Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) are the two standards established by the Textile Exchange to certify and guarantee the origin and composition of recycled cotton. Products made from recycled cotton fibers fully meet the growing market demand for innovation and attention to environmental and social issues. The GRS standard to which CFT Pietro Masserini adheres, requires not only the use of recycled fibers, but also the implementation of a reliable traceability system (chain of custody), and the full compliance to certain environmental and social requirements. The achievement of these requirements is verified through audits by third parties.
The GRS is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of recycled content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices and chemical restrictions. The objectives of the GRS are to define requirements to ensure accurate content claims and good working conditions, and that harmful environmental and chemical impacts are minimized. This includes companies in ginning, spinning, weaving and knitting, dyeing and printing and stitching. The Global Recycled Standard is intended for use with any product that contains at least 20% Recycled Material, but only products with at least 50% Recycled Content qualify for product specific GRS labeling.
Recycled content refers to the portion of materials (at least 5%) used in a product that have been diverted from the solid waste stream. The RCS verifies the presence and amount of recycled material in a final product. This happens through input and chain-of-custody verification from a third party. It allows for the transparent, consistent and comprehensive independent evaluation and verification of recycled material content claims on products.