Recycled Content Certification

A Cornerstone of the Circular Economy

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Showcase Your Use of Certified Recycled Materials

Recycled content is among the most sought-after sustainability claims in the marketplace today, and a crucial component of the circular economy. Use of recycled materials in products reduces pressure on existing natural resources, redirects wastes that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated, and improves the overall environmental footprint of a product. Third-party certification provides the proof that your customers need to be sure that your product or material recycled content claims are accurate.  

Recycled content certification is applicable to final products and material feedstocks across the economy, such as:  

  • Building Material and Construction Products  
  • Electrical and Electronic Equipment
  • Home Goods
  • Jewelry
  • Metals
  • Packaging
  • Plastics Packaging, Resins, and Finished Goods
  • Textiles and Fiber
  • Wood and Paper  

Certified claims are a crucial building block of a sustainable supply chain, and may qualify you for eligibility under key customer purchasing specifications, recognition under public and private environmentally preferable product purchasing programs, and industry rating systems such as LEED. In addition, electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers may be eligible for a special certification under the SCS-103 Annex. 

Recycled Content Certification Video

SCS Expertise

SCS launched the first third-party certification program for recycled content claims in 1989, and remains the world’s foremost authority on recycled content certification. Our auditing team draws upon knowledge of diverse industrial processes to properly classify and trace pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled material streams. We evaluate manufacturing data, processes, chain-of-custody procedures, material quantification, and mass-balance calculations to determine your conformance to the SCS Recycled Content Standard. As a result, companies count on SCS to deliver the most comprehensive assessment and certification for recycled content in the market today.  

  • Service Offerings
  • Process
  • Benefits
  • FAQs
  • Documents

SCS Global Services can recognize your achievements under one of three certification offerings: 

  • Recycled Content Certification - For products or materials across industry sectors that are made with pre-consumer or post-consumer material diverted from the waste stream.  Products are eligible for consideration under the SCS-103 Recycled Content Standard if they contain at least 5% recycled material.   
  • Recycled Content Certification for Electrical and Electronics Equipment - A special certification under Annex A of the SCS-103 Recycled Content Standard for a wide range of electrical and electronic goods, including audio/visual equipment, computers, electronics accessories, gaming equipment, home security systems, mobile devices, small household appliances, and more. Click here for details.
  • Recycling Program Certification - For recyclers and reclamation facilities seeking third-party confirmation of claims related to their diversion strategies and recycling rates. 

  1. Work Authorization

    SCS develops a work order summarizing the scope of work and costs, based on a completed application. Upon authorization, an auditor is assigned and the process begins. Apply here. 

  2. Data Collection and Analysis
 

    The auditor provides guidance to help you assemble your data and documentation.  Once this information is submitted, SCS conducts a desk audit to review your manufacturing data, processes, and chain-of-custody procedures, and claims. 

  3. Onsite Audit (as needed) 

    The auditor uses a risk-based approach to determine if an onsite audit is needed prior to a certification decision. Alternatively, the auditor may identify the need for an on-site audit to take place within one year of certification. 

  4. Certification Decision

    If certification is achieved, SCS issues the certificate(s), logos, and final report to you. Your auditor works with you to determine how to list your products on the certificate(s). For Recycling Program, your auditor works closely with you to determine what the specific claims are that you would like to make. Once certified, your company and products are listed on the SCS Certified Green Products Guide. SCS can also provide client marketing support.

  5. Draft Assessment Report
 

    The auditor prepares a draft assessment report that details the findings of the audit, including data analysis, non-conformities, and opportunities for improvement. You are required to respond to any non-conformities with a root cause analysis and corrective action.


  6. Internal Peer Review and Client Review
 

    A qualified SCS reviewer examines the report and recommends any necessary corrections or changes.  

  7. Certification Decision
 

    If certification is granted, SCS issues the certificate(s), logos, and final report to you. Once certified, your company and products are listed on the SCS Certified Green Products Guide.  

  8. Certification Maintenance and Renewal
 

    Certification is valid for one year, and may be renewed annually upon reauditing. 

SCS offers certification recipients a full suite of marketing support services if requested. 

Certification can help you:

  • Differentiate your product and stand out in your market
  • Appeal to customer preferences for more sustainable products
  • Demonstrate leadership by reducing use of virgin materials
  • Meet regulatory requirements
  • Comply with purchasing requirements from retailers, government agencies, and others 

  • What is the minimum recycled content required for eligibility?

    The product must contain at least 5% recycled content, either pre-consumer or post-consumer (consistent with ISO 14021), calculated based on a direct controlled blending process or mass balance allocation basis. This recycled content should be consistent for at least 30 days of continuous production.

  • What is the difference between pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled content?

    Pre-consumer recycled content comes from manufacturing wastes such as scraps, trimmings, by-products, and overages, that are actively diverted from the waste stream.  Post-consumer recycled content is derived from products or materials that have completed their intended use and is being actively diverted from the waste stream.    

  • How is the recycled content percentage determined?

    The total percentage of content is determined by dividing the total mass of recycled materials used by the total mass of the finished product. For instance, if the recycled material weighs 10 kilograms, and the finished product weighs 100 kilograms, then the total recycled content percentage is 10 kilograms /100 kilograms = 0.1 x 100 = 10%

  • What products are eligible for certification?

    A wide range of products and material feedstocks across the economy are eligible for recycled content certification. Examples include:  

    • Building Materials and Construction Products
    • Electrical and Electronic Equipment  
    • Home Goods
    • Jewelry
    • Metals  
    • Packaging
    • Plastics, Packaging Resins, and Finished Goods
    • Textiles and Fiber
    • Wood and Paper
    • … and more 

  • What is the current version of the SCS Recycled Content Standard?

    The current version is Version 8.0. Important updates in this version included:  

    • Establishment of a minimum 5% recycled content for eligibility
    • Option to achieve certification using a mass balance chain-of-custody system
    • Addition of chemically-recycled content
    • Recognition of external certification programs such as ISCC, FSC, the Textile Exchange Recycled Claim Standard and more 

  • Does SCS Recycled Content certification recognize other certifications?

    Yes. Under the SCS Recycled Content Standard V8.0, we recognize the certifications you may have received under external certification programs such as ISCC, FSC, the Textile Exchange Recycled Claim Standard, and more. This helps you avoid duplication and minimize certification costs. SCS is also now an Endorsed Certifier for the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), and offers a dual certification program with APR. Ask us for details. 

  • What is the typical timeframe for completing a certification?

    The certification process typically takes 5-8 weeks from start to finish, depending on your preparedness and the complexity of the operation to be evaluated. In some cases, the process can be expedited.

  • Is there a certification for recycling programs?

    If you are a recycler or reclamation facility managing an ongoing recycling program, our recycling program certification demonstrates that your efforts are delivering on their promises. 

Document Name Document
FTC Green Guides Visit Site
LEED v4 Eligibility Visit Site
Recycling Program Standard English
SCS Certification Standard for Recycled Content English

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What Our Clients Are Saying

The SCS Global Services team ensured that Numatic had a smooth certification process, thorough audits, and effective marketing support for announcing our Recycled Content Certification. We are proud to have our sustainability achievements backed by third party certification.

Sophie Knapman - Numatic


SCS has longstanding credibility in terms of environmental criteria and certification, so I felt comfortable going. They were the experts, unlike others that were entering the industry, they had already well-established certification.

Roxanne Spiekerman - VP Public Affairs, Prezero


The business driver was just our customer demand pushing for Certified Recycling Products, which led us to your guys’ team to go through and audit us and take us to that next level… We love working with the sales team, and the auditors, and everybody else. It’s been a great relationship [we] plan on continuing for a long time.

Brandon Shaw - Marketing Manager, Plastic Recycling Inc.


Most of our customers ask us if we have this certification or not. So, that’s why we need SCS Global Services’ 100% Recycled Content Certification.

Cecil Chan - Director, Fizlestari


This certification has been extremely useful in that we can show our customers that our products are made with 100% recycled content. Not only that, we are able to leverage this certification to promote the sustainability aspects of our products through our labeling, packaging, and marketing material. We were so happy that we are going to use them again for an LCA and EPD on all of our products.

Ben Scott - Director of Technology, Greenmantra Technologies


It is very important for us to have certification on our PCR content because it proves that what we’re doing is actually legitimate.

Kali Kinziger - Product Manager, Placon


The reclaimers can work with SCS to achieve certification, and of course SCS is an industry leader in this space, and has proven to be a great partner for APR.

Kara Pochiro - VP of Communication & Public Affairs, Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)


SCS has been fantastic to work with. We have certifications across our product lines, and we find that they not only are supportive in our needs, but they also provide recommendations for potentials in the future.

Cherish Changala - VP Sustainability & Public Affairs, Revolution


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