Textile Exchange unveils recycled claim standard
Textile Exchange has released its new recycled claim standard (RCS). Developed in collaboration with the Materials Traceability Working Group (MTWG), the standard is expected to become an important tool for companies that carry products with any recycled content, providing more accurate product labelling and establishing greater transparency across the supply chain.
The RCS includes two elements: input materials are checked by qualified certification bodies to ensure they are reclaimed from the waste stream, relying on internationally accepted definitions of “reclaimed” and “recycled” from the International Standards Organization (ISO); and checking each facility and each shipment from the recycling to the final production stage to ensure that recycled goods are kept separate from virgin materials and labelled properly before moving on to the next step. This provides third-party accountability when it comes to common product claims, for example “made with recycled polyester”.
The chain of custody requirements are built upon TE’s Content Claim Standard (CCS), which sets out the requirements for identifying any raw material through each production step to the final product. The Content Claim Standard can be used to verify the material content of any final product, such as the non-mulesed wool in a sweater or the titanium content of ski poles.
The MTWG is also exploring a similar approach with other materials categories that are relevant to the outdoor industry and broader apparel and footwear industries, including wool and down.
