Cree Lighting Achieves TRUE Silver Certification for Zero Waste Progress
RACINE, W.I., April 22, 2021 – Cree Lighting, A company of IDEAL INDUSTRIES, announced today that the company has achieved TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Certification for zero waste at the Silver level. The TRUE Silver level certification recognizes Cree Lighting® for its commitment to zero waste principles and diverting 95% of waste from landfill at its 640,000-square-foot headquarters and main manufacturing facility in Racine, Wisconsin.
TRUE certification is administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), a premier organization that independently recognizes excellence in green business industry performance and practice globally. GBCI’s work helps facilities to define, pursue, and achieve their zero waste goals, cut their carbon footprint, and support public health. TRUE certification is based on a merit system in which the number of points a project earns determines its certification level.
“Sustainability is a team effort that requires a commitment from the entire organization,” said Geoff Fry, vice president of global operations and supply chain at Cree Lighting. “Our teams took a holistic and continuous improvement approach to our goals, transforming our waste management efforts end-to-end. We are proud to significantly reduce our environmental impact, just as the energy efficient LED lighting we create helps our customers do the same.”
Cree Lighting’s Racine, Wisconsin, facility met the stringent standards of the program and achieved its zero waste goals in part by instituting several key initiatives, including:
- Empowering a “GREEN TEAM” made up of volunteers from across the facility to provide peer mentoring for zero waste and other sustainable business practices.
- Encouraging all employees to drive continuous improvements through an Employee Suggestion Program, recognizing that the best ideas can come from within.
- Integrating zero waste principles into the organization’s supply chain to eliminate waste at the source, implement re-use where possible, and require recyclable dunnage.
- Engaging waste and recycling partners to assist with landfill diversion efforts.
The result of these combined efforts has been a successful diversion of over 6.7 million pounds of total material waste in the last two years.
“Today there are only 190 TRUE-certified projects across 35 states and 15 countries, which underscores how rare of an achievement this is,” Fry added. “For Cree Lighting, this certification is not about checking a box; the program truly challenged our teams to think differently and improve. The accomplishment shows all our team members that their efforts make a big difference, helping move us closer to our overall sustainability goals.”
Meeting the requirements of TRUE certification at the Silver level is proof that Cree Lighting has visibly embraced the goal of zero waste and demonstrated its leadership and commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices, now and in the future.
To learn more about Cree Lighting and its TRUE Silver level certification, visit www.creelighting.com.
TRUE and the related logo is a trademark owned by Green Business Certification Inc.™ and is used with permission. Cree Lighting® is a registered trademark owned by Cree, Inc.
About Cree Lighting
Cree Lighting, A company of IDEAL INDUSTRIES, is a market-leading innovator of commercial and residential LED lighting solutions for exterior, interior and intelligent lighting applications. Cree Lighting’s cutting-edge technology delivers proven value and best-in-class performance for petroleum and c-stores, cities and utilities, commercial, and industrial customers. The Cree Lighting team is committed to transforming the way people experience light through meaningful innovation and leading energy efficiency that help make cities more productive and business more profitable. Visit https://www.creelighting.com for more information.
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Media Contact:
Carrie Martinelli
Cree Lighting
cmartinelli@creelighting.com
919-395-0307