TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Zero Waste Certification is gaining momentum across Europe and the UK, especially among global companies with operations in both the US and EMEA.
At Unisort, we understand what this certification requires, and we design recycling systems that help our customers achieve it!
Whether you’re aiming for TRUE certification across a single site or multiple facilities, we help you build the ‘binfrastructure’ and behaviours needed to meet the standard and sustain it for the long term.
What is TRUE Zero Waste Certification?
Managed by GBCI, the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification is a global standard for organisations aiming to divert 90% or more of their waste away from landfill, incineration, and the environment.
This diversion is achieved through various methods, including:
- Waste Reduction: Minimising the amount of waste generated in the first place through process optimisation and material selection.
- Reuse: Finding ways to use materials multiple times before disposal.
- Recycling: Processing materials into new products.
- Composting: Decomposing organic materials into nutrient-rich soil.
- Recovery: Extracting valuable materials from waste streams, such as energy recovery.
As a recognised benchmark, used by brands like Google, Microsoft, Barclays, Hewlett-Packard, Levi’s, Standard Chartered, Colgate-Palmolive, and Sodexo, it signals an organisation’s commitment to reducing waste, improving operations, and embedding sustainability across its culture.
As TRUE continues to grow in influence, more multinational brands are seeking support partners who are up to date with all the requirements and actively design systems that align with them.
Why TRUE Zero Waste Certification Matters to Your Business
Achieving TRUE Zero Waste certification gives businesses clear advantages:
- Cost Savings: Zero Waste workplaces save 20-30% on waste & consumable purchasing costs on average, optimising resource use, and potentially generating revenue through recycling programmes.
- Enhanced Brand Reputation: Demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability can improve a company’s image and attract environmentally conscious customers and investors.
- Improved Operational Efficiency: Implementing zero-waste practices can streamline processes, identify areas for improvement, and lead to greater efficiency in resource management.
- Meeting Sustainability Goals: TRUE Zero Waste aligns with global sustainability goals and helps companies contribute to a circular economy.
- Meeting Regulatory Requirements: In some regions, there may be increasing pressure from legislation and regulations to reduce waste and adopt sustainable practices, and TRUE Zero Waste can help companies stay ahead of the curve.
- Attracting and Retaining Talent: 80% of employees prioritise
- sustainable workplaces and TRUE Zero Waste certification can be a powerful tool in attracting and retaining top talent.
At Unisort, we build systems that help companies unlock these benefits in practice, turning certification from a box-tick into measurable progress.
How Our Systems Help You Meet TRUE Zero Waste Standards
At Unisort, we’ve supported over 1,700 clients in transforming how they collect waste & recyclable items on-site and ensure it is separated at source. From facility-wide audits to custom recycling stations and engagement training, our approach is tailored to make zero waste not only possible but practical.
Here is how we help you meet TRUE Zero Waste standards:
1. Designed for Consistency and Clarity
TRUE certification demands correct waste separation at the point of disposal.
To achieve this we provide:
- Clearly labelled, colour-coded WRAP-compliant signage
- Colour-coded apertures and shape-based openings
- Very specific waste streams to eliminate confusion
- Branded recycling stations with all waste streams conveniently to hand and consistent placement across all locations for recognition and intuitive action
Eliminating confusion is key to reducing recycling contamination, which can cause entire recycling batches to become unsuitable and potentially end up in landfill or incineration.
2. Facility-Wide Coverage, Not Just Front-of-House
TRUE applies to all non-hazardous waste across the site, not just where visitors see it.
We design for:
- Warehouses, production areas, and staff-only zones
- Back-of-house disposal systems
- Outdoor and weatherproof environments
- All other locations where waste is produced
Our tailored systems ensure the entire facility supports correct waste separation with no weak spots.
3. Sustained Engagement, Not One-Off Training
We don’t stop at infrastructure. We help embed the behaviours TRUE certification relies on through:
- On-site recycling engagement training
- User-friendly toolkits and signage
- Ongoing recycling behaviour change support
Building a culture where recycling becomes second nature.
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Supporting Measurable Impact
TRUE is performance-based, and we help customers track and measure progress with:
- Aligned and consistent waste stream designs
- Higher recycling rates
- Transparent metrics to support audits
Our solutions have helped organisations achieve up to a 52% increase in recycling rates and an 80% reduction in liner plastic usage.
Why This Matters to Global Organisations
TRUE certification is being driven by large companies, many of them headquartered in the US, who are now rolling out aligned sustainability policies across their global operations.
Unisort works with these large companies in the UK and Europe to ensure their local operations are ready to meet the same high standards, with systems built to scale and adapt across locations.
In doing so, we also help organisations align with the UK’s Net Zero by 2042 waste prevention and resource efficiency targets, supporting national goals, strengthening brand image and reputation, and delivering measurable on-site impact.
Align with TRUE, Backed by Unisort
Whether you’re planning your TRUE certification journey or strengthening your zero waste commitment, Unisort is a proven partner that understands what success looks like and builds the systems to deliver it by building good recycling habits and making workspace recycling easy!
From consistent recycling ‘binfrastructure’ to staff engagement and measurable impact, we support your goals every step of the way.
Ready to align with TRUE standards? Explore practical tools at unisort.co.uk/downloads, or let’s talk about a tailored approach.