The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is a voluntary standard that verifies the recycled content of textile products and ensures responsible manufacturing throughout the supply chain. It tracks the material from its source to the final product, checking for environmental and social standards. To become a GRS clothing manufacturer, a textile factory must restructure and adapt.
FUSH˚ license number: 017908 Check it on
https://textileexchange.org/find-certified-company/
Six preconditions for earning the GRS label according to Textile Exchange, the home of the GRS standard are:
- 1. An accredited third-party certification body audits each site of the supply chain that wants to become GRS-certified
- 2. GRS-certified manufacturer sites must meet strict social and environmental requirements
- 3. Materials must meet the ISO definition of recycled (either pre-consumed or post-consumed)
- 4. A GRS-certified product must contain at least 50% of recycled material
- 5. Use of the potentially harmful and harmful chemicals is strictly forbidden
- 6. Certification tracks recycled materials from their source to the finished product
Only if all six conditions are fulfilled can a finished product have the GRS label as a guarantee of its genuine recycled origin.
Why so strict?
The Global Recycled Standard aims to make its label an authority in the market of sustainable textile goods. Because of the strict rules of the certification, the GRS label is synonymous with genuinely recycled products, made in a transparent, ethically and ecologically sound supply chain.
This is why sustainable clothing manufacturers adapt much quicker to the GRS requirements.
Benefits for the workers, planet, consumers, and brands
The employees benefit from working for a GRS-certified clothing manufacturer because they’re guaranteed:
- Healthy and safe working environment
- No excessive, underpaid, unpaid, child or forced labour
- Fair compensation
The environment benefits from GRS-certified clothing in the following ways:
- Recycled polyester clothing uses 59% less energy during production stages than regular polyester
- It also has a 20.7% lower CO2 output
- Lower water pollution due to restrictions on harmful and potentially harmful chemicals
Consumers know they have a genuinely recycled piece of clothing they can be proud of from an ecological and ethical point of view.
Brands will meet the evergrowing demand for sustainable goods. They’ll also move closer to meeting the upcoming legislative demands in the EU regarding transparency and social responsibility.
Sneak peek into the GRS audit
The GRS audit is robust and thorough as it should be. Below are some of the things auditors will check when they arrive on the spot.
- Inspection of workplace facilities, including restrooms and common areas
- Interviews with management and employees
- Review of employment records, including contracts, payrolls, and timekeeping documents
- Assessment of the existence and efficiency of the system that ensures compliance with all relevant chemical regulations
They’ll also ensure a potential GRS-certified manufacturer that handles virgin and recycled polyester separates those materials so there’s no contamination. And the list goes on. If you want to learn more about the GRS audit, read this implementation manual.
Where to find a GRS-certified clothing manufacturer
The best place to look for one is in Textile Exchange’s database of certified manufacturers. You can search by country, company name, license number and more. This database is the only guaranteed place to find genuinely GRS-certified clothing manufacturers. Insert the number 017908 into the license number field and see what company pops up.
Conclusion
With a GRS-certified product, your brand stands at the forefront of sustainable fashion, a trend that just keeps on growing. The compound annual growth of sustainable fashion (CAGR) is 8.58% and the exacerbating situation with the climate will only boost that number. Be among the brands that implemented this earlier and reap the benefits before it becomes the norm.
Fill out the contact form below and let’s discuss your next GRS-certified collection.
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To get the best possible price and lead time estimate, please include the number of designs and pieces per design, fabric choice, sizes, and printing options.
- FUSH˚ Addresses:
- Velizara Stankovića 67
Belgrade, Serbia (view in Google Maps) - Oraovačka BB
Oraovica, Serbia (view in Google Maps)
- Velizara Stankovića 67
- Phone: +381 11 359 10 48
- Email: info@fush.rs