RCS CERTIFICATION - RECYCLED CLAIM STANDARD
What is RCS?
The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) is an international, voluntary standard that sets requirements for third-party. It is a chain of custody standard to track recycled raw materials through the supply chain. It uses the chain of custody requirements of the Content Claim Standard (CSS).
The Recycled Claim Standard is intended for use with any product that contains at least 5% Recycled Material. Each stage of production is required to be certified, beginning at the recycling stage and ending at the last seller in the final business-to-business transaction. Material Collection and Material Concentration sites are subject to self-declaration, document collection, and on-site visits.
Benefits of RCS Certification
Alignment of recycled definitions across multiple applications.
Providing customers with a tool to make informed decisions.
Verify recycled content in products
Providing assurance that materials in the final product are actually recycled and processed more sustainably.
Tracking and tracing Recycled input materials.
Reduce harmful impact of production to people and the environment.
Who can be certified RCS Certification?
The RCS applies to companies in the textile sector with activity in spinning, knitting, printing, manufacturing, weaving, dyeing, distribution, and branding, but also for recyclers and processors of recycled materials.
Cloth Printing
Spinning
Wearing and Knitting
Wet-Processing
Textile Manufacturing
Textile Trading Company
Clothing
Textile Products
Textile Packaging
Document required for RCS Certification
- System Manual
- System Procedure
- Policy
- Objectives
- Mission & Vision
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- Checklist
- Forms
- Formats
- Records
The extent of Documented Information differs as per:
- Organization’s size
- Activities performed by the organization
- Processes undertaken by the Organization
- Products and services offered by the organization
- The complexity of processes undertaken
- Competence of persons involved
Role of Shamkris and Process of RCS Certification
Shamkris adopts a results-oriented approach to effective system implementation in the organization. A simple and practical method of system implementation helps organizations increase business efficiency and sustainability. Shamkris supports 100% documentation to obtain an accreditation body of success in addition to enhanced performance.
The implementation process is described below:
Time Frame
Task
Process
Day 1
GAP Analysis
Certification Body
Selection
Cost Estimates
- Finding the GAP between existing system related to RCS requirements
- Selecting the appropriate certification Body
- Based on the scope of your business & certification Body you choose
Week 1
Developing Documents
- Management System Manual, Management System Procedures, Policy, Objectives, Forms etc.
- Review of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
Week 4
Implementing Management System
- RCS Awareness training for the top management and staff
- Implementing a well-documented management system throughout the organization
Week 8
Internal Audit
MRM
CAPA
- Internal audits identifying nonconformities related to RCS requirements
- Management Review Meetings
- Corrective and Preventive Action plan for nonconformities
Week 10
Certification Body
Audit
N-C Closing
- Shamkris acts on your behalf and assists you in the third-party audit
- Closing of any nonconformities identified by the certification Body
Week 12
Certification Body
- RCS certificates issued for 1 years
- Yearly Renewal Audit
Year on Year
Yearly Compliance
- Support of Yearly documentation for audit
FAQ
The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) is an international, voluntary standard that sets requirements for third-party. It is a chain of custody standard to track recycled raw materials through the supply chain.
The RCS verifies the presence and amount of recycled material in a final product. This happens through input and chain-of-custody verification from a third party. It allows for the transparent, consistent, and comprehensive independent evaluation and verification of recycled material content claims on products.
The RCS and GRS are the same, except that the GRS being a more rigorous standard; in the GRS, there is a higher minimum content percentage (50%) and additional processing requirements that must be met (social, environmental, and chemical).