What is GRS(Global Recycled Standard)？

What is GRS(Global Recycled Standard)？

With growing concerns over plastic pollution, textile waste, and the overuse of virgin resources, recycling has become an essential strategy for building a circular economy. In the textile industry, one of the most important certifications promoting transparency and credibility in recycled materials is the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

GRS is more than just a recycled-content label—it is a comprehensive certification that also addresses environmental, social, and chemical practices throughout the supply chain. For consumers and brands alike, GRS offers assurance that products marketed as “recycled” truly contain verified recycled materials and are produced responsibly.

Origins and Development

The Global Recycled Standard was originally developed in 2008 by Control Union Certifications, a leading international inspection and certification body. In 2011, ownership of the standard was transferred to Textile Exchange(now part of the Textile Integrity program), a global nonprofit that develops sustainability standards for the textile industry.

Textile Exchange's stewardship helped align GRS with broader sustainability goals, ensuring the standard is recognized internationally and applicable across multiple product categories—not just apparel, but also home textiles, footwear, and industrial products.

What GRS Covers

The GRS applies to any product that contains recycled material, including fibers, fabrics, yarns, garments, and non-apparel goods. Its requirements extend well beyond verifying recycled content, encompassing:

1. Recycled Material Verification – GRS defines recycled material in line with ISO 14021, which includes both pre-consumer (industrial scrap) and post-consumer (used products) waste.

2. Chain of Custody – Using the Content Claim Standard (CCS), GRS ensures traceability of recycled content through every stage of production, from recycling facility to final product.

3. Social Requirements – Facilities must meet basic labor and human rights criteria, such as prohibiting forced labor, ensuring safe working conditions, and providing fair wages.

4. Environmental Practices – GRS-certified facilities must manage waste, water, and energy responsibly, and work to reduce environmental impacts during production.

5. Chemical Restrictions – The use of hazardous chemicals such as toxic heavy metals, formaldehyde, and certain solvents is prohibited or restricted to safeguard workers, consumers, and ecosystems.

Key Features of GRS

1. Recycled Content Verification

   • Requires a minimum of 20% recycled material in a product to be GRS-certified.

   • Tracks recycled content through Chain of Custody (CoC) certification.

2. Environmental Criteria

   • Restrictions on chemical inputs (e.g., banned substances, heavy metals).

   • Requires wastewater treatment and energy use monitoring.

3. Social & Labor Compliance

   • Factories must follow International Labor Organization (ILO) standards:

     • No forced/child labor.

     • Safe working conditions, fair wages.

4. Supply Chain Transparency

   • All stages (from recycling to final product) must be traceable and audited.

GRS vs. Other Recycled Standards