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The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) is one of the most asked-about certifications for textile and apparel manufacturers that use recycled materials. Below are clear, source-based answers to the questions our team hears most often. Every statement is grounded in the Recycled Claim Standard 2.0 published by Textile Exchange.
RCS at a glance: An international, voluntary standard owned by Textile Exchange that verifies recycled input and chain of custody. Applies to any product with at least 5% recycled content. It does not cover social, environmental, quality, or legal compliance.
How to Get RCS Certified: Quick Steps
If you are new to the standard, these five steps mirror the certification logic set out in RCS 2.0 and its companion Content Claim Standard (CCS).
Step 1: Confirm recycled content and classify inputs
Verify your product contains at least 5% recycled material by mass. Separate your inputs into pre-consumer and post-consumer streams, since each is tracked on its own.
Step 2: Map the certified supply chain
List every stage from material recycling through to the last business-to-business (B2B) seller. Each stage must be certified, except qualifying traders and end-consumer retailers.
Step 3: Choose an approved certification body
Select a Textile Exchange-approved certification body (CB). Request a quotation and expected timeline based on your site list and product scope.
Step 4: Prepare documentation
Put in place Reclaimed Material Supplier Agreements (valid one year), Reclaimed Material Declaration Forms (collected at least annually or on source change), and mass-balance records. Request a Transaction Certificate (TC) for every incoming recycled shipment.
Step 5: Complete the assessment and receive your certificate
Undergo the CB's certification assessment (document review, plus on-site visits where required for collection and concentration sites) and receive your Scope Certificate. Issue TCs for outgoing RCS shipments.
RCS Certification FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions are written to match the queries manufacturers and exporters search for. They are optimized for search "People Also Ask" features and structured for FAQ schema.
Q: What is RCS certification and who owns it?
A: RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) is an international, voluntary standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of recycled input and chain of custody. It is owned and administered by Textile Exchange. The stated goal is to increase the use of recycled materials by aligning recycled definitions, tracking and tracing recycled inputs, and giving brands and end consumers a tool to make informed decisions.
Q: What is the minimum recycled content required for RCS?
A: The standard applies to products that contain 5% or more recycled content (clause A3.1a). It may apply to any verified recycled material and any supply chain (A3.1b). Only pre-consumer and post-consumer materials count as recycled content, and the proportion is measured by mass. Some derogations may apply under the Textile Exchange Accreditation and Certification Procedures.
Q: Does RCS cover social, environmental, or chemical requirements?
A: No. The RCS explicitly does not address social or environmental aspects of processing and manufacturing, quality, or legal compliance. It is a recycled-input and chain-of-custody verification standard. Organizations that need social and environmental criteria should consider the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), which uses the same chain-of-custody foundation but adds those requirements.
Q: What is the difference between RCS and GRS?
A: Both are Textile Exchange standards built on the Content Claim Standard. RCS requires a minimum of 5% recycled content and verifies recycled input plus chain of custody only. GRS requires a minimum of 20% recycled content and additionally covers social, environmental, and chemical requirements. Choose RCS when you only need to substantiate recycled content claims; choose GRS when buyers also require social and environmental performance.
Q: Which sites in the supply chain must be certified?
A: Each stage of production must be certified, beginning at the recycling stage and ending at the last seller in the final B2B transaction. Material Recycling operations require full RCS certification. Material Collection and Material Concentration sites are subject to self-declaration, document collection, and on-site visits rather than full certification. Traders with an annual turnover of less than USD 10,000 of RCS products, and retailers selling only to end consumers, are exempt from the certification obligation provided they do not repack or relabel RCS products; such traders must still register with an approved certification body.
Q: What documents are needed to prove RCS compliance?
A: Every batch of recycled material entering the supply chain must carry a valid Transaction Certificate (TC) issued by an approved certification body. Organizations hold a Scope Certificate (SC) covering their certified scope. Material recyclers must hold valid Reclaimed Material Supplier Agreements (Appendix B, valid for one year) and collect Reclaimed Material Declaration Forms (Appendix C) from suppliers at least annually or whenever the reclaimed material source changes. Pre-consumer and post-consumer percentages are recorded separately for each batch on the TC.
Q: Can my product carry the RCS logo?
A: Consumer-facing RCS labeling is allowed only for products that have been certified up to the seller in the last business-to-business transaction. Logo use and claim wording follow the RCS Logo Use and Claims Guide. If your organization is not the final B2B seller in the chain, you cannot use the product-specific RCS logo.
Q: How long does RCS certification take and what does it cost?
A: The RCS standard does not specify a fixed certification duration or timeline; the actual time depends on your certification body, supply-chain complexity, and readiness. Likewise, the standard publishes no fixed fee schedule. Costs are quoted per project by the certification body you choose. Contact an approved CB for a formal quotation based on your site list and product scope.
Conclusion
RCS certification is a focused, accessible way to substantiate recycled content claims across your supply chain. Its 5% threshold, clear chain-of-custody model, and separation from social and environmental requirements make it a practical choice for manufacturers that only need recycled-input verification. If your buyers also ask for social and environmental performance, the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is the natural next step.
Need help mapping your supply chain or preparing for RCS certification? Our team supports manufacturers through documentation, supplier agreements, and certification-body selection. Contact us today for a tailored plan.
References
- Textile Exchange. (2017). Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) 2.0. Original release July 1, 2017. Retrieved from http://RecycledClaim.org
- Textile Exchange. Content Claim Standard (CCS) and RCS Logo Use and Claims Guide (accompanying binding documents to RCS 2.0).
- Textile Exchange. (2023). Global Recycled Standard (GRS) 4.0. Retrieved from https://textileexchange.org/ (for RCS vs GRS comparison points).
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