Achieving zero waste is not a one-size-fits-all journey—it’s a continuous path of discovery, innovation, and collaboration. In this session, industry leaders will share how their organizations began their TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification journey, the strategic steps they’ve taken to maintain momentum, and how they’re now pushing upstream to focus on reduction and reuse.
Through candid case studies and real-world insights, speakers from The J.M. Smucker Company, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co and SBM Management will explore how to unlock optimization opportunities, apply technology-driven solutions, and build adaptable waste management systems that align with diverse operational needs. You’ll hear how understanding your waste streams, tracking what’s not there, and rethinking materials can lead to significant impact and lasting change.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to accelerate your efforts, this session will help you build foundational practices, connect with innovative approaches, and unify your team’s goals around zero waste transformation.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to identify waste reduction opportunities using data and technology
- Creative reuse strategies and their operational impact
- Ways to adapt best practices across diverse business environments
- The importance of tracking invisible waste and fostering a culture of continuous improvement
- Practical insights into achieving TRUE certification
Join us to explore what’s possible when businesses share openly, think differently, and move boldly toward a zero waste future.
Moderator: Stephanie Barger, Director – TRUE Zero Waste Program, US Green Building Council
Speakers:
- Ashley Koller, Sustainability Program Manager, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
- Maddy Gawler, Senior Specialist, Sustainability & Continuous Improvement, JM Smuckers
- Sue Beets-Atkinson, Sue Beets-Atkinson, Global VP of Sustainability, SBM Management Services LP