Global Recycled Standard: Verifies recycled content, chain of custody and responsible production practices

What’s Required

1. Recycled content verification

GRS verifies and tracks recycled raw materials through the supply chain. Textile Exchange describes GRS as a full product standard to verify and track recycled raw materials.

Companies may need to document:

• Recycled input materials.

• Pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled content.

• Material origin.

• Reclaimed material collection.

• Recycling process.

• Product composition.

• Transaction certificates where applicable.

2. Chain of custody certification

GRS and RCS set criteria for third-party certification of recycled materials and chain of custody.

Supply-chain actors may need:

• Certified site scope.

• Certified input and output records.

• Supplier certificates.

• Transaction documentation.

• Volume reconciliation.

• Segregation or control processes.

• Claims control.

• Certification body audits.

3. Social and environmental practices

GRS includes requirements for social and environmental practices. The standard is broader than recycled content verification alone.

Certified organizations may need to address:

• Worker protections.

• Environmental management.

• Wastewater and emissions controls.

• Chemical handling.

• Health and safety.

• Site management.

• Corrective action processes.

4. Chemical restrictions

GRS includes chemical restriction requirements in certified production.

Companies may need to manage:

• Restricted substances.

• Chemical inventories.

• Processing chemicals.

• Supplier declarations.

• Safety data sheets.

• Chemical management procedures.

• Audit evidence.

5. Certification bodies and accreditation

Textile Exchange standards use independent certification bodies and accreditation systems. Textile Exchange states that certification bodies operating within its standards system are subject to relevant requirements.

Companies should confirm:

• Certification body accreditation.

• Site scope.

• Product scope.

• Standard version.

• Implementation manual requirements.

• Transaction certificate rules.

• Claims guidance.

6. Transition to Materials Matter Standard

Textile Exchange is transitioning its materials standards into the Materials Matter Standard. Textile Exchange states that the first version of the Materials Matter Standard includes recycled materials currently covered in GRS and RCS.

Companies should monitor transition guidance because GRS requirements may be affected by future Textile Exchange standards consolidation.

Important Deadlines

GRS is voluntary, so there is no universal legal deadline.

Important timing points:

• Textile Exchange has published updates to GRS and RCS with a publish date of July 1, 2026, an effective date of July 1, 2026, and a mandatory date of December 31, 2026, to improve tracking of reclaimed material throughout the certified recycling supply chain.

• Textile Exchange is transitioning toward the Materials Matter Standard, which includes recycled materials currently covered by GRS and RCS.

• Certified companies should monitor standard updates, implementation manuals, certification body requirements, and transition timelines.

Current Status

GRS is active. Textile Exchange maintains current resources for the Global Recycled Standard and describes GRS and RCS as standards that set criteria for third-party certification of recycled materials and chain of custody.

Current status:

• Active global voluntary standard.

• Owned and managed by Textile Exchange.

• Focused on recycled content and chain of custody.

• Includes social and environmental practices.

• Includes chemical restrictions.

• Applies mainly in textiles but can apply to products from any industry.

• Transition work is underway through the Materials Matter Standard.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

GRS does not impose statutory penalties.

Possible consequences include:

1. Certification refusal

A site or product may fail certification if recycled content, chain-of-custody, social, environmental or chemical requirements are not met.

2. Loss of certified status

Certified organizations may lose certification if audits identify non-compliance that is not corrected.

3. Claim rejection

Brands or buyers may reject recycled content claims without valid GRS evidence or transaction documentation.

4. Contractual consequences

If GRS certification is required by buyer agreements, procurement or sourcing policies, failure may create commercial consequences.

5. Greenwashing risk

Unsupported recycled content claims can create reputational and legal risk under consumer protection or green claims rules.

Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes

Typical failure modes include:

• Claiming GRS certification without a valid certificate.

• Making product-level GRS claims when only a facility is certified.

• Missing transaction certificates.

• Double-counting recycled input.

• Mixing certified and non-certified material without control.

• Mislabeling pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled content.

• Using inaccurate recycled content percentages.

• Not documenting reclaimed material origin.

• Failing chemical restrictions.

• Weak social or environmental management evidence.

• Using an unaccredited certification body.

• Making claims beyond certified scope.

• Not monitoring Materials Matter transition requirements.

Resources

• https://textileexchange.org/knowledge-center/documents/global-recycled-standard-grs/

• https://textileexchange.org/recycled-claim-global-recycled-standard/

• https://textileexchange.org/faq/what-is-the-global-recycled-standard-grs/

• https://textileexchange.org/glossary/global-recycled-standard-grs/

• https://textileexchange.org/standards/

• https://textileexchange.org/materials-matter-standards-transition/