I. Core Definitions and Differences
- GRS (Global Recycled Standard)
Requires enterprises to establish an environmental management system; wastewater treatment must meet stringent standards (e.g., COD < 80 mg/L).
Social responsibility audits cover labor rights, prohibition of child labor, wage compliance, etc.; enterprises that have already passed BSCI, SA8000, or similar audits may follow a simplified process。
Chemical management prohibits REACH high-risk substances; production processes must provide detailed chemical inventories and SDS reports.
Positioning: A comprehensive certification covering four major dimensions: recycled material ratio, supply chain traceability, social responsibility, environmental management, and chemical restrictions。
Threshold: Products must contain ≥20% recycled material content; GRS labeling requires ≥50%。
Characteristics：
- RCS (Recycled Claim Standard)
No audit required for environmental management, social responsibility, or chemical usage; the process is relatively straightforward。
可作为 GRS 的 “过渡认证”，例如某玩具使用 GRS 认证的再生塑料（含量 10%），可申请 RCS 认证。
Positioning: A simplified certification focusing solely on recycled material ratio and supply chain traceability, suitable for products with lower recycled content。
Threshold: Recycled material content ≥5% qualifies for certification; no additional ratio requirements for label usage。
Characteristics：
- Key Distinction
GRS: Industries requiring comprehensive sustainability demonstration (e.g., textiles, electronics, automotive interiors)。
RCS: Products with lower recycled content or those not yet meeting GRS requirements (e.g., home goods, toys)。
Compatibility: GRS-certified materials may be used in RCS products, but RCS materials cannot be directly used for GRS certification.
Applicable Scenarios：
II. Certification Process and Requirements
(I) Certification Process
- Application and Document Review
Submit application forms, business licenses, recycled material procurement documentation (e.g., TC certificates), etc.; certification bodies (e.g., SGS, TÜV SÜD) review material completeness。
Enterprises must demonstrate full traceability of recycled materials from the recovery stage to the finished product; for example, textile mills must provide TC certificates for each batch of recycled polyester fiber.
- On-Site Audit
Supply Chain Traceability: Physical segregation of recycled and conventional materials; production equipment cleaning records (e.g., dye vat residue testing).
Social Responsibility: Employee contracts, health and safety training records, wage payment documentation。
Environmental Compliance: Wastewater treatment facility operational data, energy consumption ledgers.
Key audit focus areas include:
- Certificate Acquisition
SC Certificate (Scope Certificate): Valid for 1 year; certifies that the enterprise has the capability to produce compliant products。
TC Certificate (Transaction Certificate): Must be applied for separately for each shipment; must be submitted within 90 days after dispatch and include raw material origin, subcontractor information, etc.
(II) Core Requirements
- Recycled Material Management
需建立独立台账，记录每批次再生材料的采购、使用及库存，确保 “专料专用”。例如塑料厂需区分消费前（如生产边角料）和消费后（如废弃瓶片）回收材料。
Cross-contamination risk control: Production equipment must be thoroughly cleaned when switching to prevent conventional materials from mixing in.
- Documentation and Records
Retain supply chain documents (e.g., purchase contracts, test reports), production records (e.g., material input sheets, cleaning logs), and employee training archives for at least 5 years.
TC 证书需按 “千分位” 格式填写重量（如 12,345.67kg），否则可能被认证机构驳回。
III. Certification Value and Practical Benefits
- Market Access and Premium Pricing Capability
International Compliance: Meets regulatory requirements such as the EU New Plastics Strategy and U.S. FTC regulations, circumventing green trade barriers. For example, starting in 2025, Amazon requires GRS certificates for packaging containing recycled materials, or products will be delisted.
Brand Premium：认证产品在欧美市场可获得 8%-15% 的溢价空间，H&M、宜家等品牌优先采购认证供应商。
- Cost Optimization and Policy Support
Raw Material Cost Reduction: Using recycled materials in place of virgin materials; for instance, a plastics factory reduced costs by RMB 1,800 per ton by using recycled PET bottle flakes, and with government subsidies (RMB 50-150/ton), achieved annual savings exceeding RMB 2 million.
Local Subsidies: Shenzhen, Zhejiang, and other regions subsidize 30%-50% of GRS certification fees (up to RMB 50,000) and offer immediate VAT refunds (70%) on recycled material purchases.
- Supply Chain Competitiveness Enhancement
Certified enterprises gain easier access to international brand supply chains. For example, Luxshare ICT in Vietnam entered Apple's supply chain after obtaining GRS certification, with recycled aluminum component orders growing by 200%.
Enhanced consumer trust: 72% of buyers consider uncertified environmental claims equivalent to false marketing; the GRS label can significantly improve repurchase rates (e.g., one footwear company's repurchase rate rose from 28% to 63%).
IV. Latest 2025 Developments and Trends
- Standard Upgrades and Enforcement
GRS 4.1 Version: Recycled material ratio requirements remain unchanged, but chemical management is stricter, and wastewater treatment records must detail daily discharge volumes.
TC Certificate Digitization: Starting in 2025, TC certificates must be registered on a blockchain system to achieve full traceability from raw materials to finished products.
- Certification Body and Service Expansion
Leading bodies such as SGS and TÜV SÜD have expanded their service networks to Vietnam, Japan, and India, providing joint certification solutions for Chinese enterprises' overseas branchessgsonline.com.cn。
Local bodies such as CTI Testing and Greenboat offer cost-effective services; total annual certification costs for SMEs range from approximately RMB 30,000 to 80,000.
- Industry Application Expansion
GRS is expanding from textiles and plastics into electronics, automotive interiors, and other sectors. For example, Tesla requires 100% of automotive plastic components to pass GRS certification by 2025.
RCS is gaining traction in products with lower recycled content ratios, such as baby clothing with 5% recycled cotton and household items with 10% recycled plastic。
V. Practical Recommendations for Chinese Enterprises
- Supply Chain Collaboration
联合上游供应商 “捆绑认证”，共享审核成本。例如，某纺织厂带动再生聚酯纤维供应商同步认证，缩短整体周期。
Prioritize selecting already-certified raw material suppliers to avoid certification failure due to upstream non-compliance。
- Risk Mitigation
TC Management: Establish a TC application ledger to ensure submission within 90 days after dispatch, avoiding certificate expiration (TC applications can still be submitted within 90 days after SC expiration).
Data Compliance: Use ERP systems to manage recycled material data to avoid errors from manual record-keeping.
- Policy Utilization
Monitor local subsidy policies; for example, Shenzhen offers subsidies of up to RMB 50,000 for GRS-certified enterprises; application guides can be obtained through the official website of the industry and information technology department or certification bodiesShenzhen Government Online。
申请 “深圳市建筑废弃物综合利用产品认定”，享受税收优惠及政府采购优先资格Shenzhen Housing and Construction Bureau。
VI. Certification Body Selection and Cost Reference
- Major Certification Bodies
International Bodies: SGS, TÜV SÜD, Control Union — high authority but higher fees (approximately RMB 50,000-100,000/year for SMEs).
Local Bodies: CTI Testing, Greenboat — excellent cost-effectiveness; trade-level certification approximately RMB 31,000; factory-level approximately RMB 34,800.
- Cost Composition
Fixed Fees: Application fee RMB 2,000-5,000; certificate fee RMB 5,000-10,000/year.
Variable Fees: Audit fees (RMB 5,000-10,000/day), travel expenses (reimbursed at actual cost); total certification costs for large enterprises with multiple factories may exceed RMB 100,000.