Introduction to GRS
The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of Recycled Content, chain of custody, social and environmental
practices, and chemical restrictions. The goal of the GRS is to increase use of Recycled materials in
products and reduce/eliminate the harm caused by its production.
The objectives of the GRS are:
- Alignment of definitions across multiple applications.
- Track and trace Recycled input materials.
- Provide customers (both brands and consumers) with a tool to make informed decisions.
- Reduce harmful impact of production to people and the environment.
- Provide assurance that materials in the final product are actually Recycled and processed more
- sustainably.
- Drive innovation in addressing quality issues in the use of Recycled materials.
Material. Each stage of production is required to be certified, beginning at the recycling stage and ending
at the last seller in the final business-to-business transaction. Material Collection and Material
Concentration sites are subject to self-declaration, document collection, and on-site visits.
The GRS does not address quality or legal compliance.
GRS (does not address quality or legality issues)
The GRS uses the ISO 14021 definition of Recycled Content, with interpretations based on the US
Federal Trade Commission Green Guides; the intention is to comply with the most widely recognized and
stringent definitions.
This is a voluntary standard that is not intended to replace the legal or regulatory requirements of any
country. It is the responsibility of each operation to demonstrate compliance with all applicable laws and
regulations related to marketing, labor, and business practices. Sellers of GRS products are advised to
reference the allowed Recycled Content claims in the countries of sale, to ensure that they are meeting all
legal product claim requirements.
