Stephanie Barger
Founder & Executive Director
US Zero Waste Business Council
stephanie.barger@earthresource.org
www.uszwbc.org
714-381-6400
Why Zero Waste Certification?
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Credible point of differentiation
Establish Best Practices
Not reinventing the wheel
Meeting the Highest Bar for Zero Waste
Championing Highest and Best Use of Resources
Protecting the Brand from Inappropriate use
Zero Waste Missing Link in Green
Certification?
Establish Best Practices
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Establish consistent standards
Establish Certification Program as the benchmark
Additional education and business opportunities
Follow model and partner with US Green Building
Council
 Zero Waste Certified Businesses
 Provide resources and transform the economy
Protecting the Brand
 Adopting Zero Waste International Alliance
definition of Zero Waste to landfill,
incineration and the environment
 Ten Zero Waste Business Principles developed
by ZWIA and adopted by many Zero Waste
organizations
 Building the Zero Waste Economy
The Plan
 Establish a new nonprofit:
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“US Zero Waste Business Council”
Become the Zero Waste standard for businesses
Build Exceptional Team of Board Members, Founding
Business Members, and Experts
Fund the initial 2 years upfront
Follow US Green Building Council business model
Why US Zero Waste Business Council?
To create a solid foundation that
advances the integrity and
credibility of Zero Waste
Huge Market Potential
71%
of firms want to improve brand strength and goodwill
through Environmental Sustainability
Source: 2008 study conducted for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce by
Deloitte and The Cambridge Group
US Zero Waste Business Council Mission
To educate, inform and document the performance
of Zero Waste Businesses using scientific methods to
help businesses and communities become more
healthy and sustainable
A California Public Benefit Corporation and am IRS 501 (c) 3 nonprofit (application pending)
US Zero Waste Business Council Services
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Certify businesses as Zero Waste
Annual National Conference
Advocate for a Zero Waste Economy
Education Resources and technical assistance (books,
workshops, webinars)
 Specialty levels of certification (e.g., for retail,
hospitality, and manufacturing)
 Certification for communities
 Chapters in U.S. & Internationally
2012 Milestones
January : Program Development Begins
February: Secure funding from Founding Business
Members and conference sponsors
March: Begin Business Recognition
April: Launch Membership Program
June: Official Launch and 1st National USZWBC
Business Conference
Fall: Begin Business Certification
Become the Zero Waste standard
 National Affiliate of Zero Waste
International Alliance (www.zwia.org)
 Follow ZWIA Zero Waste Business Principles
 Focus first on 90% From Landfills,
Incinerators and the Environment
 Develop national consensus on metrics
US Zero Waste Business Council Board
 Gary Liss, President, GrassRoots Recycling Network Zero Waste
Business Director
 Richard Anthony, Vice President, Zero Waste International
Alliance Chair
 Mike Carey, Treasurer, Orange Coast College Recycling
 Jill Donello, Secretary, Earth Resource Zero Waste Trainer
 Sue Beets, SBM Site Services
 Andrea Nylund, EcoHatchery
 Stephen Groner, SGA, Inc.
Potential Founding Business Members
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Anheuser-Busch
Apple Computer
Del Mar Fairgrounds
Disney
Epson
Fetzer Vineyards
Hewlett-Packard
Hilton Hotels
New Belgium Brewery
NUMMI
Pillsbury
Office Max
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Ricoh Electronics, Inc
San Diego Wild Animal Park
Scoma’s Restaurant, SF
Sierra Nevada Brewery
Strauss Family Farms
SuperValu - Albertsons
Toyota Motor Company
Vons-Safeway
UPS
Xerox Corp
Yost Printer
And more
US Zero Waste Business Council Experts
 Neil Cutler, Synergis Zero Waste Group
 Chris Bell, Bell & Associates CPA
 Michael Siminitus, Waste Busters
 Leslie Van Keuren, Sustain LA
 Michael Huls, Huls Environmental Media
 Anne Peters, Zero Waste Alliance
Organizations for Potential Collaboration
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GRRN - Grassroots Recycling Network
USGBC – US Green Building Council
NRC – National Recycling Coalition
RONA – Recycling Organizations of North America
Recycling Works – GAIA and Workforce
CRRA – California Resource Recovery Association
ZERI - Zero Emission Research Initiatives
GreenBiz.com
Sustainable Brand
Industry Associations (i.e., facilities, manufacturing, hospitality)
Fund the Initial 2 and Sustainability
YEAR
Founding Business
Members
Certification &
Membership
CONFERENCE &
Workshops
TOTAL
1
$400,000
$30,000
$100,000
$530,000
2
$100,000
$250,000
$200,000
$550,000
3
$0
$500,000
$250,000
$850,000
Founding Businesses Funding Request
 Pledges of $20,000 to $40,000 from 20 to 40 Founding
Business Members = $400,000 min budget
 Year 1 Budget:
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Program Development
Marketing and Recruitment
Recognition Program
National Conference
Beta Test of Certification with Founding Business Members
 Year 2 Budget: National Rollout
Benefits to Founding Business Members
 Recognition as USZWBC Founding Business Member
 Participate in Development and Review of Draft Standards
and Protocols
 Beta Test to Certify Your Business under new Standards and
Protocols once Adopted
 ZWIA Zero Waste Business Recognition
 Sponsor of 1st National USZWBC Business Conference
June 26-27, 2012
NEXT STEPS
Quote from Lisa from EPA
Or don’t waste time…..
If you’re not for Zero Waste,
how much waste are you for?
Stephanie Barger
US Zero Waste Business Council
P.O. Box 364
Corona Del Mar, CA 92625
714-381-6400 (cell phone)
www.uszwbc.org