The GRS Implementation Manual 4.1 replacesGRS Implementation Manual 4.0 and is effective as of May 8, 2019.
Introduction:
The Global Recycled Standard (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 goal of the GRS is to increase use of Recycled materials in products and reduce/eliminate the harm caused by its production.
The objectives of the GRS are:
Alignment of definitions across multiple applications.
Track and trace Recycled input materials.
Provide customers (both brands and consumers) with a tool to make informed decisions.
Reduce 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.
The Global Recycled Standard is intended for use with any product that contains at least 20% Recycled Material. Each stage of production is required to be certified, beginning at the recycling stage and ending at the last seller in the final business-to-business transaction. Material Collection and Material Concentration sites are subject to self-declaration, document collection, and on-site visits.
Section A- Social Requirements
A1 - Social Policy
A1.1 Certified Organizations shall have a clear set of policies to ensure compliance with the social requirements of the GRS.
A1.2 One or more persons within the Certified Organization responsible for ensuring social compliance. It is not required that an entire position be dedicated to managing the social principles at the facility, but instead that someone has been assigned the role as part of their job responsibilities.
A1.3 Certified Organization shall submit all relevant policy documents and training records referencing the procedures in place to protect the rights and safety of workers.
A2 - Social Requirements
A2.1 All work shall be conducted on a voluntary basis, and not under threat of any penalty or sanctions.
A2.2 The use of forced or compulsory labor in all its forms, including prison labor when not in accordance with ILO Convention 29, is prohibited.
A2.3 Certified Organizations shall not require workers to make deposits/financial guarantees and shall not retain identity documents (e.g.: passports, identity cards, etc.), nor withhold wages outside a legal contractual agreement.
A2.4 Bonded labor is prohibited. Certified Organizations shall not use any form of bonded labor nor permit or encourage workers to incur debt through recruitment fees, fines, or other means.
A2.5 Indentured labor is prohibited. Certified Organizations shall respect the right of workers to terminate their employment after reasonable notice. Certified Organizations shall respect the right of workers to leave the workplace after their shift.
A2.6 Certified Organizations shall comply with:
1)the national minimum age for employment.
2)or the age of completion of compulsory education.
3) or any otherwise specified exceptions.
A2.7 Certified Organizations shall not recruit child labor nor exploit children in any way. If children are found to be working directly or indirectly for the Certified Organizations, the latter shall seek a sensitive and satisfactory solution that puts the best interests of the child first.
A2.8 Certified Organizations shall not employ young workers under 18 years of age at night, or in conditions which compromise their health, their safety or their moral integrity, and/or which harm their physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.
A2.9 Freedom of association and effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
A2.10 Certified Organizations shall respect equal opportunities in terms of recruitment, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement.
A2.11 Certified Organizations shall not engage in, support or tolerate discrimination in employment including recruitment, hiring, training, working conditions, job assignments, pay, benefits, promotions, discipline, termination or retirement on the basis of gender, age, religion, marital status, race, caste, social background, diseases, disability, pregnancy, ethnic and national origin, nationality, membership in worker organizations including unions, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristics.
A2.12 Certified Organizations shall treat all workers with respect and dignity.
A2.13 Certified Organizations shall not engage in or tolerate bullying, harassment or abuse of any kind. This shall include the prohibition of physical and psychological discipline.
A2.14 Certified Organizations shall provide safe and clean conditions in all work and residential facilities and shall establish and follow a clear set of procedures regulating occupational health and safety. Emergency procedures shall be clearly displayed and understandable to all workers, and hazards shall be clearly marked.
A2.15 Certified Organizations shall take adequate steps to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, associated with, or occurring in the course of work, by minimizing, so far as is reasonably practicable, the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment. Appropriate and effective personal protective equipment shall be provided as needed.
A2.16 Certified Organizations shall provide access to adequate medical assistance and facilities. This shall include appropriate first aid (trained staff, adequate equipment and supplies) provided on-site. Management shall have procedures in place to give workers access to medical assistance in case of emergency. Management shall respect national law on medical assistance and first aid. In case of a work-related accident the employer should be responsible to ensure that the worker gets medical assistance; this may mean insurance to cover potential costs.
A2.17 Certified Organizations shall provide all workers with access to clean toilet facilities and to drinkable water and, if applicable, sanitary facilities for food preparation and storage.
A2.18 Certified Organizations shall provide regular and recorded health and safety training to workers and management, and such training shall be repeated for all new or reassigned workers and management. Relevant training will depend on the operations and level of risk to health and safety.
A2.19 Certified Organizations shall undertake sufficient training of workers and management in waste management, handling and disposal of chemicals and other dangerous materials.
A2.20 Work performed shall be on the basis of a recognized employment relationship established in compliance with national legislation and practice and international labor standards; whichever affords the greater protection.
A2.21 Certified Organizations shall set working hours that comply with national laws or benchmarkindustry standards or relevant international standards, whichever affords greater protection to ensure the health, safety and welfare of workers.
A2.22 Certified Organizations shall respect that the standard allowable working hours in a week are 48, excluding overtime. Workers shall not on a regular basis be required to work in excess of 48 hours per week.
A2.23 Overtime shall be voluntary, shall not exceed 12 hours per week and shall not be requested on a regular basis.
A2.24 Certified Organizations shall respect all workers right to breaks during work shifts and to at least one free day following six consecutive days worked, as well as public and annual holidays.
Section D - Chemical Requirements
B1 - GRS Chemical Management
B1.1 GRS Product Chemical Management
B1.2 Accurate lists of all chemical inputs used in GRS products.
B1.3 A process to assess all chemicals used in GRS products against hazard criteria in Section.
B1.4 Certified Organizations shall maintain Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for each substance (or mixture) used in the production of GRS Products. The SDS shall be less than three years old and shall meet at least one of the following criteria:
1)ANSI Z400.1-2004, which identifies information that shall be included to comply with the U.S. OSHA Hazard Communication Standard.
2)Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH), as adapted to take into account the rules for safety data sheets of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and the implementation of other elements of the GHS into EU legislation that were introduced by Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP)
3)Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
B1.5 Certified Organizations shall maintain records of assessments conducted to verify conformance with the ZDHC MRSL Conformance Guidance document.

B2 - Restricted Chemical Substances in GRS criteria for the use of chemicals that may be used in the production of GRS products are based on the following main requirements:
1. Exclusion of inherently problematic substances that are classified as dangerous to human health and/or to the environment by REACH.
2. Exclusion of substances and mixtures classified with particular hazard codes or risk phrases.
3. Exclusion of substances that do not comply with ZDHC’s Manufacturer’s Restricted Substance List.
B2.1 Inherently problematic substances
Any chemicals used in processing of GRS Products shall not contain Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) as referred to in Article 57 of European Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), and included in Annex XIV of the Regulation.
B2.2 Exclusion of substances and mixtures classified with particular hazard codes or risk phrases.
No use is allowed of substances or mixtures that are assigned (or may be assigned by the time of the application) any of the hazard statement codes and/or risk phrases (or a combination of them) listed in Table A.
B2.3 Exclusion of substances that do not comply with the Manufacturer’s Restricted Substance List (MRSL) from ZDHC.
B2.4 Chemical formulations that exceed the parameters set forth by ZDHC’s MRSL may not be used in GRS products.
Section C - Environmental Requirements
C1 - Environmental Management System
C1.1 EMS Manual
C1.2 A designated EMS staff person (from the management level) responsible for its implementation; it is not required that an entire position be dedicated to managing the environmental management system at the facility, but instead that someone has been assigned the role as part of their job responsibilities.
C1.3 Chemical Management System：The Certified Organization shall have a Chemical Management System (CMS)
C1.4 Procedures and records for training of relevant staff in chemical management, and where necessary, training to properly manage the CMS.
C1.5 Complete information on all input suppliers, including address and key contacts.
C1.6 Accurate lists of all chemical inputs used in all products; each input shall have a complete Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available in the language(s) used by workers in the facility and in English. Information shall be available for a minimum of 5 years. The SDS shall meet the guidelines found in D1.2a. The chemical supplier should be responsible for the English translations of the SDS.
C1.7 Certified Organization shall submit all relevant policy documents and training records referencing the procedures in place to ensure environmental management.
C2 - Environmental Requirements
C2.1 Energy use
a The Certified Organization shall monitor and meet all relevant legal requirements related to energy use.
b Relevant, up-to-date permits shall be held and compliance maintained.
c There shall be tracking and record keeping of energy consumption, and on a monthly basis.
d The Certified Organization shall set and meet targets for meaningful improvements in energy use and review progress annually.
C2.2 Water use
a The Certified Organization shall monitor and meet all relevant legal requirements related to water use.
b Relevant, up-to-date permits shall be held and compliance maintained.
c Measurement and record keeping of water usage shall be undertaken on a monthly basis.
d The Certified Organization shall set and meet targets for meaningful improvements in water use and review progress annually.
C2.3 Wastewater / Effluent
a The Certified Organization shall monitor and meet all relevant legal requirements related to wastewater / effluent, with corresponding record keeping.
b Relevant, up-to-date permits shall be held and compliance maintained.
c There shall be a drainage plan in place with a general understanding of wastewater flow direction and discharge points.
d There shall be identification of the contaminants and wastewater quality parameters (listed in Appendix 4) and their flow direction.

e There shall be a system in place to ensure that wastewater receives proper treatment, either on or off-site, to meet minimum requirements before entering the water stream, see Appendix D. Where national and local requirements are more stringent, these limit values supersede the requirements listed in Appendix D. This system shall also ensure that sludge receives proper treatment and disposal. Test reports shall be made available for the certification body and meet the requirements below.
i. The report shall cover no more than 6 months.
ii. Shall be conducted by trained personnel using equipment as directed by the test guidelines.
iii. The reports shall cover all legal requirements and those set out in Appendix D.
f If a company elects to treat wastewater in an off-site facility, the facility shall meet the following requirements:
i. Water leaving the off-site facility shall meet minimum requirements before entering the water stream, see Appendix D. Where national and local requirements are more stringent, these limit values supersede the requirements listed in Appendix D.
ii. The facility shall have capacity adequate for the volume of wastewater sent from the Certified Organization.
C2.4 Emissions to Air
a The Certified Organization shall meet all relevant legal requirements (including monitoring) related to air emissions, with corresponding record keeping.
b Relevant, up-to-date permits shall be held and compliance maintained.
c An inventory of main point source emissions to air shall be maintained and potential for fugitive emissions shall be addressed.
d There shall be regular maintenance of any equipment containing Ozone Depleting Substances or any other potential air pollutants.
e The Certified Organization shall set and meet targets for meaningful improvements in emissions to air and review progress annually.
C2.5 Waste management
a The facility shall meet all relevant legal requirements related to waste management.
b Relevant, up-to-date permits shall be held and compliance maintained.
c Waste contractors shall have appropriate permits.
d Hazardous and non-hazardous waste shall be segregated and employee awareness and training provided on handling and segregation of wastes.
e Inventory, management, storage and transportation procedures for all waste streams shall be in place, including minimizing safety concerns to the environment and health.
f No on-site waste burning or uncontrolled waste landfilling may be undertaken.
g The Certified Organization shall look for and implement ways to minimize waste production, and increase re-use or recycling.
h The Certified Organization shall measure the amount of waste produced and keep corresponding records.
i The Certified Organization shall set and meet targets for meaningful reductions in waste production, improvements in waste management, and review progress annually.
Section D - General Information & Requirements
Material Collection
Material Collection refers to the point in the recycling lifecycle when a Reclaimed Material is collected after its original use has ended (i.e.: it would have otherwise gone into the waste stream).
Post-Consumer Material
Material generated by households or by commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities in their role as end-users of the product that can no longer be used for its intended purpose. This includes returns of materials from the distribution chain.
Pre-Consumer Material
Material diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process. Excluded is the reutilization of materials such as rework, regrind or scrap generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it.
Reclaimed Material
Material that would have otherwise been disposed of as waste or used for energy recovery, but has instead been collected and reclaimed as a material input, in lieu of new primary material, for a recycling process.
Recycled Content
Proportion, by mass, of Recycled Material in products or packaging. Only Pre-Consumer and Post-Consumer Materials shall be considered as Recycled Content.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
A document accompanying a chemical product that contains information on potential hazards (e.g. health, environmental) and how to work safely with the product.
Principles of GRS Certification
The Standard applies to products that contain 20% or more Recycled Content. Some exceptions may apply, see Textile Exchange Accreditation and Certification Procedures for the derogation process.
The Standard includes consumer-facing labeling; only products that have been certified up to the seller in the last business-to-business transaction are eligible.
Only products with at least 50% Recycled Content qualify for product-specific GRS labeling. See GRS Logo Use and Claims Guide for labeling guidelines.
Recycled Material Requirements
Material Recycling: full GRS certification; transaction certificates
Production and Trading: full GRS certification, with exceptions for subcontractors and low volume traders; transaction certificates.
Supply Chain Requirements
All Recycled materials entering the supply chain shall have a valid Transaction Certificate (TC) issued by an approved CB.
Pre-Consumer and Post-Consumer Material Content percentage shall be recorded separately for each batch at every certified site and recorded on the transaction certificate.