What is Global Recycle Standard (GRS)?

The GRS is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets out 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.

GCL International’s accredited scope for GRS includes:

• Content of recycled fibres in textile products
• Content of recycled metal in metal products
• Content of recycled plastic in plastic products
• Content of recycled paper in paper products

• Alignment of definitions across multiple applications;
• Track and trace recycled input materials;
• Provide customers (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 sustainably processed;
• Drive innovation in addressing quality issues in the use of recycled materials.

The GRS is intended for use with any product that contains at least 20% recycled 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.

You can apply online for the GRS Certification. We will use the application details to produce a quotation.

Once the quotation has been accepted, we will ask you to return a signed copy of the quotation and our Scheme Rules.

The following documents are supplied prior to the initial certification:

• Briefing information about the GRS Standard;
• Standard and Implementation Manual;
• Document checklist;
• Inspection report which includes inspection checklists, list of suppliers and subcontractors.

• Opening meeting
• On-site Audit
• Preparation of Audit Report (including Findings)
• Closing meeting

Following the completion of the inspection, a report detailing the findings is provided. Subject to the closure of any nonconformances or findings (if any), a Scope Certificate is issued.

Whenever the client wishes to have its artwork approved, the proposed artwork and Labelling Release form shall be submitted to GCL International for approval.

• The certified client may request a Transaction Certificate by emailing us;
• Send a Transaction Certificate Request form and associated documents to us;
• If approved by us, the Transaction Certificate is issued to the client.

• GCL International will communicate with the client to plan for the re-assessment and to determine if there has been any changes, such as: production units, subcontractors, recipes or new suppliers. An audit report must be completed by the client and returned to us;
• GCL International will conduct the re-assessment;
• Following the completion of the assessment, a report detailing the findings is provided. Subject to the closure of any non-conformances or findings (if any), a certificate with TE labelling is issued.

• GCL Scheme Rules
• GRS Standard, v4.0
• GRS Implementation Manual, v4.2
• CCS Standard, v3.1
• Transaction Certificates Policy
• Scope Certificates Policy
• Standards Claims Policy
  
• Standards Logo Use Specifications
• Request Operator Handbook 
• Request Fee Structure

Contact us

For more information about GRS and its certification process please contact us by telephone or email.