What does GRS certified mean?
What does GRS certified mean?
GRS certified means a product has been independently verified against the Global Recycled Standard, a third-party certification owned by Textile Exchange. The product must contain at least 50 percent recycled material, and every business that handled that material along the way, from the recycler to the printer, must hold a valid certificate.
A buyer who has just been sent a catalogue full of "GRS certified" logos is entitled to ask what has actually been checked, and by whom. This guide explains what the standard covers, how the two types of certificate work, and how to confirm a supplier's claim before the purchase order goes out. Browse the full Recycled Corporate Gifts range for verified options.
TL;DR
- GRS stands for the Global Recycled Standard, a certification owned by Textile Exchange and checked by independent auditors.
- A product needs at least 50 percent certified recycled content, and the supply chain behind it must be certified too.
- Two documents matter to a buyer: the facility's scope certificate and the transaction certificate for your order.
- Ask for the transaction certificate number before you buy, and file it with the purchase order.
- Products such as the GRS Certified Recycled Felt A5 Softcover Notebook carry the certification through cover, pages and supply chain.
What the Global Recycled Standard actually checks
The standard does four jobs at once. It sets a floor for recycled content: a product must contain at least 50 percent certified recycled material, with separate tiers for products that reach 90 or 100 percent. It requires chain of custody, which means each business in the chain, from the recycler through the spinner and weaver to the decorator, is certified in its own right. It applies environmental criteria to processing, covering water use, energy use and chemical restrictions. It also applies social criteria to the facilities in the chain, based on internationally recognised labour standards.
That breadth is what separates the label from a supplier writing "made from recycled plastic bottles" on a product page. The claim sits on an audited chain, not on an opinion.
Scope certificates and transaction certificates
Two pieces of paperwork carry the claim, and buyers tend to mix them up.
A scope certificate belongs to a company. It confirms that a named facility is allowed to work with certified recycled material and is audited on a recurring cycle. When a supplier says its factory or its decorator holds GRS certification, that is the document behind the statement.
A transaction certificate covers a specific sale. Certified product that changes hands can be documented with a transaction certificate naming the buyer, the seller and the goods. This is the document a procurement file wants, because it ties the claim to your actual order rather than to the catalogue in general.
The practical step is small: ask the supplier for the transaction certificate number for your order, in writing, before you confirm. A supplier that answers within a day is telling you something useful. One that goes quiet is telling you something else.
How GRS relates to other recycled labels
The Recycled Claim Standard, usually shortened to RCS, verifies recycled content on its own and stops there. GRS includes that content verification and adds the environmental, social and chemical criteria on top, which is why it is the fuller audit trail of the two. Neither competes with GOTS, which certifies organic cotton rather than recycled content, or with FSC, which covers paper and wood from responsibly managed forests.
When comparing labels across a shortlist, match the certificate to the material rather than accepting one badge for everything. The recycled materials guide sets out which recycled materials appear in which branded products, and what evidence each claim needs.
A worked example
A marketing lead at a UK engineering firm needs 150 A5 notebooks for a training week. The GRS Certified Recycled Felt A5 Softcover Notebook on the ethical gift box store states that the cover and inner pages are made from 100 percent GRS certified material, so the line in the procurement file can cite an audited standard instead of a supplier's assurance. Co-branding with the company logo is included in the £10.99 unit price and the batch ships together. Running the same "GRS certified" search across the store turns up items from notebooks to a recycled canvas apron made with 87 percent verified recycled material, which shows the certification running through a range rather than sitting on one token product.
How to check a GRS claim before you buy
Four questions, in this order:
- Ask which certification body issued the supplier's scope certificate, and when it was last renewed.
- Ask for the transaction certificate number that covers your order.
- Ask which parts of the product the certificate covers, because a certified cover with uncertified pages is not the same claim.
- File the transaction certificate with the purchase order, so the evidence survives staff changes.
FAQ
What percentage of recycled content does GRS require?
A product must contain at least 50 percent certified recycled material to carry GRS certification, with separate tiers recognising products that reach 90 or 100 percent.
Who issues GRS certificates?
Independent certification bodies accredited under the Global Recycled Standard issue them, not the brand selling the product. Textile Exchange owns the standard.
Is GRS the same as RCS?
No. The Recycled Claim Standard verifies recycled content on its own, while GRS verifies the content and adds environmental, social and chemical processing criteria across the supply chain.
How do I verify a supplier's GRS claim?
Ask for the transaction certificate number covering your order and the scope certificate of the facility involved. File both with the purchase order so the evidence stays with the purchase.
One last thing
Shortlisting certified recycled merchandise and need the certificate evidence to match the products? Get in touch with your quantities and timing, and the ethical gift box will confirm the certification that applies to each item before you order.