What is the Global Recycled Standard?

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary, and full product standard that indicates a product contains recycled content of some sort. The standard applies to the full supply chain and addresses traceability, environmental principles, social requirements, chemical content and labeling. The objectives of the GRS are to define requirements to ensure accurate content claims and good working conditions, and that harmful environmental and chemical impacts are minimized. 

The GRS covers processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trading and distribution of all products made with a minimum of 20% recycled material. Although the GRS is owned by Textile Exchange, the range of products is not limited to textiles and can include any type of product containing recycled content materials. Material collection and material concentration processes are not required to be certified to the GRS. 

The GRS also requires certified organizations to be in compliance with the Content Claim Standard (CCS), a chain of custody guideline. This chain of custody requirement makes the paperwork transfer an important aspect of the standard to verify the actual recycled content of a final product. The GRS also includes social, environmental and chemical criteria to verify responsible practices in the production. 

The GRS provides risk management for all aspects of the supply chain but is particularly important for brands and manufacturers that are making recycled content claims to their customers.

With GRS certification, you can communicate to customers your commitment to truth in materials and support for a circular economy that reduces waste by using it to make new products.

Find out more about how to get certified by scheduling a call with our team.