STANDARDS MENU
What are the RCS and GRS?
The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and Global Recycled Standard (GRS) are international, voluntary standards that set requirements for third-party certification of recycled input and chain of custody. The shared goal of the standards is to increase the use of recycled materials. The GRS includes additional criteria for social and environmental processing requirements and chemical restrictions.
Objectives of both the RCS and GRS
- Alignment of recycled definitions across multiple applications.
- Verify recycled content in products
- Provide consumers (both brands and end consumers) with a tool to make informed decisions.
Additional Objectives of the GRS
- Reduce harmful impact of production to people and the environment.
- Provide assurance that products are processed more sustainably.
- Drive higher percentages of recycled content in products.
Key Points in the RCS & GRS
Verifying Recycled Material
Responsible Production
Chain of Custody
Credible Certification
Confident Communication
Stakeholder Engagement
Tools and Support
In this section you will find tools and resources to help with the process of implementing the RCS and GRS. If you can’t find what you are looking for here, please contact us directly.
RCS + GRS Documents
None available at this time.
We want to help you communicate about your use of the RCS or GRS. Check out the resources below for the information you’re looking for.
RCS + GRS Quick Guide – Talking points for the use of recycled content in your products and what is covered by the RCS and GRS.
It may seem like a daunting task to undertake a full supply chain standard. It’s important to know as much as possible before you get started. The documents below are designed to get you started on the path to certifying your supply chain, or getting certified yourself.
In this section you will find tools and resources to help with the process of implementing the RCS and GRS. If you can’t find what you are looking for here, please contact us directly.
RCS + GRS Documents
None available at this time.
We want to help you communicate about your use of the RCS or GRS. Check out the resources below for the information you’re looking for.
RCS + GRS Quick Guide – Talking points for the use of recycled content in your products and what is covered by the RCS and GRS.
It may seem like a daunting task to undertake a full supply chain standard. It’s important to know as much as possible before you get started. The documents below are designed to get you started on the path to certifying your supply chain, or getting certified yourself.
History of the RCS and GRS
The RCS 2.0 and GRS 4.0 revision process began in 2016, and the updated standards were published on July 1, 2017. You can read more about our process for revising standards in the Development Hub.
View the RCS 2.0 and GRS 4.0 Consultation Feedback Summary for a summary of comments received during the Public Stakeholder Review period.