation allowing documentation for a facility certified by the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC) to stand in for several LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance (LEED O+M) prerequisites and credits. The USGBC's aim is to reduce the burden for buildings pursuing both certifications.

Now, if a building earned USZWBC Zero Waste Facility Certification (ZWFC) and the scope of the project (i.e., the project boundary) is the same as a project pursuing LEED O+M certification, the USZWBC certification can be used to document LEED credits, provided the corresponding USZWBC credit is earned. A scorecard for the ZWFC must be provided to demonstrate specific credit achievement.

As the home to LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Certification, the USGBC is the recognized global standard for sustainable building design, construction, operations and maintenance.

The ZWA Blog article, USGBC Steps in Zero Waste WE Consciousness, announces the important industry achievement and defines WE Consciousness.

... and on October 5, 2016 the USGBC fully immerses in Zero Waste WE Consciousness with the following announcement: 

The USGBC and USZWBC are formally joining forces to advance zero waste business practices. USZWBC will be integrated into the global Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) community that drives sustainability across all sectors. GBCI will assume responsibility for the ongoing management and evolution of the ZWFC and Zero Waste Business Associate programs created by USZWBC, and the Zero Waste principles will be aligned with GBCI’s offerings.

Established in 2008, GBCI exclusively administers project certifications and professional credentials and certificates within the framework of the USGBC’s LEED green building rating systems. Through rigorous certification and credentialing standards, GBCI drives adoption of green business practices, which fosters global competitiveness and enhances environmental performance and human health benefits.

The USZWBC Board signing
USGBC documents
photo compliments UZWBC

“GBCI is taking another important step toward creating a holistic strategy for green business that began when the U.S. Green Business Council (USGBC) launched the LEED green building rating system 16 years ago,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president, GBCI, and COO, (USGBC). “By reducing and eliminating the volume and toxicity of waste and materials and aligning green rating systems, we are one step further in transforming the market to be more sustainable.”

The ZWFC joins a family of prominent certifications administered by the GBCI: the PEER standard for power systems, the WELL building standard, the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES), Parksmart, EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiency) and the GRESB benchmark, which is used by institutional investors to improve the sustainability performance of the global property sector. 

Since its 2012 inception, the USZWBC adopted the Zero Waste International Alliance's zero waste definition:

Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, guiding people to change 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.

Alignment with the USGBC | GBCI will propel zero waste success from its current material focus to encompass all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health - a monumental leap forward towards a truly sustainable world!

When it launched in 2013, the ZWFC parameters aligned with credit requirements of LEED O+M. Thus, the USGBC | GBCI | USZWBC is a natural joining of forces with monumental industry implications. With USGBC support, zero waste is destined to move beyond best operating practices into standard operating practices.

Stephanie Barger, USZWBC Founder and Executive Director, confirms the sentiment: “USZWBC is so excited to join the GBCI family. By spearheading a comprehensive certification and training program, we have already made huge strides in shifting attitudes and behaviors of large and small companies to focus upstream with managing waste. With GBCI’s influence we will be able to further the integrity and credibility of Zero Waste and create a Zero Waste Economy for all!”

USGBC intends to honor current USZWBC memberships, sponsorships, and partnerships. As the USZWBC Official Media Partner, Elemental Impact is thrilled for the invigorated zero waste horizons. Time will reveal how the phenomenal potentials ground into powerful realities.