What is the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS)?
Developed by Textile Exchange, the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) is an international, voluntary standard used to verify the presence and amount of recycled material in a product. The primary objective of the RCS is to encourage the use of recycled materials and provide independent verification of "recycled content" claims made to consumers. While often compared to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), the key difference is that the RCS does not audit environmental, social, or chemical requirements in the production process; it focuses entirely on the source of the recycled material and its traceability.
Key Technical Criteria of RCS Certification
The RCS relies on the principles of the Content Claim Standard (CCS) to ensure transparency throughout the supply chain. The technical framework can be summarized as follows:
Scope and Traceability: Recycled materials are documented at every step, from the collection stage to the final product, using Transaction Certificates (TCs). This prevents conventional or unverified materials from entering the production chain.
RCS 100 Logo: Used when a product contains a minimum of 95% to 100% certified recycled material.
RCS Blended Logo: Used when a product contains between 5% and 94% certified recycled material. Products meeting the minimum 5% threshold can be certified under this standard.
Out of Scope Areas: Facilities are not required to undergo social or environmental audits (such as wastewater treatment, energy management, chemical restrictions, or labor rights) to obtain an RCS certificate. The system is built entirely on the physical tracking of the material.
Why Choose RCS Certification with ETKO?
If your goal is to unequivocally prove that you use recycled materials in your products and avoid any accusations of greenwashing, ETKO's independent auditing mechanism is your strongest assurance. The RCS certification process, guided by ETKO's expertise, verifies material flow in complex supply chains with international validity, bringing transparency and trust to your brand in the global market.