What does GRS certified mean?

GRS (Global Recycled Standard) is an international, voluntary product standard developed by Textile Exchange. The standard is designed to verify the recycled material content of products and ensure the traceability of these materials throughout the entire supply chain.

At the same time, GRS also covers requirements related to social responsibility, environmental management, and chemical restrictions, to ensure that the production process of recycled products complies with environmental and ethical standards. In short, obtaining GRS certification means that the product not only contains a certain percentage of recycled materials, but also that the entire production process has undergone rigorous third-party auditing and meets relevant sustainable development requirements.

For bag OEM purchasers, understanding GRS certification is not only a reflection of choosing environmentally friendly materials, but also a key measure to mitigate supply chain risks and meet brand compliance requirements. By purchasing GRS-certified products, brands can ensure that upstream suppliers meet international standards in areas such as raw material traceability, labor rights protection, and pollutant emissions, thereby effectively addressing increasingly stringent international trade barriers and consumers’ expectations for transparent production.

In addition, GRS-certified bag products can help enhance brand image, strengthen market competitiveness, and provide brands with a more compelling sustainability narrative.

Table of Contents:

• What Materials Does GRS Certification Cover?
• What Are the Steps for Obtaining GRS Certification?
• The Specific Role of GRS Certification in Bag Manufacturing
• FAQ
• Conclusion

1. What Materials Does GRS Certification Cover?

The GRS standard applies to any product containing at least 20% recycled materials. Its scope is not limited to the textile industry, but broadly covers the entire supply chain, from raw material recovery, processing, and manufacturing to the distribution of finished products.

According to Textile Exchange, qualified recycled materials are mainly divided into two categories: Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials and Post-Industrial Recycled (PIR) materials.

• Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Materials: These refer to waste generated by households, commercial facilities, or public facilities. These items are no longer capable of serving their original intended function and are collected and reprocessed into new materials. Examples include discarded plastic bottles (PET) collected from recycling centers, old clothing, or scrapped automotive interiors. Since these materials directly reduce the amount of waste entering landfills or the natural environment, they are generally considered to have greater environmental value and are also a key aspect that brands emphasize in their marketing.
• Post-Industrial Recycled (PIR) Materials: These refer to waste generated during the manufacturing process. Such waste has never entered the consumer market but is recovered and reused because it does not meet quality standards or is left over from production. Examples include fabric scraps left over from cutting processes in textile factories, runner materials from injection molding, or waste yarn generated during the spinning process.

In the bag industry, GRS-certified materials come in various forms, mainly including:

• Recycled fibers: Such as recycled polyester (rPET), recycled nylon, recycled cotton, etc. Among these, rPET is currently the most widely used recycled material and is mainly derived from recycled plastic beverage bottles.
• Recycled metal and plastic accessories: Accessories such as zipper teeth, buckles, hooks, and other components are also within the scope if they are made from recycled metal or recycled plastic and the supplier holds a valid GRS certificate.

The GRS standard places particular emphasis on the integrity of the Chain of Custody, requiring all companies involved in the production process—including recyclers, spinning mills, weaving mills, dyeing and printing factories, accessory suppliers, and final bag assembly factories—to obtain GRS certification. This ensures that recycled materials are not mixed up or replaced during the transfer process, thereby achieving full traceability from the source to the finished product.

2. What Are the Steps for GRS Certification?

GRS certification is not a one-time audit, but a complete process covering application, auditing, certification, and ongoing monitoring.

• Application Submission: The company must submit an application to a third-party certification body recognized by Textile Exchange and sign the relevant agreements. The certification body will then conduct a preliminary review of the company's management system documents to determine whether they meet the basic requirements of the GRS standard regarding recycled material content claims, Chain of Custody traceability, environmental management, and social responsibility.
• On-Site Audit: After the document review is approved, the certification body will arrange an on-site audit. Auditors will conduct an in-depth inspection of the production operations and verify key records such as raw material procurement records, production logs, inventory records, and waste disposal records. Particular attention will be paid to verifying the full traceability of recycled materials from warehouse entry to finished product shipment, ensuring the accurate implementation of physical segregation or the mass balance calculation method. At the same time, auditors will also inspect the factory's compliance in areas such as chemical management, wastewater treatment, and employee rights protection.
• Post-Certification Transaction Management: If any non-conformities are identified during the on-site audit, the company must complete corrective actions within the specified timeframe and provide supporting evidence. Only after all major non-conformities have been closed and minor non-conformities have been properly addressed will the certification body issue a GRS Scope Certificate (SC). It is important to note that certification does not mean that every transaction is automatically compliant. When goods are delivered between buyers and sellers, a Transaction Certificate (TC) usually needs to be applied for in accordance with the relevant rules. The TC verifies details such as the product name, composition, recycled material percentage, quantity, buyer and seller, and transaction date.

In addition, GRS certification has a validity period. Generally, an annual surveillance audit or recertification is required to ensure continued compliance with the standard requirements. For a bag factory, planning the certification schedule in advance and coordinating preparation with upstream and downstream partners are key to successfully passing the certification process.

3. The Specific Role of GRS Certification in Bag Manufacturing

In bag manufacturing, the core role of GRS certification is to ensure that every component containing recycled materials is traceable and compliant.

• Fabric, as a major component of bags, is a key focus of GRS certification.

When selecting recycled fibers, brands should prioritize suppliers that hold a valid GRS Scope Certificate (SC) and request the corresponding Transaction Certificate (TC) to verify the authenticity of each batch of materials.

• In terms of accessories, zippers and buckles are often overlooked, but they are also critical links in supply chain traceability.

Recycled metal zippers or injection-molded buckles containing recycled plastic, if claimed to comply with the GRS standard, must also be produced by certified manufacturers. Since accessories are used in relatively small quantities but come in a wide variety of types, professional bag manufacturers typically establish strict accessory procurement records, clearly distinguishing between recycled and non-recycled accessories to prevent material mixing on the production line.

For filling materials, such as recycled cotton or recycled synthetic fiber filling, it is likewise necessary to verify their recycled content percentage and the qualifications of upstream suppliers.

• In the finished product assembly stage, the bag OEM factory must implement strict physical segregation measures or use an approved mass balance system to prevent recycled materials from being mixed with conventional materials. Waste management during the production process must also comply with GRS environmental management requirements to ensure that waste is properly handled.

Ultimately, only when all components have compliant documentation and complete, verifiable production records can the finished bags be recognized as GRS-certified products and the corresponding TC certificate be issued. Therefore, refined management throughout the entire process, from design and material selection to production and manufacturing, is the fundamental guarantee for achieving GRS compliance for bags.

The following are recommendations for brands regarding GRS fabric selection and application:

In addition to the mainstream materials mentioned above, companies should also pay attention to the balance between physical performance and environmental attributes when sourcing materials. For example, although recycled polyester offers good cost-effectiveness, for high-end bags, brands may prefer recycled fabrics with a special hand feel or functional properties. In such cases, the feasibility and lead time of customized development should be discussed with suppliers in advance. For recycled nylon, although it offers excellent performance, its higher cost and longer lead times require brands to become involved in supply chain planning at the early stage of product development to ensure that the project is delivered on time.

4. FAQ

Q1: What is the difference between GRS and RCS?

A: GRS is more comprehensive. In addition to recycled content, it also emphasizes chemicals, environmental management, and social responsibility. RCS focuses more specifically on recycled content claims. When customers only require proof of the recycled content percentage, RCS may be sufficient; when customers require stronger supply chain responsibility, GRS is generally more recognized.

Q2: What is the relationship between GRS certification and the percentage of recycled materials?

A: GRS certification has clear requirements regarding recycled material content. A product must contain at least 20% recycled materials to obtain GRS certification.

The labeling claims also differ depending on the recycled content:

• When the recycled material content is between 20% and 94%, the product may be labeled “GRS Blended.”
• When the recycled material content reaches 95%–100%, the product may be labeled “GRS 100.”

It should be noted that this percentage refers to the proportion by weight and only counts the certified recycled raw material portion, excluding non-fiber components such as dyes and auxiliaries. For bag brands, clearly defining this percentage helps ensure accurate marketing claims and avoid compliance risks caused by overstating environmental benefits.

Q3: Does GRS certification cover organic cotton or bio-based materials?

A: No. The GRS standard specifically applies to “recycled” materials, meaning materials recovered and processed from post-consumer or post-industrial waste

• Organic cotton is a naturally grown crop. While it aligns with environmental principles, the relevant sustainability certification is GOTS certification.
• Bio-based materials (such as PLA) are derived from renewable resources rather than recycled waste and are generally covered by other specific standards, such as ISCC PLUS.

Q4: Are GRS products more expensive? Why?

A: Generally, yes. Certified recycled materials, dedicated batch management, documentation and TC costs, testing, and batch-to-batch variations can all increase costs. However, reasonable quotations should transparently reflect these factors. An unusually low “GRS quotation” may instead raise concerns about whether traceability and quality control have been compromised.

Q5: If a company has a GRS certificate, can the GRS logo be used on every order?

A: Not necessarily. It depends on whether the scope of the certificate covers the relevant materials and processes, whether the recycled content meets the requirements, whether the transaction chain is complete, and whether a Transaction Certificate can be issued for the order. The certificate establishes eligibility, while compliance for each individual batch also requires a complete documentation trail.

Q6: If the final finished-product factory does not have GRS certification, can the brand still use the GRS logo?

A: No. GRS certification follows the principle of supply chain Chain of Custody, and the final finished-product assembly factory must hold a valid GRS Scope Certificate (SC) in order to be recognized as a compliant GRS production unit. If the bag factory is not certified, even if the fabrics and accessories it uses all have compliant Transaction Certificates (TCs), the finished product cannot obtain official GRS recognition, and the brand cannot attach a GRS hangtag to the product or use the GRS mark for promotional purposes. In addition, an uncertified factory cannot issue valid Transaction Certificates to downstream customers, resulting in a break in supply chain traceability.

5. Conclusion

GRS certification is not only a “passport” for the bag industry to enter green markets, but also a core foundation for companies to build sustainable supply chain competitiveness. For backpack OEM or handbag OEM purchasers, gaining an in-depth understanding of the GRS standard means moving from passive compliance to proactive management. It requires purchasers to look beyond the price and lead time of a single finished product and extend their focus to every link of the upstream supply chain, establishing long-term partnerships based on data transparency and trust.