GRS

GRS Certification

What Is GRS?
Global Recycling Standard

GRS stands for Global Recycling Standard. The basic objective of the GRS to increase the use of Recycled materials in products and reduce/eliminate the harm caused by its production. This standard applies to all business that manufacture or trade GRS products. It covers processing, manufacturing and trading of material that is made with a minimum of 20% recycled material and that can be pre consumer material or post consumer material. Each stage of production should be certified, beginning at the recycling stage and ending at the last seller in the final business to business transaction and that can be traced back and verify through the process of TC – transaction certificate. If any company uses GRS label on their product, then their product must have 50% recycled material. GRS based on high level environmental compliances, social compliances, chemicals management and perfect traceability from start to end as full supply chain need to be GRS certified from start to end.

Recycle is the process of converting waste material into new materials and objects. The recyclability of the material depends on its ability to require the properties it had its virgin or original state. It is an alternative to conventional waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The GRS intention is to meet the need of companies those are looking to verify the recycled content of their products including finished and intermediate. It is also to verify responsible social, environmental and chemical practices during the production of this product. The GRS objectives are to minimize the harmful effects of environmental and chemical processes as much as possible and it defines requirements to ensure accurate content claim and good working conditions.

Textile processors and manufacturers are enabled to export their recycled material made fabrics and garments with one certification accepted in all major markets.

GRS is the voluntary certification program and is suitable for any organization i.e. large, medium and small considering improving its ethical practices and sustainability to meet the expectations of all stakeholders. GRS certification acceptability is going high day by day and mostly European customer demands GRS certification from their suppliers even it is becoming a pre-requisite of European retailers to start the business relationship with global supply chain. GRS awareness is also rising among end users of textile products even they are ready to pay some premium price against the purchase of GRS certified products.

GRS standard is established in 2008 and it is also owned by Textile Exchange the non-profit organization. Its goal was to make the standard more robust and to include new chemical requirements. Textile Exchange does not conduct audit itself, only approved certification bodies can conduct the audit against GRS standard. Textile Exchange’s mission is to accelerate sustainable practices in the textile industry. This acceleration only happens when steps have been taken to ensure that actions taken toward sustainability result in real and meaningful change. This requires a strong understanding of the issues and a plan to substantiate the claims being made.

Benefits of GRS Certification

  • Give the access in the market of recycled material made products
  • Meet the relationship criteria of new customers
  • Helpful to capture the European markets
  • Reduced harmful impact of production to people and the environment
  • Provide assurance that materials in the final product are actually Recycled and processed more sustainably.
  • Drive innovation in addressing quality issues in the use of Recycled materials.
  • Improve customer confidence
  • Tracking & tracing Recycled input material
  • Reducing harmful impact of production to people and the environment
  • Driving innovation in addressing quality issues in the use of recycled materials.

GRS Certification Process

After finalization of agreement with client, Quality Systems’ experts visit to client’s premises and conduct the complete gap analysis of existing system against the GRS standard and discuss the gap report to the management, identified gaps could be in documents, implementation, supply chain verification, traceability of records and products, environmental system, social system, employee’s awareness, statutory & regulatory and local laws compliances. We commence work according to the agreed timelines as per final gap report and proceed for the audit once all the documentation, implementation, and other requirements are done. Our technical team provides complete assistance, support and cooperation throughout the process to make certification audit successful in first attempt.

GRS certificate is not awarded once-and-for-all, it must be renewed before expiration of the certificate. After applying for the audit to the certification body, they conduct the initial audit. After the successful conduction of audit, certification body issues the certificate with validity of one year. After completion of one year of audit cycle re-audit will be conducted to continue the process of certification.

TC – Transaction Certificates Process

TC is the proof that confirms specific shipments from the company are GRS certified. To assure that a specific shipment of products received by a Certified Entity is GRS certified, the buyer can ask the certified supplier to provide a Transaction Certificate (TC). This certificate is issued by the GRS certifier of that supplier. GRS certifier also lists the concrete products and shipment details including the buyers name with address declaring the GRS certification status of the shipped goods.

Cost of GRS Certification

Charges of GRS certification can not be flat or same for every organization, please contact us in this regard.

Why Quality Systems

Quality Systems is working with the team of qualified and experienced consultants and trainers having vast industrial experience, most of our consultants are also lead auditors who are aware to the expectations of auditors from your management system during the audit. Quality systems is assisting across the world to implement and achieve the GRS outstanding results. Our consultation methodology is highly professional, time bound and effective and we always add value to the business process of the client’s organization.

Our GRS Certification complete package comprised on following segments such as training, implementation, consultation, gap analysis, documentation, internal audits, pre-assessment, third party audit through world’s most recognized & accredited by IOAS Certification body and post audit enhancement / maintenance services to enable your organization to get the best outcome of GRS. Our services are globally accepted, authoritative and benchmarked in the field of GRS audit.