What is the Global Recycled Standard (GRS)?
The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of recycled input.
The GRS is a full product standard that dictates social and environmental best practices, such as chemical restrictions for fabrics, clothing, garments, accessories, and more.
The objectives of the GRS are to drive higher percentages of recycled content in products and reduce the harmful impact of production on people and the environment.
Global Recycled Standard criteria
The GRS certification guarantees the following:
- requirements of the Content Claim Standard
- at least 20% of certified recycled materials
- traceability from recycled to the final product
- ethical and responsible production
- chemical restrictions for any toxic inputs
- environmentally friendly practices in production
Only products with at least 50% recycled content qualify for product-specific GRS labeling.
The Global Recycled Standard applies to the following textile products:
- recycled garments, clothes, and final textile products
- recycled home textiles
- recycled fabrics
- recycled yarns
- recycled fibers
- recycled metal
- recycled plastic
- recycled paper
The aim of the Global Recycled Standard certification
The GRS certification aims to increase the use of recycled materials. It provides a tool for companies to validate and communicate sustainability claims about their products.
The GRS certification monitors the raw material through the finished product and checks fundamental supply chain processes at the outset. It provides trademark protection, sourcing confidence, and increased credibility.
The GRS encourages the sector to advance sustainability objectives more quickly. It defines globally recognized requirements that ensure the recycled status of textiles, from raw material harvesting to the final product.
The Global Recycled Standard certification process
The GRS certification relies on third-party verification to confirm whether a product includes the proper amount of recycled and sustainably produced material.
Here is what the GRS certification process looks like step-by-step:
- Choose a certification body and fill out the application form.
- Apply to more than one certification body to compare price and timing.
- Sign a contract with the certification body of your choice (valid for one year).
- Read the standard and prepare relevant documents.
- Meet the auditor after good preparation to reduce certification costs.
- Review documents and procedures against the GRS requirements.
- Wait for the result of the audit and subsequent certification decision.
- Act on a corrective action plan if there are non-conformities (NC).
- Receive a scope certificate (SC) when all requirements are met.
- Prepare for unannounced inspections that verify standard compliance.
- Contact the certification body to apply for a transaction certificate (TC).
All GRS purchases require transaction certificates. They are sought from the supplier at a purchase time and verify that the products meet the specified standards.
Every year, audits check transaction certificates. They incur additional expenditures to issue. Without the appropriate transaction certificates, products cannot be regarded as certified.
GRS certified sustainable shopping bags manufacture
Sapphire is one of the leading Vietnam Shopping Bag Manufacturers. We aim to produce sustainable, environmentally friendly shopping bags. GRS certification is one of the ways to show you how committed we are to our products.
Contact Sapphire for more detail.
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