GRS (Global Recycled Standard): what the certification guarantees on a recycled textile

GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certifies that a textile genuinely contains recycled fibers, with verified traceability from raw material to finished product, and environmental and social criteria across the whole chain. Developed by Textile Exchange, it requires at least 20% recycled material to enter the standard, and 50% for a product to carry the GRS logo.

The two thresholds behind the certification

GRS doesn't just check the raw material, it traces the whole manufacturing chain:

• Recycled content: minimum 20% recycled fibers for a product to fall within the standard's scope, minimum 50% to carry the GRS logo on the label.
• Traceability chain: every step, from waste collection to garment assembly, must be certified, checked by an independent third-party body.

On top of that come social criteria (working conditions) and environmental criteria (limiting hazardous chemicals), on the same principle as other textile supply chain standards.

"Recycled polyester" on the label doesn't mean GRS

This is the most common mix-up. The words "recycled polyester" or "rPET" read on the tag sewn into the collar describe a material, not a certification: they can be true without ever having been audited. GRS adds verified traceability and a precise threshold for the logo. A genuine recycled polyester and a GRS-certified recycled polyester can be the exact same fiber, with one difference: the proof behind it.

GRS and personalization: two steps, two responsibilities

GRS certifies the fabric, not the marking that comes afterward. A custom merch t-shirt made of recycled polyester is only GRS if the textile manufacturer holds the certification for that specific reference, whatever workshop prints or embroiders it next. For risk-free responsible messaging, the manufacturer's certificate is what settles it, not the wording on a listing.