SCS Recycled Content Certified

1. Review the SCS-103 Standard and eligibility requirements: Download and read the SCS Recycled Content Standard (SCS-103) and confirm your product contains at least 5% pre- or post-consumer recycled content, consistent with ISO 14021 definitions.

1. Conduct an internal gap assessment: Audit your existing documentation — material sourcing records, supplier declarations, production data, and chain-of-custody records — against the standard's requirements to identify gaps before applying.

1. Gather required documentation: Compile at least 30 days of continuous production records at the claimed recycled content percentage, mass balance or direct controlled blending calculations, and supply chain documentation from recycled material suppliers.

1. Submit an application to SCS Global Services: Complete the online application at scsglobalservices.com, describing the product(s) and scope of certification. SCS will provide a quote based on the complexity and scale of your operation.

1. Undergo the certification audit: An SCS-accredited auditor will conduct a documentation review and, where applicable, an on-site or remote facility inspection to verify recycled content claims, material inputs, and production processes.

1. Address any non-conformances: If the auditor identifies gaps or non-conformances, you will have an opportunity to provide corrective actions and additional evidence before a final certification decision is made.

1. Receive certification and the SCS mark: Upon successful audit, SCS issues the certificate and grants the right to use the SCS Recycled Content Certified mark on products and marketing materials. Your certification will be listed in the SCS public registry.

1. Maintain certification with annual renewal audits: Each year, undergo a surveillance or recertification audit to verify continued compliance. Keep documentation current and notify SCS of any significant changes to materials, suppliers, or production processes.

The SCS Recycled Content Certified audit evaluates several key areas to verify that a product's recycled content claims are accurate, substantiated, and consistent with ISO 14021 and the SCS-103 Standard.

Recycled Content Percentage and Calculation Method: Auditors verify the claimed percentage of pre-consumer and/or post-consumer recycled content in the final product. Manufacturers must demonstrate their calculation methodology — either direct controlled blending (for products where recycled content is physically segregated) or mass balance (for complex supply chains where recycled and virgin materials are commingled). The minimum threshold is 5% recycled content to qualify for certification.

Material Sourcing and Supply Chain Documentation: The audit reviews supplier declarations, purchase records, and chain-of-custody documentation to confirm that input materials genuinely qualify as recycled content under ISO 14021 definitions. Pre-consumer content (manufacturing scrap rerouted from waste streams) and post-consumer content (materials recovered after end-of-consumer use) are tracked and reported separately.

Production Records and Traceability: At least 30 days of continuous production records must be available, demonstrating consistent use of recycled inputs at the claimed percentage. Auditors assess batch records, inventory logs, and material flow documentation to confirm traceability from raw material receipt through finished product.

Facility Processes and Controls: Where an on-site audit is conducted, auditors inspect the physical production facility to verify that processes, storage, and handling practices are consistent with the documented claims. This includes reviewing how recycled and virgin materials are received, stored, and incorporated into production.

Labeling and Marketing Claims: The audit also reviews how the recycled content claim is communicated on product labels and marketing materials to ensure it is accurate, not misleading, and compliant with ISO 14021 environmental labeling requirements.

SCS Global Services is one of the oldest and most established third-party certification bodies in the sustainability space, founded in 1984 and accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). The SCS Recycled Content Certified program is widely recognized across North America and increasingly in global markets, particularly in industries such as plastics, textiles, packaging, construction materials, metals, and electronics. SCS holds a notable position as an endorsed certifier for the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), giving its recycled content certification particular credibility in the plastics recycling sector.

The market for recycled content certification has grown significantly in recent years, driven by retailer sustainability mandates, extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation, and consumer demand for transparent environmental claims. Major retailers including Walmart, Target, and IKEA have incorporated recycled content requirements into their supplier sustainability programs, increasing demand for third-party verified claims. Regulatory pressure — including the U.S. FTC Green Guides and emerging EU regulations on recycled content claims — has further elevated the importance of credible, audited certification over self-declaration.

SCS Recycled Content Certified competes primarily with the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and Textile Exchange's Recycled Claim Standard (RCS), which are more dominant in the textile and apparel sectors. For plastics specifically, SCS holds a stronger position due to its APR endorsement. UL's Recycled Content Validation and ISCC PLUS are also competitors, particularly in the chemicals and advanced recycling space. SCS differentiates itself through its long track record, broad industry coverage, and willingness to recognize other certifications (such as FSC, ISCC, and RCS) to reduce duplication for multi-certified companies. Demand for recycled content certification is expected to continue growing as circular economy policies advance globally.

SCS Global Services was founded in 1984 in Emeryville, California, as Scientific Certification Systems, making it one of the earliest third-party environmental certification and verification organizations in the United States. The company was established to address the growing need for credible, independent verification of environmental claims at a time when "green" marketing was largely unregulated and self-declared. SCS developed some of the first rigorous methodologies for verifying environmental product claims, including recycled content, and played an early role in shaping ISO 14021, the international standard for self-declared environmental claims.

The SCS Recycled Content Certified program formalizes this long-standing expertise into a structured certification scheme governed by the SCS-103 Standard, which aligns with ISO 14021 definitions and requirements. Over the decades, SCS expanded its scope from recycled content into forestry (FSC certification), food safety, sustainable agriculture, and carbon offsets, becoming a multi-sector certification body. The recycled content program has grown in relevance alongside the global circular economy movement, with SCS earning accreditation from the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) as an endorsed certifier. The program continues to evolve to accommodate new chain-of-custody methodologies, including mass balance accounting for complex recycling streams.