Latest news with #GreenBusinessCertificationInc
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Masdar City: A proven blueprint for sustainable urban development earns LEED platinum
Abu Dhabi, UAE – Masdar City has reinforced its position as the UAE's pioneering sustainable urban community with the award of the prestigious LEED Communities Platinum Certification for its Phase 1 project, under development. Masdar City was recognized in the LEED v4.1 Communities Plan & Design category, and it is the first time this certificate has been given to a project in Abu Dhabi. The award acknowledges Masdar City's commitment to exceeding rigorous sustainability standards for its development and buildings. The achievement further reinforces Masdar City's reputation as a world-class, climate-resilient community that is attracting a growing number of tenants drawn to its innovative and collaborative environment. "The international recognition achieved by Masdar City is evidence of the success of our sustainable development approach and reflects the efforts made toward establishing the community as a sustainability hub,' said Mohamed Al Breiki, Executive Director Sustainable Development from Masdar City. 'Our vision is to inspire cities to transform into more liveable, resilient, and sustainable places, based on innovation and collaboration while enhancing the quality of life for all residents. Our ambition for 2025, the year of community, is to enhance the experience of our people and our businesses while protecting the natural environment, revolutionising the way cities and communities are planned, developed, and operated.' 'At Masdar City we are constantly striving to push the boundaries of innovation for a more sustainable future, and the awarding of the LEED Platinum Certificate is a recognition of that,' said Gaurish Wagle, Manager, Sustainable Master Planning at Masdar City. 'We are determined to be a world leader in sustainable urban living and are doing so by meeting the highest standards, as this certificate proves.' Masdar City has established a reputation for setting the standard on sustainable urban development, excelling in master planning and integrating advanced green infrastructure, renewable energy, and low-carbon mobility solutions into its urban design. Phase 1 of the master plan not only met but surpassed LEED's strict performance standards across critical areas such as land use, transportation, energy systems, and community health. The LEED for Communities rating system, certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), evaluates the long-term sustainability and liveability of neighbourhoods and urban developments. The Plan & Design rating system evaluates community-scale master plans before construction, ensuring that critical elements like natural systems and ecology, quality of life, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, air quality, mobility, and community engagement are prioritized. This new award further builds upon a strong track record of LEED certifications, Masdar City is home to dozens of LEED-rated buildings, including one of the largest clusters of LEED Platinum buildings in the world, as well as several with LEED Operations & Maintenance (O+M) certifications.
Khaleej Times
19-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE green building push gains momentum with new sustainability standards
The UAE is strengthening its position as a global leader in sustainable real estate, with progressive policies accelerating the adoption of green building practices, an industry expert has said. "The UAE has set an exceptional example, with progressive policies supporting green buildings," said Peter Templeton, president and CEO of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI). "The country's 2030 sustainability goals and 2050 Net Zero commitments provide a clear framework for developers," he added. However, he noted that achieving Net Zero would require a shift beyond individual building certifications to broader, community-driven initiatives. With over 2,500 LEED professionals, the UAE has the expertise to drive large-scale sustainable transformation. Rapid urbanisation across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region has made sustainability a priority for real estate development. Founded in 1993, the USGBC is a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainable building design and operations. It developed LEED, the world's most widely used green building certification system, which sets stringent standards for energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. In 2024, the UAE ranked fifth globally for LEED-certified projects outside the US, with more than 130 developments covering three million square metres. The latest version, LEED v5, introduces stricter accountability measures, requiring developers to assess greenhouse gas emissions, climate risks and human health impacts. "For over 25 years, LEED-certified buildings have led the way in reducing inefficiencies, waste and emissions," Templeton said. "LEED v5 provides a structured pathway towards ultra-low carbon buildings, addressing not just operational emissions but also embodied carbon in materials." The framework enhances decarbonisation efforts, ecosystem restoration and resilience strategies while ensuring long-term asset value. "It's a game-changer for developers seeking to align with ESG goals while maintaining commercial viability," he added. While government policies have played a key role in driving green building adoption in the UAE, Templeton emphasised the need for greater private sector involvement. "Globally, private investment has been a major force in sustainable construction, yet in the UAE, the public sector has taken the lead," he said. "The challenge now is ensuring developers and investors fully integrate sustainability into their business strategies." A key concern remains cost. "Sustainable buildings can be delivered at or below traditional costs while offering long-term financial benefits," Templeton explained. "The industry must rethink how efficiencies are incorporated into project budgets." Beyond individual projects, USGBC recently launched PERFORM, a programme designed to track and enhance sustainability across entire real estate portfolios. Unlike traditional certification models, PERFORM provides continuous assessment and goal setting. "It bridges the gap between corporate sustainability targets and real-world results," Templeton said. "With rising ESG demands, organisations in the region now have a way to measure and improve sustainability at scale." The financial sector is also playing a key role in accelerating the transition through green bonds and sustainability-linked loans (SLLs), which incentivise LEED-certified projects. In 2023, Mena issued $24 billion in green and sustainability-linked bonds - a 155 per cent increase from 2022, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading the market. "As sustainable finance grows, developers are leveraging these tools to integrate high-performance sustainability measures," Templeton said. "Banks are offering incentives such as interest rate reductions and higher loan proceeds for LEED-certified developments," he added.
Globe and Mail
17-03-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
IPG Facilities Achieve True Silver Certification for Zero Waste Efforts
SARASOTA, Fla., March 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IPG ( a global provider of packaging and protective solutions, today announced that its facilities in Carrollton, Texas, Everetts, North Carolina, and Tremonton, Utah, have been awarded Silver certification under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) rating system. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), TRUE helps facilities measure, improve, and recognize zero waste performance. This achievement underscores IPG's commitment to sustainable practices and its journey toward becoming a zero-waste company. The TRUE certification recognizes these plants' dedication to best practices in recycling, reusing, and reducing waste. The Tremonton facility has achieved a 90% diversion rate by recycling materials such as plastics and cardboard. Everetts has reached a 94% diversion rate through right-sizing collection containers, conducting annual waste audits, and engaging employees in zero waste activities. Carrollton obtained an impressive 98% diversion rate by recycling plastics, pallets, and cores. "We are extremely proud of the TRUE certifications obtained by our Carrollton, Everetts, and Tremonton facilities," said Jay Bolus, VP of Sustainability at IPG. "This marks an important milestone on our journey to become a zero waste company and is further proof of IPG's commitment to sustainable products and processes.' "Waste affects every part of our communities, and effective waste management strategies are critical to ensuring both public and environmental health," stated Peter Templeton, President and CEO of U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI. "By pursuing TRUE certification, IPG demonstrates a commitment to sustainability leadership by shifting to circular thinking and prioritizing processes, operations, and actions to reduce waste and resources throughout their system lifecycle. We're excited to see IPG commit to creating a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations through waste reduction and elimination efforts." TRUE certification provides a framework for businesses to implement and track zero waste strategies. It encourages the adoption of sustainable waste management and reduction practices, which contribute to positive environmental, health, and economic outcomes. IPG's achievement demonstrates its leadership in sustainable packaging solutions and its dedication to minimizing its environmental impact. About IPG Headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, IPG is a global provider of packaging and protective solutions across a diversified set of geographies and end-markets. The Company develops, manufactures, and sells a variety of solutions, including paper and film-based pressure-sensitive and water-activated tapes, stretch and shrink films, protective packaging, woven and non-woven products, and packaging machinery. For information about IPG, visit About Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) GBCI is the world's leading sustainability and health certification and credentialing body, independently recognizing excellence in performance and practice globally while promoting adoption of building and business practices that continually and measurably improve health, equity, resilience, and environmental wellbeing for all. GBCI administers project certifications and professional credentials and certificates including, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating systems, as well as the PEER standard for power systems, the WELL Building Standard, the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES), EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), TRUE certification for zero waste and Investor Confidence Project (ICP) for energy efficiency retrofits. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Bolus, VP of Sustainability jbolus@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at ______________________ Note to Editor: High-resolution images of the facilities and the TRUE Silver certification logo are available upon request. Please refer to the GBCI PR Guidelines ( and for proper usage. We are targeting industry publications focused on packaging, sustainability, manufacturing, and the specific regions where the facilities are located. A list of targeted media outlets will be provided separately.
