Bengaluru: GBCI India, the world’s leading sustainability and health certification and credentialing body, has awarded TRUE Gold certification to Brookfield Properties’ Ecoworld . TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) is the first programme dedicated to measuring, improving and recognizing zero waste performance by encouraging the adoption of sustainable resource management and waste reduction practices which contribute to positive environmental, health and economic outcomes. TRUE is administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) and helps buildings, businesses and communities strengthen their commitment to resource management.
The Ecoworld campus located at Bellandur in Bengaluru is the first commercial office complex to win this coveted award in India and South-East Asia. To achieve TRUE certification, the campus achieved a waste diversion rate of 95% over a 12-month period. This was accomplished through the implementation of a Reduce-Reuse-Recycle approach and diverting solid and wet waste—which would have otherwise gone to landfills—through processes like composting. The facility also continually monitors its waste generation on a real time basis through IOT based applications. Additionally, Ecoworld practices zero waste purchasing, and organizes regular trainings and workshops around waste management to drive awareness among employees and occupants.
Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, Managing Director, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, GBCI India, said, “As countries continue to urbanize and industrialize, cities and businesses are faced with an increasing amount of waste that puts strain on resources and communities. Hence, zero waste is an important goal that companies should set for themselves as they grow. TRUE is designed to address this challenge. It encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. It is an approach aimed at changing how materials flow through society, resulting in no waste. Brookfield’s dedication to pursue TRUE certification at their Ecoworld campus brings us closer to becoming a zero-waste community that’s healthier for all. We applaud Brookfield and their team at Ecoworld for implementing zero waste strategies and for helping us build a sustainable future.”
Alok Aggarwal, Managing Director and CEO – Brookfield Properties says, “Ecoworld’s performance in waste management is a testimony of our consistent initiatives, operational efficiency and optimal utilization of natural resources to reduce our carbon footprint. The campus successfully recycles over 1200 tonnes of waste every year through our IoT-based Waste Management system which showcases our commitment towards sustainability.”
The TRUE programme evaluates how well facilities perform in minimizing their non-hazardous solid waste and maximizing their efficiency in the use of resources. It sets a high bar by going beyond diversion numbers and focusing on upstream policies and practices that make true zero waste possible. With TRUE, a facility or building can achieve its zero waste goals, cut their carbon footprint and support public health. As corporates across the country look to achieve their zero waste goals, GBCI has been helping several companies implement TRUE across their campuses.