SCS Recycled Content Certification

I. Core Certification Standards and Updates

• Minimum Recycled Content Threshold: Products must contain at least 5% recycled material (pre-consumer or post-consumer) to qualify for certificationscsglobalservices.com.

• Material Types and Calculation Methods:

• Pre-Consumer Material: Scrap generated during production that has not entered the consumer market (e.g., offcuts).

• Post-Consumer Material: Material discarded by consumers after use (e.g., plastic bottles, waste paper).

• Introduces the Mass Balance Chain of Custody System, allowing enterprises to demonstrate recycled material usage through material flow tracking rather than physical segregationscsglobalservices.com.

• Recognition of Chemically Recycled Materials: For the first time, materials produced through chemical recycling processes are included in the certification scope, adapting to trends in circular economy technology developmentscsglobalservices.com.

• Mutual Recognition Mechanism: Recognizes external certifications (such as ISCC, FSC, Textile Exchange Recycled Claim Standard), streamlining multi-certification processesscsglobalservices.com.

II. Applicable Industries and Product Scope

• Industrial Sector: Building materials, metals (e.g., aluminum, titanium alloys), electronic equipment, packaging materials.

• Consumer Goods Sector: Plastic products, textiles, jewelry, household goods, paper and wood productsscsglobalservices.com.

• Emerging Applications: 3D printing metal powders (e.g., CNPC Powder's 100% recycled titanium alloy powder), food contact materials (e.g., recycled polystyrene compliant with new EU regulations).

III. Certification Process and Implementation Highlights

1. Application and Pre-Audit
   The enterprise submits an application form and basic documentation (e.g., business license, production flow chart). SCS assesses feasibility before signing a service agreement.
2. Data Collection and Audit

• Supply Chain Traceability: A bill of materials (BOM), supplier declarations (covering at least 95% of recycled material weight), purchase invoices, and shipping records must be provided to demonstrate traceable sources of recycled materials.

• Production Process Verification: Submit a production flow chart describing how recycled materials are used, internal recycling (e.g., scrap reuse), and quality control measures.

• Content Calculation: Quantify the proportion of recycled material through mass balance or physical segregation methods, with pre-consumer and post-consumer materials counted separatelyscsglobalservices.com.

3. On-Site Audit and Testing
   SCS auditors conduct on-site inspections of production facilities, perform spot checks on raw material batches, and may require third-party laboratory testing of material composition (e.g., heavy metals, hazardous substance content)scsglobalservices.com.
4. Certification Decision and Ongoing Surveillance

• Upon passing the audit, the enterprise receives a certificate valid for 1 year and the right to use the SCS Kingfisher mark, which can be applied to product packaging and marketing.

• Annual Renewal Requirements: Updated data must be submitted each year and unannounced re-audits accepted to ensure continued compliance, with an annual renewal fee of approximately USD 6,000.

IV. Certification Benefits and Market Value

1. Compliance and Market Access

• Meets international standards such as EU Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 on recycled plastics. For example, the "new technology" notification for recycled polystyrene submitted by SCS has been approved by the EU and can be used directly for food contact materialsfairtrade.sww.sh.gov.cn.

• Complies with US EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) and GSA Green Procurement programs, facilitating entry into government and large enterprise supply chainsscsglobalservices.com.

• Tech giants such as Apple and HP incorporate SCS certification into their supplier requirements, making it a passport to their supply chains.

2. Brand and Commercial Value

• Enhances ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance, strengthening investor and consumer trust. For example, after certification, Yunnan Aluminum Yangzonghai's aluminum alloy products saw significant improvement in market competitiveness.

• Earns LEED green building certification credits, promoting the application of building material products in green building projectsscsglobalservices.com.

• Reduces dependence on virgin resources and lowers carbon emissions (e.g., CNPC Powder's recycled titanium alloy powder production generates only 1/10 of the carbon emissions of traditional processes).

3. Cost Optimization and Resource Circularity

• Substituting virgin materials with recycled materials reduces procurement costs. For example, the packaging industry can reduce raw material expenditures by 30%-50% by using recycled plasticsscsglobalservices.com.

• Supports circular economy models; for example, Beigang New Materials has achieved closed-loop utilization of stainless steel scrap through certification, driving the industry's green transformation.

V. Application Preparation and Key Considerations

1. Documentation Checklist

• Enterprises must prepare: business license, production process flow chart, supplier qualifications, recycled material purchase certificates, and third-party test reports (e.g., composition analysis, performance testing).

• The electronics industry must additionally provide a bill of materials (BOM) and hazardous substance management records.

2. Fees and Timeline

• Initial Certification Fee: Approximately USD 8,000 for a single product, with an additional USD 750 per additional product or ingredient, and a supplementary audit fee of USD 2,000 per supplier.

• Timeline: Typically 2-3 months, which may extend to 4-6 months for complex industries (e.g., electronics).

3. Regulatory Trend Monitoring
   Monitor policies such as the EU Regulation on recycled plastics and California AB 1080, adjusting recycled material ratios in a timely manner to meet market access requirementsfairtrade.sww.sh.gov.cn.

VI. Industry Cases and Trends

• Electronics Industry: Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program recognizes SCS-certified electronic devices, requiring products to use two or more types of recycled materials (e.g., plastic + metal) with overall recycled content meeting the threshold.

• Metals and 3D Printing: CNPC Powder's recycled titanium alloy powder is certified, with annual production capacity expected to reach 700 tons by 2025, driving lightweighting and sustainable development in the consumer electronics sector.

• Food Packaging: The recycled polystyrene technology notification submitted by SCS complies with EU food contact standards, opening pathways for recycled plastics in food packaging applications.

VII. Summary