In an era where sustainability and environmental responsibility are becoming top priorities, transparency in the origin of recycled materials has become an essential criterion in production. This is precisely why the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) was established. To better understand this standard, let’s explore Bao Bì Minh Sang’s detailed insights below.
What is the RCS Standard?
The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) is a voluntary international standard developed by the Textile Exchange organization. The main purpose of RCS is to track and verify the recycled material content in products while providing a transparent tool for businesses and consumers to make more informed decisions.
When a company applies this standard, it demonstrates that its products contain a verified amount of recycled content, ensuring credibility in the production process. RCS is often used for product chain-of-custody requirements found in the Content Claim Standard.
Key Principles of the Recycled Claim Standard
The core principle of RCS is to track and verify the recycled content throughout the entire supply chain, achieved through:
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Unified Definition: RCS provides a clear definition of “recycled material” to ensure consistency across applications and industries.
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Traceability: Requires the ability to trace recycled materials from collection and initial recycling to the final product.
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Transparency: Provides a reliable certification system audited by independent third parties to verify claims about recycled content.
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Encouraging the Use of Recycled Materials: Promotes businesses to shift from virgin raw materials to recycled materials, thereby reducing environmental impact.
Scope and Areas of Application
RCS has a broad scope and is not limited to any specific industry. It can be applied to any product containing at least 5% recycled material, including both pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled materials.
Industries and materials where RCS is applied include:
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Textiles: Fibers, fabrics, garments, accessories, and home textiles made from recycled cotton, polyester, etc.
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Plastics manufacturing: Recycled plastic products such as bottles, packaging, and films.
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Paper and packaging: Products made from recycled paper.
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Metals manufacturing: Products made from recycled metals.
Benefits of the RCS Certification
For manufacturers using recycled materials, the RCS certification is crucial and highly beneficial because it brings many practical advantages:
Commitment to Sustainability
RCS certification verifies that a product contains recycled materials, demonstrating a company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. It helps build a positive brand image and trust with customers.
Enhanced Transparency in Product Origin
RCS requires tracking and verifying recycled materials throughout the entire supply chain, ensuring product transparency and traceability. Businesses with this certification can confidently prove the transparent origin of their products.
Competitive Advantage in International Markets
Products certified under RCS are highly regarded globally, helping businesses expand markets and attract international partners and customers. This enables Vietnamese companies to compete more effectively in the global marketplace.
Meeting the Modern Green Consumption Trend
Today’s consumers increasingly prefer eco-friendly and safe products. RCS certification helps businesses meet this demand, thereby boosting sales and customer loyalty. Moreover, it ensures product safety and environmental friendliness.
Who Can Apply the RCS Standard?
Any business or facility involved in the recycled product supply chain—from material recycling, processing, production, packaging, labeling to distribution—can apply the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS). They can also register for certification to prove the transparency and proportion of recycled content in their products.
Comparison Between RCS and GRS Standards
Both the RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) and GRS (Global Recycled Standard) are recycling standards, but each has distinct characteristics. The similarities and differences are as follows:
Similarities
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Both are international standards for verifying the recycled material content in products.
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Both are applicable across multiple industries, such as textiles, packaging, and paper.
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Both require independent third-party certification to ensure transparency and credibility.
Differences
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GRS is an advanced version of RCS. Typically, RCS products can use raw materials certified under GRS, but not vice versa.
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GRS applies to products with at least 20% recycled content, while RCS applies to those with 5% or more.
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GRS includes additional requirements on environmental and social responsibility beyond those of RCS.
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The certification labels of RCS and GRS are different.
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GRS has chemical management requirements during production, while RCS does not.
The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) is not only proof of using recycled materials in production but also a key tool to enhance transparency throughout the supply chain and to build an environmentally responsible brand image.
