Products marked with Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification information use packaging or a specifically indicated part of the packaging made from certified recycled material. GRS does not only verify the declared proportion of recycled plastic. It also checks the origin of the material, its movement through the supply chain, and selected social, environmental, and chemical requirements during processing.
Brief answer: what does GRS certification mean?
The Global Recycled Standard is a voluntary international standard with independent third-party certification. It verifies recycled content and its traceable journey from input material through processing to the final product or packaging. GRS also includes requirements for working conditions, environmental management, and the use of chemicals in manufacturing.
In other words: the GRS label is more specific and verifiable than the general claim "made from recycled plastic" without specifying a standard and traceability.
GRS in a nutshell
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does GRS stand for? | Global Recycled Standard |
| Who manages the standard? | Non-profit organization Textile Exchange |
| Who performs the audit? | Approved independent certification body |
| What is verified? | Recycled content, material origin, chain of custody, and selected social, environmental, and chemical requirements |
| What inputs can be recognized? | Pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled material |
| From what proportion can GRS be used in B2B? | At least 20% recycled material |
| When is product labeling GRS possible for consumers? | With at least 50% recycled content and fulfillment of other certification and communication rules |
| Does GRS automatically mean packaging recyclability? | No. Recycled content and recyclability are two different properties |
What exactly does the Global Recycled Standard verify?
1. Proportion of recycled material
GRS works with a definition of recycled content based on ISO 14021. Pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled material are included in the calculation. The proportion is determined by weight in the product or in a specifically declared part, such as the packaging.
Pre-consumer material is generated as waste during manufacturing and is diverted from the waste stream. However, ordinary technological return material that can be reused directly in the same process is not included.
Post-consumer material comes from households, businesses, or institutions after the end of the product's original use. This includes, for example, plastic packaging sorted after its contents have been consumed.
2. Origin and traceability in the supply chain
GRS uses a chain of custody system, i.e., documented continuity of individual links in the supply chain. The purpose is to demonstrate where the recycled input comes from, where it was processed, and how it got into the final product or packaging.
A simplified flow might look like this:
- waste plastic is collected and sorted,
- an authorized processor produces recycled material from it,
- the material travels through certified production and trade links,
- individual deliveries are documented by relevant records and transactional certificates,
- a new package or its certified component is created from the recycled input.
This system reduces the risk that ordinary virgin plastic will be marketed as recycled.
3. Social requirements
GRS includes requirements related to working conditions in certified processing facilities. These concern, among other things, the prohibition of forced and child labor, health and safety, working hours, remuneration, discrimination, and employees' right to association.
4. Environmental management of production
Certified operations must monitor and manage relevant processing impacts. The standard addresses, for example, energy and water consumption, wastewater, air emissions, and waste management.
This does not mean that every product automatically has a zero ecological footprint. However, GRS provides a verifiable framework for dealing with impacts in the certified part of production.
5. Limitation of hazardous chemicals during processing
GRS also includes rules for chemical substances used in the processing of certified products. The standard restricts selected problematic substances and requires a chemical management system.
An important nuance: GRS in this area focuses on chemicals used during processing. It is not a universal laboratory analysis of all substances that may be present in the incoming waste or in the final product.
What GRS means for plastic packaging
For toiletries, cosmetics, or cleaning products, the certified claim may only refer to the packaging, not its contents. Therefore, precise wording is important.
A suitable and clear message could be:
The packaging of this product is made from certified recycled plastic according to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). The certification verifies the recycled material and its traceable origin in the supply chain.
If the certification applies only to a certain part of the packaging, such as the bottle body without the pump or cap, this should be clearly stated in the description. Specific claims must always correspond to the supplier's documentation and the approved scope of certification.
The 20% and 50% thresholds: why two different numbers are stated
With GRS, two minimum values can be encountered:
- 20% recycled material is the minimum threshold from which a product can be included in the GRS system as a tool between companies in the supply chain.
- 50% recycled content is the minimum threshold for product-specific consumer GRS labeling. At the same time, requirements for certification, documentation, and claim approval must be met.
Therefore, the mere presence of recycled material does not automatically entitle a manufacturer or seller to use the GRS logo on packaging or in an e-shop. Textile Exchange rules require claims to be substantiated and used by an authorized organization.
GRS is not the same as recyclability
These terms are often confused:
- Recycled content means that the packaging contains material that has previously undergone other use and subsequent recycling processes.
- Recyclability means whether the packaging can be technically and practically sorted and recycled again in an available system after use.
Thus, packaging may contain GRS-certified recycled plastic, but its further recyclability is influenced by its construction, material combination, label, dyes, pump, and the possibilities of the local sorting system.
What GRS certification itself does not guarantee
GRS is an important tool for more credible work with recycled material, but it is not a universal ecological label. By itself, it does not mean that:
- the entire product is made from recycled materials if the claim only concerns the packaging,
- the packaging is automatically recyclable in every municipality,
- the product has a zero carbon or environmental footprint,
- the content of a cosmetic or cleaning product is certified according to GRS,
- the standard replaces legal requirements, safety assessments, or quality control.
The current standard explicitly states that GRS does not address product quality or replace legal compliance.
What is the difference between GRS and RCS
Textile Exchange also manages the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS). Both standards verify recycled content and its journey through the supply chain. However, GRS is broader and stricter in the area of processing.
| Area | GRS | RCS |
|---|---|---|
| Verification of recycled content | Yes | Yes |
| Traceability of the supply chain | Yes | Yes |
| Social requirements in processing | Yes | Not to the same extent |
| Environmental requirements in processing | Yes | Not to the same extent |
| Chemical restrictions in processing | Yes | Not to the same extent |
| Minimum proportion for consumer product GRS labeling | 50% | Not applicable – RCS has its own claiming rules |
Why certified recycled packaging makes sense
Verified recycled plastic supports demand for secondary raw materials and can reduce the need for virgin plastic. The added value of GRS is mainly traceability: the claim about recycled material is not based only on the manufacturer's statement, but on a certified system and third-party control.
The greatest benefit arises when suitable packaging is combined with reasonable product use: correct dosing, refilling, reusing packaging where safe and intended by the manufacturer, and proper sorting at the end of its life.
How to read GRS labeling when shopping
When choosing a product, we recommend paying attention to four things:
- What the claim refers to – the entire product, packaging, bottle, or another specific part?
- What proportion is stated – is information available about the percentage of recycled material?
- Is the claim specific – does it refer to GRS, or does it only use general words like "eco" and "recycled"?
- How to handle the packaging after use – can it be refilled, reused, or sorted according to local rules?
At Vygruntujeme.cz, we use GRS information for products where the certification applies to the packaging or its explicitly stated part. Packaging certification does not automatically apply to the product's content.
View products with GRS packaging
Current information for 2026
Version GRS 5.0 is effective from July 1, 2026. It will be mandatory for audits from December 31, 2026. The update mainly refined the documentation and monitoring of input waste material in the certified recycling chain.
Textile Exchange is also transitioning to the new Materials Matter Standard. This will take effect on December 31, 2026, and will be mandatory for relevant audits at the production and primary processing level from December 31, 2027. The transition of claims and labeling is to be completed by June 30, 2029. During the transition period, GRS labeling may therefore still be encountered.
Frequently asked questions about GRS
What does the GRS logo on packaging mean?
It means that the product or accurately labeled part meets the rules for the GRS product claim. For consumer labeling, at least 50% recycled content and appropriate certification and documentation are required. The logo may only be used according to Textile Exchange rules and after appropriate approval.
Does GRS verify the actual origin of recycled plastic?
Yes. GRS requires a documented chain of custody, i.e., the continuity of certified links and records from material recycling to the final commercial transaction in the supply chain.
Can cosmetic or toiletry packaging also be GRS certified?
Yes. GRS can apply to recycled material in a product or packaging. The claim must clearly state whether the certification applies to the entire packaging, a specific part, or another component.
Is GRS packaging automatically eco-friendly?
No. Certification verifies specific properties of recycled material and its processing. The overall impact of the packaging also depends on its weight, construction, transport, refilling possibilities, further recyclability, and disposal method.
Is GRS packaging automatically recyclable again?
No. GRS confirms recycled content and traceability, not the availability of further recycling in a specific local system.
What is the difference between pre-consumer and post-consumer plastic?
Pre-consumer plastic is waste diverted from the manufacturing process. Post-consumer plastic has already been used by the end-user and subsequently sorted or collected for recycling.
Who grants GRS certification?
Certification is carried out by independent approved certification bodies. Textile Exchange manages the standard, but companies and supply chain links are audited by third parties.
Choose products with traceable recycled packaging
When shopping, do you want to consider not only the product's functionality but also the origin of its packaging? Browse our range of products that use certified recycled plastic according to the Global Recycled Standard.
