Eco Promotional Products and the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS)

David Platt • 6 June 2026

An explanation of the recycling standards and how they apply to eco promotional products

Global Recycled Standard logo

Summary:


  •      Two similar standards RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) and GRS (General Recycled Standard)
  •     GRS has additional social and processing requirements compared to RCS
  •     Key areas covered by the standards
  •   Materials – both pre and post consumer accepted – ISO14021defines recycled
  •   Recycled element must be at least 50% for GRS
  •   There are limits to chemicals used in production
  •   Audited – standards are externally audited
  •   Printing and embroidery - the decoration method must also be GRS certified for the product to be labelled as such



The global organisation known as the Textile Exchange has set standards for recycling, namely, the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and Global Recycled Standard (GRS). The shared goal of the standards is to increase the use of recycled materials. The GRS includes additional criteria for social and environmental processing requirements and chemical restrictions, so that any increase in recycled materials is not created by harmful production processes. Although the GRS is owned by Textile Exchange, the range of products is not limited to textiles and can include any type of product containing recycled content materials.

The objective of the standard is to align the definition of recycled materials across applications and create a system that can be used to verify the recycled content in products. It is only through the creation and adoption of such standards that ‘greenwashing’ can prevented and the issue of climate change tackled.


 

The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) is a documented standard for verifying the content of recycled materials in an end product and also as a standard for tracking the recycled content through the supply chain. The key points of the standard are that


 

· Materials are verified to meet the ISO definition of recycled. The GRS uses the ISO 14021 definition of Recycled Content. Both pre-consumer and post-consumer material is accepted.

· Recycled Polymers: Contains a minimum of 20% recycled content although Only products with at least 50% of recycled content qualify for product-specific GRS labelling

· Production : GRS certified production sites are required to meet strict social and environmental requirements. Chemicals with potential for harm are not permitted to be used on GRS products.

· Chain of Custody : Certification ensures that the identity of the recycled material is maintained: from the recycler to the final product

· Accredited certification: professional third party certification body audits each stage in the supply chain.

·Products that meet all requirements may be labelled with the RCS or GRS logo.

One of the principal objectives of the GRS standard is to provide consumers (both brands and end consumers) with a tool to make informed decisions. To this end, buyers of promotional goods and marketers should be looking for the labelling and the assurances the GRS symbol provides.


To be able to use this label the manufacturer will have to abide by the standards including documented policies and procedures and be independently audited to show compliance. The label will show the auditing body and number


Recycled Standard Logo

 


Certified decoration methods

 


To be able to sell GOTS (Global Organic TextileStandard) or GRS certified printed products, the decoration must also be GOTS orGRS certified. Decoration by a certified decorator with approved inks or yarnsis necessary to be able to sell certified printed products. If the product isordered blank and then decorated externally with a non GOTS/GRS certifiedmethod the product is no longer certified and the hangtag should be removed.

 


Pavilion Earth can offer GOTS/GRS certifiedproducts as well as certified decoration methods with decoration by certifiedembroidery, screen print and transfer. No need to find a certified decorator todecorate your GOTS/GRS certified product any more.

 


Information provided from the TextileExchange website:

 


https://textileexchange.org/standards/recycled-claim-standard-global-recycled-standard/


Examples of GRS/RCS promotional products include:

Recycled polyester polos: https://www.pavilionearth.co.uk/clothing/recycled-polyester-polo

Recycled Polo Shirts
Recycled Polyester Caps
Recycled Polyester T shirts
Recycled stainless steel bottle

RCS – Thor recycled bottle -https://www.pavilionearth.co.uk/drinkware/thor-recycled-stainless-steel-bottle

Recycled Stainless Thor Water Bottle

Information provided from the Textile Exchange website:

https://textileexchange.org/standards/recycled-claim-standard-global-recycled-standard/


Author - David Platt Bsc. BA. MBA Dip M – head of Pavilion Earth, David has been involved in eco promotional products for nearly 10 years – from when it wasn’t a thing!



Contact https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-platt-a84b12b8/

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