New Textile Standard Consolidates Global Recycled and Animal Fiber Sourcing
Textile Exchange's unified standard forces apparel buyers to audit supplier certifications before the transition begins.
Global Recycled Standard
Recycling Protocol
International criteria for the certification of products containing reclaimed materials establish a common language for sustainability. The global recycled standard sets requirements for recycled content, chain of custody, social practices and chemical restrictions. It applies to any product that contains at least twenty percent recycled material.
The goal is to provide a credible assurance that the claims made on a label are supported by documentation and site visits.
Industrial Requirements
Facilities seeking this certification must demonstrate that they separate waste streams effectively and provide fair working conditions. Auditors review the environmental management system of the factory to ensure that wastewater treatment and energy use meet the threshold. Under the global recycled standard, the use of hazardous chemicals in the manufacturing process is strictly prohibited.
This ensures that the finished textile is safe for the consumer and the ecosystem.
Certification Flow
A transaction certificate accompanies every shipment of goods as they move through the supply chain. Each actor from the recycler to the garment maker must hold a valid scope certificate to participate. The global recycled standard tracks the mass balance of the material to ensure that the volume of certified output does not exceed the volume of reclaimed input.
This prevents the inflation of recycled claims through the addition of virgin materials. Verification happens at every stage of the journey from the collection of the scrap to the final branding of the garment. Brands use these documents to substantiate their environmental claims to regulators and consumer advocacy groups.
Continuous monitoring ensures that the integrity of the recycled material is never compromised by the introduction of unidentified waste streams.