What is the Global Recycle Standard?

Global Recycle Standard GRS is a certification promoted by Textile Exchange with the aim of encouraging the use of recycled materials in the textile sector. Textile Exchange is a global non-profit organization, working to lead the textile industry towards more sustainable fashion.

Certification GRS is designed to meet the needs of consumers who wish to check for recycled materials in the products they purchase. The Global Recycle Standard it also guarantees socially ethical practices, and environmental responsibility aimed above all at the correct use of potentially dangerous chemicals.

We can therefore state that the objective of certification GRS is to define production standards for companies working in the textile sector, standards that can guarantee ethical working conditions and a reduced environmental impact.

GRS is an international certification available in more than 50 countries.

Entering into the merits of the materials that can obtain this certification, it is important to know that the Global Recycle Standard, Unlike textile certifications similar - such as Plastica Seconda Vita (PSV) - does not limit its action to recycled plastic only, but evaluates any type of recycled material.

Most of the recycled fibers come from industrial waste, while others come from the separate collection of clothing, or other materials.

When is fashion sustainable?

How to recognize it?

Where to buy it?

Start your journey!

GRS Certification Standard

Certification GRS it is applicable to products composed of at least the 20% recycled fiber.

A relatively low value to speak of circular fashion when we are faced with a fiber GRS certified. Unfortunately as consumers we cannot even know the percentage of recycled material present in the product, since this is not written on the label of the same.

We know the certification Global Recycle Standard applied to a textile product, guarantees that a variable percentage from 20% to 100% was made using these recycled materials:

Recycled cotton
Recycled wool
Recycled polyester
Recycled polyamide
Recycled leather

Usually, certification Global Recycle Standard is applied to the yarn or fabric. For example in the synthetic fabrics Econyl e NewLife, both of which have the GRS certificate. Econyl derives from the recycling of fishing nets recovered from the oceans, industrial waste and discarded carpets. While NewLife derives from plastic bottles taken from separate collection.

Despite being synthetic fibers and therefore with many limits from an environmental point of view (especially related to the release of microplastics during washing), we can consider them ecological as:

They derive from the recycling of resources otherwise they would be destined for incinerators (or left in nature).
They respect the regulation REACH since they are produced in Europe.
They have the certification GRS as they are made from recycled materials.
They have the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification.

Le alternatives to plastic there are many, and already today we could do without many synthetic materials, but it is equally true that we have produced so much waste, so much plastic, that "burning it" would make no sense: we can only consider this waste as a resource primary.

They are present today and will still be for many years to come, so the most rational thing to do is to stop producing virgin materials, making the most of our waste (where possible).

But .. you are looking for certified products Global Recycle Standard?

A showcase where you can find Sustainable, ethical and cruelty free fashion brands guaranteed by the supervision of our association:

GRS for resource recycling and the circular economy

Given the environmental pollution that afflicts our planet and the growing need for primary resources due to the increase in population, the recycling of resources becomes fundamental to safeguard future generations.

We must therefore develop efficient circular economy models:

Some scientific studies show that as time goes on, the world population consumes more resources than the earth can offer us (see Earth Overshoot Day).

Clearly, the excessive consumption of resources does not occur in developing countries but in industrialized countries like ours. Now try to imagine what would happen if less developed countries started consuming like us.

Events such as Earth Day involve millions of people and dozens of nations around the world, and are born precisely to raise awareness on topics such as environmental pollution and saving natural resources. Even characters like Greta Thunberg don't talk "nonsense", we should just listen to what they have to say.

Sponsor certifications such as the Global Recycle Standard, but also practices such as the recycling of resources, proper separate collection, sustainable living, is one of our primary objectives, even if often these certifications are not as efficient as we would like, we still believe they are a great step forward.