GRS​

GRS (Global Recycled Standard), the Global Recycled Standard, was initially developed by Control Union in the Netherlands in 2008 and later transferred to Textile Exchange in 2011 for global promotion. This certification sets clear requirements for recycled material content in products, supply chain traceability, environmental management practices, and social responsibility.

I. Core Requirements of GRS Certification mainly include the following four aspects:

1. Recycled Material Requirements

2. Environmental Management Requirements

3. Social Responsibility Requirements

4. Traceability and Documentation Requirements

II. Main Process of GRS Certification:

1. Preliminary Preparation Phase:

• Self-Assessment and Gap Analysis: Carefully study the GRS standard, check the company's current recycled material procurement records (e.g., supplier GRS certificates), verifiability of production processes (e.g., raw material storage, processing records), and whether the management system (e.g., quality manual, procedural documents) is complete.

• Establish Necessary System Documents: This includes a TC (Transaction Certificate) management system, material traceability procedural documents, environmental management manual, etc.

• On-site Pre-audit and Improvement: Upgrade the production area identification system, optimize raw material isolation and storage solutions, and provide practical training for employees on key control points.

2. Selecting a Certification Body: Choose a third-party certification body authorized by Textile Exchange.

• Common bodies include Control Union (CU), SGS, Ecocert, BV (Bureau Veritas), etc.        

3. Submit Application and Sign Contract: Submit the application form and relevant company materials (e.g., business license, product catalog, process flow chart) to the selected certification body.

• The certification body evaluates and issues a contract specifying fees; the company confirms and pays.

4. Document Review: The certification body conducts a remote review of the submitted system documents to confirm compliance with the GRS standard.

• These documents may include the certification application form, business license, GRS certificates of upstream suppliers, material balance sheets, production management procedural documents and manuals for certified products, environmental impact assessment, and related documents and approvals.

5. On-site Audit: After passing the document review, the certification body schedules an auditor for an on-site inspection.

• The auditor will physically inspect the production site, raw material storage areas, and supply chain management records, focusing on verifying the authenticity of recycled material sources (e.g., matching TC certificates with physical goods), environmental compliance (e.g., wastewater discharge standards), and the effectiveness of the traceability system (e.g., full records from raw materials to finished products). The on-site audit typically takes 1-3 days, depending on the company size.

6. Rectification and Certificate Issuance:

If non-conformities are found during the on-site audit, the company must rectify them within a specified time (usually 30 days) and submit evidence.

• After all issues are rectified and pass the certification body's review, the certification body will issue the GRS certificate within approximately 2-4 weeks.

• The certificate is valid for 1 year.

7. Post-certification Maintenance:

• Apply for TC (Transaction Certificate): After obtaining the GRS certificate, each transaction involving GRS-compliant products requires applying to the certification body for a TC certificate as proof that the batch meets GRS requirements.

• Annual Surveillance Audit: The GRS certificate is valid for 1 year. The company must undergo an annual surveillance audit (similar to the initial audit process) before the certificate expires to ensure continued compliance with the standard; the certificate can be renewed upon passing.

III. Important Notes:

All parties involved in the GRS product supply chain (Chain of Custody), including raw material producers, traders, finished product manufacturers, and brands, need to apply for GRS certification.