Recycled Claim Standard

Certification for RCS benefits you, your customers, and other stakeholders, by demonstrating:

• Alignment of Recycled definitions across multiple applications.
• Tracking and tracing Recycled input materials.
• Providing customers (both brands and consumers) with a tool to make informed decisions.
• Providing assurance that materials in the final product are actually recycled and processed more sustainably

1. Apply for Certification
   Complete and submit an SCS Application Form. SCS will scope the project based on information provided in the application and will prepare a proposal for your approval with suggested timeline and quote. Once you approve the proposal, you will sign a Work Order and an account manager will be assigned to guide you through the certification process.
2. Data Collection
   Your auditor will request preliminary data which will be submitted to SCS. SCS will review the product data, corporate documentation, manufacturing process, product formulation, testing, etc, and assess your readiness for an audit. Audit SCS will conduct the certification audit, which will include an on-site inspection of your facility. The auditor will interact with your technical staff to clarify and obtain any additional information that might prove essential to reaching an accurate supportable evaluation.
3. Draft Assessment Report 
   The auditor will write a draft assessment report that details the findings of the audit, which will include data analysis, non-conformities, and opportunities for improvement.
4. Internal peer review 
   Another qualified SCS auditor will review the report, making any necessary corrections or changes before the report is sent to the client.
5. Corrective Actions
   You will need to respond to any non-conformities with a corrective action plan. You may also make comments and responses to the information contained in the report and the conclusions drawn by the auditor.
6. Make Certification Decision 
   SCS will conduct a final technical review of the assessment report and make the final certification decision. SCS can also provide client marketing support.
7. Receive Certificate 
   If certification is granted, SCS will issue the certificate and final report to your facility or operation. Once certified, your company will receive a certificate and logos and is listed in the Green Products Certificate Database on the SCS website.
8. Certification Maintenance and Renewal 
   Annual recertification audits are required to maintain certified status.

These answers to frequently asked questions offer general guidance. Please reach out to us directly with specific questions.

1. Who is allowed to use the GRS/RCS logo?

   1. To make product-related claims on final products intended for consumer sale, certification is required. Claims by certified organizations can only be made by organizations that hold a valid scope certificate to the applicable Standard(s). If your company operates at any point within the supply chain between the farm or material recycler and the brand, certification is required to make claims. A retailer selling their own brand or private label products also requires certification to make product-related claims. For RCS certified products, the recycled content must be at or above 5%.

   

   Source: TE-301-V1.3-Standards-Claims-Policy, Section D: Informational Statements, Figure B3.1.2

2. What is the minimum percentage of recycled material required in a product to qualify for RCS product-specific labeling?
   

   1. Products must contain at least 5% recycled content to be eligible for product-specific labeling under the RCS.

      Source: Recycled Claim Standard, Section A3.1a

3. What is the difference between “RCS” and “GRS (No Label)”?

   1. RCS 100 is used for ≥ 95% certified recycled content.
   2. RCS Blended is used for 5% ≤ x < 95% certified content
   3. RCS (No Label) is used for ≥ 5% certified content

   Source: ASR-103-V3.1-Policy-for-Scope-Certificates

4. Our company is aiming to meet the Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly criteria. Which Textile Exchange Standards are eligible for this?

   1. Global Recycled Standard (GRS): A product must contain at least 50% certified GRS material to qualify for Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly.
   2. Recycled Claim Standard 100 (RCS 100): A product must contain at least 50% certified RCS100 material to qualify for Climate Pledge Friendly.
   3. Recycled Claim Standard (RCS Blended): Climate Pledge Friendly requires the product contain at least 50% certified RCS Blended material by weight.
   4. Responsible Wool Standard (RWS): A product must contain at least 50% certified RWS material to qualify for Climate Pledge Friendly.

   Source:  Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly criteria

5. Can our company use the RCS logo if the packaging is certified, but the product inside is not?

   1. Product-related claims made on or about packaging may only be used if the packaging itself is certified to the relevant Standard (e.g., an RCS-certified recycled polyester polybag). A clear statement must identify the packaging as the certified “product” (e.g., “This polybag contains 15% RCS certified recycled polyester”). Any other logos or brand names appearing on the packaging, hangtag, or label must be kept at a reasonable distance from the Standard logo and claim to avoid any confusion that the claim applies to the brand or product itself. 

      Source: TE-301-V1.3-Standards-Claims-Policy, Sections B3.1.6: Certified Packaging, Hangtags, and Labels

6. Our company is not RCS certified, but we would like to make informational statements indicating that our products use RCS certified packaging. Is this allowed under the Textile Exchange guidelines?
   

   1. Informational statements are pre-approved messages that describe a relevant standard and provide additional context to claims made in other categories. Non-certified companies may use these ready-to-use informational statements, which are available in Section D2 of the Standards Claims Policy, V1.3. Companies that wish to expand on these statements or adjust the language to better align with their marketing style—strictly for non-product-related uses—may do so, provided the original meaning is preserved. All proposed language (in English) must be submitted to [email protected] for review. 

      Source: TE-301-V1.3-Standards-Claims-Policy, Section D: Informational Statements

7. Our company is in the process of obtaining certification. Are we allowed to make claims while working towards certification?
   

   1. A corporate commitment statement can be made by an organization that is working towards certification. In many cases, committed organizations are not yet selling fully certified products and therefore do not yet qualify to make an assured product-related claim. Raw material suppliers, brands, and retailers are all eligible to make commitment statements. Companies that have already met or made progress toward their targets may make progress claims. Corporate commitment claims shall only be made by organizations who have registered a public commitment to a relevant Textile Exchange Standard(s) and have set clear goals and realistic timelines for achieving them. Commitment claims should be registered through the Textile Exchange’s online commitment registration form: https://www.tfaforms.com/5062775

      Source: TE-301-V1.3-Standards-Claims-Policy, Section A

8. Our company would like to use the RCS logo but understand that certification is required. How should we begin the certification process?
   
   1. To get started, please complete our application and submit it to [email protected]. We will review and reach out to discuss your project and address any questions you may have.