U.S. Zero Waste Business Council
The U.S. Zero Waste Business Council operates the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) zero waste certification program for commercial and industrial facilities, operating under the GBCI/USGBC umbrella and generating revenue through facility certification fees and the TRUE Advisor professional credentialing program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersNewport Beach, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What U.S. Zero Waste Business Council does
The U.S. Zero Waste Business Council operates the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) zero waste certification program, a whole-systems rating framework that measures, improves, and recognizes zero waste performance at the facility level. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Newport Beach, California, the organization operates under the GBCI (Green Business Certification Inc.) umbrella, which is itself affiliated with USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) — the body behind LEED and other established green building standards. The core product is the TRUE Rating System, which evaluates facilities on waste reduction, material reuse, recycling, and sustainable resource management across the full lifecycle of materials used on-site.
The business model is certification-driven: facilities pursue TRUE designation through a structured assessment process administered via the GBCI platform, generating recurring revenue through initial certification fees and ongoing recertification cycles. The TRUE Advisor program certifies individual professionals trained on the rating system, who serve as the delivery channel guiding facilities through certification — a parallel professional credentialing revenue stream. The primary customer segment is commercial and industrial facilities (manufacturing plants, warehouses, office buildings, and large retail operations such as Inditex), with TRUE Advisors serving as a secondary professional-services persona. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled through direct engagement with GBCI.
The organization runs an active content and community motion — publishing articles on zero waste economics and circular-economy product innovation, maintaining an events calendar, distributing an email newsletter, and operating a public TRUE Advisor directory. In February 2026, the program opened TRUE v2, the next generation of the rating system, for public consultation, signaling continued investment in evolving the certification framework. The operating posture is that of a small (11-50 employees), specialized certification body with institutional backing rather than a high-growth technology company.
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- U.S. Zero Waste Business Council
- Legal name
- U.S. Zero Waste Business Council
- Website
- https://uszwbc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The U.S. Zero Waste Business Council operates the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) zero waste certification program for commercial and industrial facilities, operating under the GBCI/USGBC umbrella and generating revenue through facility certification fees and the TRUE Advisor professional credentialing program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainability Certification
- NAICS
- All Other Waste Management Services (56299)
- SIC
- Services-Services, Nec (8900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Circular Economy & Waste/Materials Reporting (Zero waste, packaging) (EUAHAJAL)
Keywords
Where U.S. Zero Waste Business Council is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newport Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Certification Fees: Facilities pay for certification assessment and recertification services through the TRUE program. The certification demonstrates zero waste achievement and ongoing environmental commitment.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The U.S. Zero Waste Business Council operates the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification program, a whole-systems zero waste rating system for commercial and industrial facilities. It offers the core TRUE Certification Program for facilities, the TRUE Advisor professional certificate for trained practitioners, and the upcoming TRUE v2 update of the rating system.
Product overview
The U.S. Zero Waste Business Council operates the TRUE certification ecosystem, consisting of three main offerings: the TRUE Certification Program (the core certification for facilities seeking zero waste designation), TRUE v2 (the upcoming major version of the rating system currently in public consultation), and the TRUE Advisor professional certificate program for trained professionals who guide facilities through certification.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TRUE Certification Program A zero waste certification program for commercial and industrial facilities (manufacturing plants, warehouses, office buildings) seeking to measure, improve, and gain recognition for zero waste performance through the TRUE Rating System.
- TRUE Advisor A professional certificate program for individuals trained on the TRUE Rating System. TRUE Advisors understand the requirements of the rating system, help projects achieve TRUE certification, and serve as resident experts supporting zero waste program implementation.
- TRUE v2 The next generation of the TRUE Rating System, representing a major update to the zero waste certification framework with enhanced criteria and requirements. Opened for public consultation in February 2026.
Quantifiable outcome
- Cut greenhouse gases through resource efficiency
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use U.S. Zero Waste Business Council
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council)coreTRUE is operated under the GBCI umbrella, which is affiliated with USGBC. USGBC is a nonprofit organization that developed LEED and other sustainability standards. TRUE certification leverages USGBC's established infrastructure and market credibility in sustainable building and facility management.
- GBCI (Green Business Certification Inc.)coreGBCI is the parent organization that administers TRUE certification. GBCI provides the certification infrastructure, assessment processes, and credentialing for TRUE Advisors. GBCI is the only certification body exclusively delivering programs and credentials for the global green building industry.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GreenCircle Certified: Third-party certification body focused on sustainability claims including waste diversion, recycling, and circular material use — directly comparable in scope to TRUE's zero waste certification.
- SCS Global Services: Independent third-party certifier offering sustainability, environmental, and zero-waste-related certifications across food, forestry, and consumer products. Comparable as a peer in the third-party sustainability certification market.
- Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA): Nonprofit standards body that publishes the Zero Waste Business Council certification standard — historically connected to the zero waste certification category in which TRUE competes.
- Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI): The certification body that administers TRUE; provides assessment infrastructure and credentialing for green building and zero waste programs. Operates as the direct parent/administrator of the TRUE program.
- B Lab (B Corporation): Operates the B Corp certification for companies meeting social and environmental performance standards. Comparable as a voluntary, brand-driven sustainability certification competing for corporate ESG budget.
- U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): Operator of the LEED green building certification and parent affiliate of GBCI, which runs TRUE. Most directly comparable as a sustainability-rating program under the same institutional umbrella.
- Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute: Administers the Cradle to Cradle Certified product sustainability standard covering material reuse, recyclability, and circular economy — overlapping directly with TRUE's zero waste/circular economy positioning.
Emerging players
- EarthCheck: Sustainability certification and benchmarking program primarily for the travel and tourism sector. Comparable as a sustainability certification operator, though more narrowly focused on hospitality and tourism verticals.
Others
- RRS (Resource Recycling Systems): Consultancy advising companies and governments on waste reduction, recycling, and circular economy strategy — adjacent ecosystem participant that supports facilities pursuing TRUE-style certifications.
Broad incumbents
- UL Solutions: Large established certification and standards body offering environmental, sustainability, and claims verification services across many industries — a broader incumbent competing for the same corporate certification spend.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council social profiles
Digital presenceU.S. Zero Waste Business Council financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about U.S. Zero Waste Business Council
What does U.S. Zero Waste Business Council do?
The U.S. Zero Waste Business Council operates the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification program, a whole-systems zero waste rating system for commercial and industrial facilities. It offers the core TRUE Certification Program for facilities, the TRUE Advisor professional certificate for trained practitioners, and the upcoming TRUE v2 update of the rating system.
Is U.S. Zero Waste Business Council a public or private company?
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was U.S. Zero Waste Business Council founded?
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is U.S. Zero Waste Business Council based?
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council is headquartered in Newport Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does U.S. Zero Waste Business Council make money?
One revenue line is on record: certification Fees.
Who are U.S. Zero Waste Business Council's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GreenCircle Certified, SCS Global Services, Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA), Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), B Lab (B Corporation), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. EarthCheck is listed as an emerging player. RRS (Resource Recycling Systems) is listed as an others. UL Solutions is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does U.S. Zero Waste Business Council have an API?
No public API is recorded for U.S. Zero Waste Business Council.
What industry is U.S. Zero Waste Business Council in?
U.S. Zero Waste Business Council's product category is Sustainability Certification. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAHAJAL, Circular Economy & Waste/Materials Reporting (Zero waste, packaging). Its NAICS code is 56299 and its SIC code is 8900.