GRS Standard: Recycled Content and Traceability in Textiles

Global Recycled Standard and Its Comprehensive Scope

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary full product standard setting requirements for third-party certification of recycled material content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions [1]. Managed by Textile Exchange, this standard aims to verify and ensure the traceability of both pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled inputs [2]. In this context, the standard supports integrating production waste and end-of-life textile materials into the circular economy [1, 2].

GRS certification can be applied in business-to-business (B2B) trade for products containing at least 20% recycled material [1]. However, for a product to carry a consumer-facing GRS product label, it must contain at least 50% certified recycled content [1]. Every processing stage from recycling through to the final seller in the final B2B transaction must be certified by an accredited certification body [1]. Waste collection sites are documented and monitored through declarations and accompanying records [1].

Chain of Custody, Segregated Storage, and Transaction Certificates

The physical tracking of materials across the supply chain is conducted pursuant to Content Claim Standard (CCS) protocols [4]. Storage of certified materials within facilities must be managed to ensure definite segregation and clear identification between claimed material and non-certified goods [4]. Physical production lines are partitioned to prevent commingling [4]. Furthermore, each outgoing consignment of certified material must be identified with a unique reference linked to corresponding invoices or shipping documentation [4].

All recycled material inputs entering the supply chain must be accompanied by a valid Transaction Certificate (TC) issued by an approved certification body [1]. Scope Certificates (SC) demonstrating organizational compliance remain valid for a maximum of 1 year from the date of issue and are renewed through annual audits by independent third-party bodies [5, 7]. During these audits, facilities must set measurable targets for energy and water consumption and report annual progress [1]. The audits verify compliance with environmental and social criteria across the enterprise [1, 7].

Chemical Management and Alignment with European Regulations

Strict chemical restrictions apply to the manufacturing of GRS-certified products [1]. Under the standard, the use of chemical formulations exceeding ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) parameters or containing substances on the REACH SVHC list is strictly prohibited [1].

Additionally, under REACH Annex XVII (Regulation 2024/2462), the European Union restricts PFHxA and related chemicals in apparel starting 10 October 2026 [3]. In home textile articles such as curtains, upholstery, and bed linens, concentrations exceeding 25 ppb for PFHxA and its salts in homogeneous material will be prohibited starting 10 October 2027 [3]. In home textiles, curtain and upholstery fabrics are assessed under Product Class IV of OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, where flame-retardant chemicals are specifically audited under section 5.4 [6]. Manufacturers must coordinate GRS certification alongside these statutory chemical restrictions [1, 3, 6].