RCS

Getting recycled content claims right is no longer optional for brands operating in global markets. The recycled claim standard RCS gives companies a structured way to track recycled raw materials from reclamation through every processing step to the finished product, backed by independent verification.

Key Takeaways

• The recycled claim standard is a voluntary chain of custody standard created by Textile Exchange to track recycled materials – both pre-consumer and post-consumer – through global supply chains. RCS is a chain of custody standard for recycled materials that sets requirements for traceability and credible sustainability claims.
• RCS applies to products containing at least 5% verified recycled content and focuses strictly on traceability and recycled content verification, not on chemical restrictions or broader environmental aspects. Those areas are covered by the global recycled standard (GRS).
• RCS certification requires every organization in the supply chain – from recycler to the last seller – to hold a valid scope certificate. If any non-certified intermediary takes legal ownership, the recycled claim for those goods becomes invalid.
• Brands use RCS to reduce greenwashing risk, secure transparent and auditable supply chain data, and communicate trustworthy recycled content information to customers, retailers, and regulators.

Understanding the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS)

The recycled claim standard RCS is an international, voluntary product standard owned by Textile Exchange. It verifies recycled content claims across multiple industries – textiles, plastics, packaging, paper products, and metals. The rcs standard is globally recognized by retailers and brands in the EU, US, UK, and key manufacturing hubs like Turkey, China, India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.

RCS uses chain of custody requirements from the content claim standard (CCS). This framework governs identity preservation of recycled input materials, traceability documentation, and volume reconciliation between inputs and outputs. It is this custody standard foundation that makes a recycled claim credible rather than aspirational.

In practice, a brand can state the percentage of verified recycled content in a final product – for example, “RCS Blended 30% recycled polyester” – only when backed by a valid RCS certificate and supporting transaction certificates. Without those documents, the claim is non-compliant.

RCS requires at least 5% recycled material in products for certification. Many apparel brands in 2024–2026 target 20–50% recycled content for key lines, well above the minimum. The global recycled standard (GRS) goes further than RCS by adding stricter social, environmental, and chemical management criteria, while RCS remains a deliberately narrower recycled content and chain of custody tool.

Core Concepts: Recycled Content and Material Categories

Precise recycled definitions matter. Regulators, auditors, and buyers distinguish between different categories of recycled content when evaluating an RCS certificate or reviewing a content claim.

Under RCS, recycled content refers to materials diverted from the waste stream and reprocessed into feedstock for new products, aligned with ISO 14021 definitions. Key categories include:

• Pre-consumer material: By-products from the production process that cannot serve their original purpose – weaving selvedge, yarn waste, cutting room offcuts. In-process regrind reused in the same continuous process typically does not qualify.
• Post-consumer material: Products and packaging used by consumers or end-users, then collected as waste – plastic bottles, worn garments, cardboard boxes – before being sorted and sent to the recycling stage.
• Reclaimed material: Material collected and recovered specifically for recycling, not for energy recovery or incineration.

Accepted recycling processes include mechanical recycling (shredding and melting PET bottles into rPET pellets) and chemical recycling (depolymerization). Simple energy recovery or incineration does not qualify. Products must contain at least 5% recycled material for RCS certification to apply.

How RCS Tracks Recycled Materials Through the Supply Chain

RCS allows tracking of recycled materials through the supply chain by following legal ownership at every step. The standard tracks recycled material from input to final product, ensuring volume, identity, and document collection remain consistent.

Here is a realistic 2026 chain for recycled polyester:

1. Material collection of post-consumer PET bottles at certified collection centers
2. Recycling plant produces rPET chips
3. Spinner creates recycled polyester filament
4. Fabric mill weaves the filament into textile
5. Garment manufacturer assembles the final product
6. Brand or retailer sells rcs certified products

Each production stage must be certified under RCS. RCS requires certification at each production stage – if any trader or intermediary without a scope certificate takes legal ownership, the chain breaks and the recycled claim becomes invalid for those goods.

Transaction certificates (TCs) and shipping documents track recycled content volumes and link each sale to a specific rcs certificate number and product description. Two claim levels exist:

• RCS 100: Products with 95–100% certified recycled content
• RCS Blended: Products containing 5% to less than 95% certified recycled materials through the supply chain (e.g., a blended cotton/rPET garment or multilayer packaging)

RCS Certification Process and Roles (Including Control Union)

The rcs certification process is carried out by approved third-party certification bodies such as Control Union, SCS Global Services, and Ecocert. Self declaration alone is never sufficient – RCS certification involves third-party assessment of recycled content. RCS provides independent assessment of recycled content claims rather than relying on company self-reporting.

The following steps outline a typical certification process in 2026:

1. Application and scope definition (application for RCS certification can be completed online)
2. Document checklist review – supplier approvals, recycled input verification, volume reconciliation records
3. Initial on-site audit covering segregation, staff training, subcontractor management, and logo/claim use controls
4. Non-conformity closure
5. Issuance of RCS scope certificate
6. Ongoing transaction certificate management and annual audits

Material collection sites and material concentration sites – such as bottle collection centers or scrap yards – must undergo self-declaration and on-site visits to verify that materials claimed as recycled meet RCS definitions. An audit report documents findings at each company’s facilities.

Control Union exemplifies a global certification body with multi-country coverage, combined RCS/GRS audit capabilities, and digital certificate systems that help brands manage transparency across complex supply chains. Typical timeline runs 6–12 weeks from application details submission to initial certification, with scope certificates valid for one year subject to surveillance audits.

RCS vs. GRS and Practical Benefits for Brands

Both RCS and GRS are Textile Exchange standards that support the use of recycled materials, but their scope differs significantly.

Feature	RCS	GRS
Chain of custody	Yes	Yes
Recycled content verification	Yes	Yes
Environmental management	No	Yes
Chemical restrictions	No	Yes
Social compliance	No	Yes
Human health & safety criteria	No	Yes

RCS works well for simpler items – packaging, trims, accessories – where only a content claim is needed. GRS suits flagship textile lines where customers demand stronger assurance on environmental aspects, chemical restrictions, and social standards.

RCS certification ensures quality claims for recycled products and delivers concrete business benefits:

• Enhanced credibility of sustainability claims and reduced greenwashing risk
• Easier responses to retailer due-diligence questionnaires
• Stronger internal data on recycled raw materials flows for ESG reporting
• Support for corporate targets (e.g., “50% recycled polyester by 2030”) through auditable metrics

Using the RCS logo enhances consumer trust in products and helps consumers make informed decisions. RCS certification supports informed purchasing decisions for consumers by providing transparent, verified information rather than vague marketing language.

Looking ahead, claim standards like RCS are becoming central to digital product passports, extended producer responsibility schemes, and the EU’s Green Claims Directive taking effect in late 2026.

Preguntas frecuentes

Below are answers to common practical questions about RCS certification, rcs blended products, and how RCS connects to broader business and sustainability strategies.

Is RCS mandatory for selling products with recycled content?

As of July 2026, RCS remains a voluntary standard – not legally required in most markets. However, many major brands and retailers require RCS or GRS certification from suppliers before accepting any recycled content claims. Upcoming regulations like the EU Green Claims Directive make third-party verification increasingly important, even where RCS is not explicitly named in law.

Can small manufacturers and traders obtain RCS certification?

Yes. Small and medium-sized companies, including traders and converters, can be certified as long as they implement basic chain of custody procedures and record-keeping. Certification bodies often bundle audits (e.g., RCS + GRS) to reduce cost and may offer group certification models for small facilities within the same ownership or region.

How is RCS different from a recycled content label from a supplier?

Simple supplier labels or self-declaration do not provide independent verification. RCS requires third-party auditing, standardized definitions, and documented chain of custody across all supply chain actors. Buyers and regulators increasingly prefer RCS certificates and transaction certificates as objective evidence rather than relying on unverified marketing claims.

Can RCS and GRS be used on the same product?

A product certified to GRS automatically meets RCS recycled content and custody requirements, but logo use and labeling guidelines must be followed carefully. Brands typically choose one logo per product line – often GRS for more advanced claims – to avoid confusing consumers, while using both standards strategically across their overall portfolio.