GRS/RCS Certification Guide for Gloves

Build a professional GRS/RCS compliance guide for glove products in Word.

Introduction

30 Second Summary

When you pick up a pair of gloves labeled "made with recycled materials," how do you know that claim is real? Behind every legitimate recycled content claim is a certification process that tracks materials from the recycler all the way to the finished product.

In this project, you will build a professional compliance guide in Microsoft Word that covers everything a glove manufacturer, brand, or buyer needs to know about GRS and RCS certification. The guide includes standards comparisons, glove-specific material examples, audit checklists, and a roadmap for transitioning to the Materials Matter Standard.

What You'll Build

A comprehensive, professionally formatted compliance guide in Microsoft Word that covers GRS and RCS certification standards, glove-specific material applications, chain of custody documentation, audit preparation, and the Materials Matter Standard transition.

By the end of this project, you'll have:

A GRS vs RCS comparison framework with detailed tables covering scope, content thresholds, labeling rules, and compliance requirements.
A chain of custody documentation guide covering Scope Certificates, Transaction Certificates, and a four-section audit preparation checklist.
An actionable Materials Matter Standard transition roadmap with key milestones from publication through certificate withdrawal.
Secret Mission: A Supplier Verification Protocol with a ready-to-use assessment questionnaire and scoring matrix.

Are there any prerequisites?

You only need Microsoft Word installed on your computer. Any version will work. No prior knowledge of textile certifications or sustainability standards is required.

Set Up Your Document Foundation

A certification compliance guide needs to look professional and be easy to navigate. For a topic as detailed as GRS and RCS certification, clear formatting and a logical section structure make the difference between a reference people actually use and one that gathers dust.

In this step, you'll create the Word document that will become your compliance guide. You'll set up a professional cover page, configure consistent heading styles, and lay out the full section structure with an automatic table of contents.

In this step, get ready to:

Create a new Word document with a professional cover page.
Configure heading styles, line spacing, headers, and footers.
Add placeholder headings for all nine sections and generate a table of contents.

Create a new document with a professional cover page

The cover page is the first thing anyone sees when opening the compliance guide. It establishes the document's purpose, scope, and confidentiality at a glance.

In Word, click File in the top menu.
Click New.
Select Blank document.

Now insert a cover page using Word's built-in templates.

Click the Insert tab in the ribbon.
Click Cover Page in the Pages group on the left side of the ribbon.
Choose a built-in template that appeals to you (e.g. Banded or Facet).

Word inserts a full cover page with placeholder text fields. Customize each field with your guide's details.

Click on the title placeholder and type GRS/RCS Certification Compliance Guide for Glove Products.
Click on the subtitle placeholder and type Standards Reference, Compliance Requirements, and Transition Roadmap.
Update the date field to today's date.
Click below the existing placeholders on the cover page and type Confidential - For Internal Use Only.

Why include a confidentiality notice?

Certification compliance documents often contain details about your organization's supply chain and audit processes. A confidentiality notice signals that this guide is intended for internal reference, not public distribution.

Check your cover page. You should see the full title, subtitle, today's date, and the confidentiality notice displayed on the first page.

Don't see the Cover Page button?

Make sure you are on the Insert tab in the ribbon. The Cover Page option is in the Pages group on the far left.

If you are using Word for the web, cover page templates may not be available. Use the desktop version of Word for this project.

Help me find the Cover Page option in Word

Configure heading styles and page layout

Consistent formatting makes the guide scannable and professional. Word's built-in heading styles also power the automatic table of contents you'll add shortly.

Click at the end of your cover page content and press Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Cmd+Enter (macOS) to insert a page break.
Click on Page 2 to place your cursor after the cover page.
Click the Home tab in the ribbon.

Now modify the heading styles to use a consistent, professional font.

In the Styles group, right-click Heading 1.
Select Modify.
In the Modify Style dialog, set the font to Calibri, size to 14, and make sure Bold is active.
Click OK.
Right-click Heading 2 in the Styles group and select Modify.
Set the font to Calibri, size to 12, bold. Click OK.
Right-click Heading 3 and select Modify.
Set the font to Calibri, size to 11, bold. Click OK.

Next, configure the body text style and line spacing.

Right-click Normal in the Styles group and select Modify.
Set the font to Calibri, size 11.
Click Format at the bottom left of the dialog.
Click Paragraph.
Set Line spacing to Multiple.
Enter 1.15 in the At field.
Click OK twice to close both dialogs.

Why set up heading styles first?

Word's heading styles do more than format text. They create the document's logical structure, which powers the automatic table of contents.

When you apply Heading 1 to a line of text, Word recognizes it as a major section. The table of contents reads these styles to generate itself automatically. Configuring them now means every heading you add later will be consistent and will appear in the TOC.

Now set up the header and footer so every page identifies the document.

Click the Insert tab in the ribbon.
Click Header in the Header & Footer group.
Select Blank (or a simple style of your choice).
Type GRS/RCS Certification Compliance Guide for Glove Products into the header area.
Click Go to Footer in the Header & Footer tab that appeared in the ribbon.
Click Page Number in the Header & Footer group.
Select Bottom of Page, then choose a centered or right-aligned style.
Double-click anywhere in the main document body to close the header and footer editing area.

Finally, insert the automatic table of contents.

Place your cursor on Page 2 (the page after the cover page).
Click the References tab in the ribbon.
Click Table of Contents.
Select Automatic Table 1 or Automatic Table 2.

Scroll through your document. You should see the document title in the header area on each page and a page number in the footer.
The table of contents on Page 2 may say "No table of contents entries found." That is expected because you have not added any headings yet.

Header or footer not showing on every page?

If the header only appears on the cover page, check that Different First Page is not checked in the Header & Footer tab. Double-click the header area to re-enter editing mode, then look for this checkbox in the ribbon.

Help me fix my header and footer in Word

Add placeholder headings for all sections

Your document now has professional formatting, but no content structure yet. Adding all nine section headings up front gives you a clear roadmap for the rest of the project.

Place your cursor below the table of contents on a new line.
Click the Home tab.
Type 1. Introduction and Purpose and apply the Heading 1 style from the Styles group.
Press Enter to move to a new line.
Type 2. Standards Overview and apply Heading 1.
Type 3. GRS vs RCS Comparison and apply Heading 1.
Type 4. Recycled Content Thresholds and Labeling and apply Heading 1.
Type 5. Glove-Specific Material Applications and apply Heading 1.
Type 6. Chain of Custody and Documentation and apply Heading 1.
Type 7. Audit Preparation and apply Heading 1.
Type 8. Materials Matter Standard Transition and apply Heading 1.
Type 9. Appendices and apply Heading 1.

Apply a style quickly

To speed things up, type each heading text first, then select the line and click Heading 1 in the Styles group. If the style stays on Heading 1 after you press Enter, just keep typing. All nine headings will inherit the same style.

Now update the table of contents to confirm all headings are recognized.

Scroll back up to the table of contents on Page 2.
Click anywhere inside the table of contents.
Click Update Table at the top of the table of contents (or right-click and select Update Field).
Select Update entire table and click OK.

Your table of contents should now list all nine section headings with page numbers.
Save your document by pressing Ctrl+S (Windows) or Cmd+S (macOS).
Name the file GRS_RCS_Compliance_Guide and save it to your Desktop.

Table of Contents still empty or missing headings?

The most common cause is that the Heading 1 style was not applied to the section headings. Click on one of your section headings and check the Styles group. The Heading 1 option should be highlighted.

If it shows Normal instead, select all the heading text and click Heading 1 to reapply the style. Then update the table of contents again.

Help me fix my Table of Contents in Word

✔️ Awesome, I've got everything!

Great. Double check you've saved your file as GRS_RCS_Compliance_Guide on your Desktop.

ⓧ I'd like to double check the full document structure

Your document should have the following structure at this point. Scroll through and compare:

Page 1: Cover page with the title GRS/RCS Certification Compliance Guide for Glove Products, subtitle, date, and confidentiality notice.
Page 2: Automatic Table of Contents listing all nine section headings with page numbers.
Remaining pages: Nine Heading 1 entries in order: 1. Introduction and Purpose, 2. Standards Overview, 3. GRS vs RCS Comparison, 4. Recycled Content Thresholds and Labeling, 5. Glove-Specific Material Applications, 6. Chain of Custody and Documentation, 7. Audit Preparation, 8. Materials Matter Standard Transition, 9. Appendices.
Header: Document title appears at the top of each page.
Footer: Page numbers appear at the bottom of each page.
Styles: Heading 1 is Calibri 14pt bold. Body text (Normal) is Calibri 11pt with 1.15 line spacing.

Your document foundation is in place. Next up, you'll fill in the standards overview and build a detailed comparison framework that maps the exact differences between GRS and RCS.

Write the Standards Overview and Comparison Framework

Your document foundation is in place with a professional cover page, configured styles, and a table of contents ready to populate. Now it's time to fill in the core content that makes this guide useful.

In this step, you'll write the foundational knowledge sections of your compliance guide. These sections explain what GRS and RCS are, how they differ across seven comparison dimensions, and which standard fits different glove product scenarios.

In this step, get ready to:

Write the Introduction and Standards Overview sections.
Build a detailed GRS vs RCS comparison table.
Create a decision guide for choosing between standards.

Write the introduction and standards overview

The first two sections set the stage for the entire guide. Section 1 tells the reader why this document exists. Section 2 gives them a solid grounding in what each standard covers before the detailed comparison in Section 3.

In your document, click into the 1. Introduction and Purpose section heading.
Below the heading, write a paragraph that states the document's purpose: to provide a comprehensive reference for GRS and RCS certification as applied to glove products.
Mention the target audience: glove manufacturers, brands, and buyers who need to understand certification requirements.

Keep Section 1 concise

The Introduction only needs to be 2-3 sentences. Its job is to orient the reader. The real detail comes in Section 2 and beyond.

Now move on to the Standards Overview. This section needs to give the reader a solid understanding of both standards before they see the comparison table.

Click into the 2. Standards Overview section heading.
Write a paragraph covering the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). Describe it as an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of recycled content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions.
Note that the current version is GRS-101 V4.0.
Write a second paragraph covering the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS). Describe it as an international, voluntary standard for third-party certification of recycled input and chain of custody only. Note that RCS does not address social or environmental aspects of processing and manufacturing.
Add a paragraph explaining what both standards share. Both are administered by Textile Exchange. Both use the ISO 14021 definition of recycled content. Both require certification at every supply chain stage, from the recycler to the last business-to-business seller.

What is the difference between GRS and RCS?

GRS is the more rigorous standard. It covers everything RCS does (recycled content verification and chain of custody) plus three additional compliance areas: social requirements, environmental management, and chemical restrictions.

Think of RCS as verifying what is in the product (recycled content), while GRS verifies both what is in it and how it was made (social, environmental, and chemical practices).

Save your document by pressing Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows).
Scroll through Sections 1 and 2. You should see a concise introduction paragraph followed by detailed descriptions of both GRS and RCS, including what they share.

Text not matching your heading styles?

Make sure you are typing below the section heading, not inside it. If your body text appears in heading formatting, click the text and select Normal from the Styles group on the Home tab to reset it to body text.

Having trouble with formatting?

Build the GRS vs RCS comparison table

A side-by-side comparison table is the most valuable part of any standards guide. Readers can scan one row and immediately see how the two standards differ on a specific dimension.

Click into the 3. GRS vs RCS Comparison section heading.
Place your cursor below the heading and insert a table. Click the Insert tab in the ribbon, then click Table.
Select a 3-column by 8-row table (3 columns: Comparison Dimension, GRS, RCS. 1 header row + 7 data rows).

Fill in the table with the following comparison data. Each row covers one dimension where the two standards differ.

Row 1, Scope: GRS covers recycled content, chain of custody, social, environmental, and chemical requirements. RCS covers recycled content and chain of custody only.
Row 2, Minimum Recycled Content for Certification: GRS is 20%. RCS is 5%.
Row 3, Minimum for Consumer-Facing Labeling: GRS is 50%. RCS is 5% for RCS Blended, 95% for RCS 100.
Row 4, Social Requirements: GRS is Yes (includes ILO labor standards). RCS is No.
Row 5, Environmental Requirements: GRS is Yes (includes EMS, energy, water, wastewater, emissions, waste management). RCS is No.
Row 6, Chemical Restrictions: GRS is Yes (aligned with ZDHC MRSL and REACH SVHC). RCS is No.
Row 7, Blending Allowed: GRS is Yes. RCS is Yes for RCS Blended, No for RCS 100.

Why does GRS have two different minimums?

The 20% threshold is the minimum for a product to be certified under GRS at all. You can use the GRS as a business-to-business tool for any products that contain at least 20% recycled content.

The 50% threshold is the minimum for consumer-facing labeling (hangtags, sewn-in labels, website claims). This dual threshold is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of GRS.

Below the table, add an important guidance note about the relationship between GRS and RCS certification.

Add a bolded label Guidance Note: followed by this text: GRS certification does not automatically include RCS certification. However, you can add RCS to an existing GRS certification by contacting your certification body. Typically, another audit is not necessary because the requirements of the RCS are covered by GRS. The best option is to request certification to the GRS and RCS at the same time.
Also note that GRS input can be used as RCS input (since GRS is more stringent), but RCS input cannot be used as GRS input.

Save your document by pressing Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows).
Scroll through Section 3. You should see a formatted table with 3 columns and 8 rows (including the header), followed by the guidance note about GRS and RCS certification.

Format the table header row

Select the first row of the table and apply bold formatting to make the column headers stand out. You can also apply a shaded fill to the header row by right-clicking, selecting Table Properties, or using the Table Design tab that appears when the table is selected.

Table not aligning properly?

If the columns are uneven, select the entire table, then right-click and choose Distribute Columns Evenly. Make sure the first column (Comparison Dimension) is slightly wider than the other two so the labels are easy to read.

Need help formatting my table?

Add a decision guide for choosing between standards

The comparison table shows the raw differences, but readers also need practical guidance on which standard fits their situation. A short decision guide translates the data into actionable recommendations.

Below the guidance note in Section 3, add a Heading 2 subsection titled Which Standard to Choose.
Write a paragraph recommending GRS when glove products contain 50% or more recycled content and the manufacturer wants consumer-facing labeling with full sustainability assurance (social, environmental, and chemical compliance).
Write a second paragraph recommending RCS when products have lower recycled content (5% to 49%) or when the manufacturer only needs recycled content verification without broader social and environmental compliance.
Add a final note: GRS input can be used as RCS input, but not the reverse. This means a manufacturer with GRS certification can easily sell into supply chains that require either standard.

Why does the direction of input matter?

Because GRS is a more stringent standard than RCS, GRS-certified material automatically meets the RCS requirements. A buyer asking for RCS-certified material can accept GRS-certified material instead.

The reverse is not true. RCS does not verify social, environmental, or chemical compliance, so RCS-certified material cannot be sold as GRS-certified.

Save your document.
Update the Table of Contents by clicking into the TOC area, then clicking Update Table. Select Update entire table to pick up the new Which Standard to Choose subsection.
Verify that the Table of Contents now shows Sections 1, 2, and 3 with the new subsection listed under Section 3.

Subsection not appearing in the Table of Contents?

Make sure your Which Standard to Choose heading uses the Heading 2 style from the Styles group on the Home tab. The Table of Contents only picks up text formatted with heading styles, not manually bolded text.

My subsection heading isn't showing in the TOC. Help?

✔️ Awesome, I've got everything!

Great. Double check that you have saved your document with all three sections complete and the Table of Contents updated.

ⓧ I'd like to double check my sections

Here is a checklist of everything that should be in your document at this point:

Section 1 (Introduction and Purpose): A paragraph stating the document provides a comprehensive reference for GRS and RCS certification applied to glove products.
Section 2 (Standards Overview): GRS described as a full product standard (GRS-101 V4.0) covering recycled content, chain of custody, social, environmental, and chemical requirements. RCS described as covering recycled content and chain of custody only. Both administered by Textile Exchange. Both use ISO 14021 definition of recycled content. Both require certification at every supply chain stage.
Section 3 (GRS vs RCS Comparison): A 3-column comparison table with 7 data rows. Guidance note about GRS not automatically including RCS. A Which Standard to Choose subsection with recommendations for GRS (50%+ recycled content, full sustainability assurance) and RCS (5%-49% recycled content, recycled content verification only).
Table of Contents: Updated to reflect all sections including the Which Standard to Choose subsection.
Sections 4-9: Still placeholder headings only.

Your guide now has a solid foundation of standards knowledge. Anyone reading Sections 1 through 3 can understand what GRS and RCS are, see exactly how they compare, and decide which standard fits their situation. Next up, you'll translate these abstract thresholds into concrete glove product examples.

Document Recycled Content Thresholds and Glove-Specific Applications

Your comparison framework gives readers a clear picture of how GRS and RCS differ at a high level.

Now it is time to translate those abstract standards into concrete numbers and real-world glove scenarios. In this step, you will build reference tables that a glove manufacturer can use to quickly check which certification path fits their product.

In this step, get ready to:

Build a labeling rules reference matrix covering RCS Blended, RCS 100, and GRS certification paths.
Create a table of real-world glove compositions that qualify for GRS certification.
Document common recycled materials and their classification rules for glove manufacturing.

Build the labeling rules reference matrix

Each certification path has different minimum thresholds, labeling requirements, and blending rules. A reference matrix puts all three paths side by side so readers can compare them at a glance.

Scroll to the Section 4: Recycled Content Thresholds and Labeling placeholder heading in your document.
Below the heading, type a brief introductory sentence explaining that this section defines the recycled content thresholds and labeling requirements for each certification path under GRS and RCS.

Create a new table by clicking Insert in the ribbon.
Click Table.
Select a 4-column by 4-row grid (one header row plus three data rows).

Fill in the header row with these four column labels: Certification Path, Minimum Recycled Content, Consumer-Facing Labeling Threshold, Blending Allowed.
In Row 1, enter: RCS Blended, 5%, 5%, Yes.
In Row 2, enter: RCS 100, 20%, 95%, No.
In Row 3, enter: GRS, 20% (B2B certification), 50% (consumer-facing labeling), Yes.

Why does GRS have two different thresholds?

GRS allows products with at least 20% recycled content to carry B2B certification. This means the product can be sold between businesses as GRS-certified.

However, if a manufacturer wants to use consumer-facing labeling (hangtags, sewn-in labels, or website claims), the product must contain at least 50% recycled content. This higher bar protects consumers from misleading claims on low-recycled-content products.

Below the table, add a paragraph with this critical note: "You can use the GRS as a business-to-business tool for any products that contain at least 20% recycled content, but if you want to use consumer-facing labeling, the product must contain at least 50% recycled content."
Add a second paragraph about component claims. Explain that for gloves, a specific component (such as the shell fabric) can carry a certification claim if that component meets the minimum certified material input requirement. The minimum content percentages are based on the overall weight of certified components in the product, excluding trims or accessories unless they are also certified.

What are component claims?

A glove manufacturer does not need the entire glove to meet the recycled content threshold. If a specific component like the shell fabric meets the minimum on its own, that component can carry the certification claim.

This is especially useful for gloves where different layers serve different functions. The outer shell might use certified recycled yarn while the inner lining or coating uses conventional materials.

Save your document by pressing Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows).
Scroll through Section 4 to confirm it contains a four-row labeling matrix with thresholds for RCS Blended, RCS 100, and GRS, plus the critical B2B vs consumer-facing note and the component claims paragraph below the table.

Table columns not aligning properly?

If your columns are uneven, right-click anywhere inside the table and select AutoFit, then choose AutoFit to Contents. This adjusts each column width to fit the text inside it.

Need help formatting your table?

Create the glove-specific material applications table

Abstract percentages are easier to understand when paired with real products. This section maps actual glove compositions from a certified scope certificate to show what GRS-eligible products look like in practice.

Scroll to the Section 5: Glove-Specific Material Applications placeholder heading.
Below the heading, type an introductory sentence explaining that the following table shows real-world glove material compositions that qualify for GRS certification, sourced from verified scope certificates.

Click Insert in the ribbon.
Click Table.
Select a 3-column by 5-row grid (one header row plus four data rows).

Fill in the header row: Glove Type, Material Composition, GRS Eligible.
In Row 1, enter: Work gloves, 55% recycled pre-consumer cotton + 45% cotton, Yes.
In Row 2, enter: Coated gloves, 51% recycled post-consumer polyester + 2% polyester + 47% latex, Yes.
In Row 3, enter: Winter gloves, 74% recycled post-consumer polyester + 24% polyurethane + 2% polyester, Yes.
In Row 4, enter: Stretch-fit gloves, 60% recycled pre-consumer cotton + 10% recycled post-consumer polyester + 26% other + 4% elastane, Yes.

Below the table, add a note stating that the GRS product category for gloves is Gloves, mittens, hand covering (PD0026) under Worn accessories (PC0012). These codes identify glove products in the GRS classification system.

Why are all four examples GRS eligible?

Each composition contains more than 50% recycled content. This means all four qualify for both B2B certification and consumer-facing labeling under GRS.

Products with 20-49% recycled content would still qualify for B2B GRS certification but could not carry consumer-facing labels. Products with 5-19% recycled content would only qualify under RCS Blended.

Save your document.
Verify that your Section 5 table shows four glove types with their full material composition breakdowns, and the product category code note appears below the table.

Table text wrapping awkwardly in narrow columns?

The Material Composition column holds long text strings. If the text is wrapping too tightly, try switching the page to Landscape orientation for this section, or widen the column by dragging the column border to the right.

Having trouble fitting long composition data into the table?

Add common recycled materials and classification guidance

The composition table tells readers what certified gloves look like. This next subsection explains where those recycled materials come from and how they are classified under the standards.

Below the product category note in Section 5, add a new Heading 3 by selecting the style from the Styles gallery in the Home ribbon.
Title the heading "Common Recycled Materials in Certified Gloves."

Under the new heading, write a paragraph about recycled PET. Explain that recycled PET is sourced from post-consumer plastic bottles and is commonly used for yarn in certified gloves. Mention Watson Gloves' WasteNot yarn as a real-world example of GRS-certified yarn created from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles.
Write a paragraph about recycled pre-consumer cotton. Explain that this material is diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process, before it ever reaches a consumer.
Write a paragraph about recycled post-consumer polyester. Explain that this material is reclaimed from textiles that were used and discarded by end consumers.

What is the difference between pre-consumer and post-consumer material?

Pre-consumer material is waste generated during the manufacturing process that gets diverted from the waste stream. Think of cotton scraps left over from cutting fabric patterns.

Post-consumer material is waste generated by the people who actually used the product. Think of old polyester jackets collected through a take-back program and reclaimed into new fiber.

After the three material paragraphs, add a note that both GRS and RCS use the ISO 14021 definition of recycled content. All recycled materials claimed under either standard must meet this definition.
Add a critical warning paragraph and bold it in your document: waste from spinning processes (blowroom, carding, comber, roving) that is collected and put back into spinning is NOT considered pre-consumer recycled content under either standard.

Why does spinning waste not count as recycled?

Pre-consumer recycled material must be diverted from the waste stream. Spinning process waste that goes right back into the same spinning line was never truly diverted. It is considered standard production reuse, not recycling.

This distinction matters for glove manufacturers who source yarn. If a supplier counts spinning waste as recycled content, the product may not actually meet the minimum threshold for certification.

Save your document.
Scroll through Sections 4 and 5 to confirm Section 4 contains the labeling matrix with critical notes, and Section 5 contains the glove composition table, product category code, and the common recycled materials subsection with the spinning waste exclusion note.

New heading not appearing in the Table of Contents?

Make sure you applied the Heading 3 style from the Styles gallery, not just bold formatting. Then right-click your Table of Contents and select Update Field to refresh it.

Need help updating your Table of Contents?

✔️ Awesome, I've got everything!

Great. Double check that you have saved your document with all changes to Sections 4 and 5.

ⓧ I'd like to double check my sections

Here is a checklist of everything that should be in your document by the end of this step.

Section 4 has an introductory sentence about recycled content thresholds and labeling requirements.
Section 4 has a 4x4 labeling rules reference matrix table with columns for Certification Path, Minimum Recycled Content, Consumer-Facing Labeling Threshold, and Blending Allowed.
The three rows cover RCS Blended (5%, 5%, Yes), RCS 100 (20%, 95%, No), and GRS (20% B2B / 50% consumer-facing, Yes).
Below the table, the critical B2B vs consumer-facing note and the component claims paragraph are in place.
Section 5 has an introductory sentence and a 3x5 glove composition table with four glove types (work, coated, winter, stretch-fit).
Below the table, the product category code note references PD0026 under PC0012.
A Heading 3 subsection titled "Common Recycled Materials in Certified Gloves" covers recycled PET, recycled pre-consumer cotton, and recycled post-consumer polyester.
The ISO 14021 note and the spinning waste exclusion warning are in place at the end of the subsection.

Your guide now translates abstract certification rules into concrete glove product scenarios. Next up, you will build the chain of custody documentation guide that proves these certified products are the real deal.

Build the Chain of Custody and Documentation Guide

Your compliance guide now has detailed recycled content thresholds and glove-specific material compositions. These sections translate abstract certification numbers into concrete product scenarios that manufacturers can reference.

Knowing which standard to choose and what content thresholds to hit is only half the picture. In this step, you will build the documentation backbone that proves recycled content claims at every stage of the supply chain.

In this step, get ready to:

Write a chain of custody overview explaining Scope Certificates and Transaction Certificates.
Create a Transaction Certificate verification checklist table.
Document the records and declarations required for ongoing compliance.

Write the chain of custody overview

Every certified product needs a verifiable paper trail from the recycler to the final business-to-business seller. Textile Exchange manages this through a chain of custody system built on two types of certificates.

Scroll to the Section 6: Chain of Custody and Documentation placeholder heading in your document.
Under the heading, write an introductory paragraph explaining that GRS and RCS certification both require every site in the supply chain that owns or takes physical possession of claimed material to be certified, from the recycler through to the final brand.
Add a Heading 2 subsection titled Key Certificates.
Write a paragraph defining Scope Certificates (SC): these verify that a company is qualified to produce certified products.
Write a second paragraph defining Transaction Certificates (TC): these verify that specific products or shipments are certified to a given standard.
Add a sentence explaining that both certificates work together to verify the full chain of custody.
Add a final paragraph noting that starting January 1, 2024, all organizations seeking certification must register for a Textile Exchange ID (TE-ID). This ID must appear on all Scope Certificates and Transaction Certificates going forward.

Why does every supply chain stage need its own certificate?

A recycled content claim is only as strong as its weakest link. If even one handler between the recycler and the finished glove is uncertified, the chain breaks. The buyer cannot verify that the material was not swapped, diluted, or mislabeled along the way.

Scope Certificates confirm a site can handle certified material. Transaction Certificates confirm each individual shipment actually is certified. Together, they close any gap where uncertified material could sneak in.

Press Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows) to save your document.
Scroll through Section 6 to confirm you have an introductory paragraph, the Key Certificates subsection with SC and TC definitions, and the TE-ID requirement note.

Subsection heading not looking right?

Make sure your Key Certificates line uses the Heading 2 style, not Heading 1. Heading 1 is reserved for the major section titles (Section 6, Section 7, etc.). Select the line, then pick Heading 2 from the Styles gallery on the Home tab.

Need help with formatting?

Create the Transaction Certificate verification checklist

Transaction Certificates are the documents your team will handle most frequently. A single missing or incorrect field can invalidate a shipment's certification claim.

Below the chain of custody overview, add a Heading 2 titled Transaction Certificate Verification Checklist.
Click Insert in the top menu bar.
Click Table, then select a 2-column, 10-row grid.

Set the header row to TC Field in the left column and What to Verify in the right column.
Fill in the table rows with the following verification items, one per row:

Standard Reference — The correct standard (GRS or RCS) is listed at the top of the certificate.
Box 2 (Certification Body) — The certification body listed is accredited.
Box 3 (Supplier) — The supplier is correctly listed.
Box 7 (Buyer) — Your company is listed as the buyer.
Box 8 (Consignee) — The consignee facility is correctly identified.
Box 10 (Product Details) — Product description, material composition, and label grade all match the actual shipment.
Box 14 (Input Fiber Certification) — Input fiber certification references are correct.
Boxes 13/13a/13b (Certified Volume) — Certified volume figures are accurate.
Signature/Stamp/Date — The certificate is signed, stamped, and dated.

What do these box numbers refer to?

The box numbers (Box 2, Box 3, Box 7, etc.) correspond to labeled sections on the official Textile Exchange Transaction Certificate template. Each box captures a specific piece of information about the certified transaction. When your team receives a TC from a supplier, they can use this checklist to walk through the document field by field.

Below the table, add a critical note in bold text stating that a Transaction Certificate does not entitle the buyer or consignee to use the GRS logo. Logo use is governed by the GRS Logo Use and Claims Guide (document GRS-301).

Why call out logo use separately?

A common mistake is assuming that receiving a TC for a shipment grants permission to stamp the GRS logo on your product packaging. It does not. Logo use has its own set of rules in the GRS Logo Use and Claims Guide. Calling this out in your compliance guide prevents your team from making an unauthorized claim.

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Review the table to confirm all nine verification rows are present, each with a TC Field name and a clear description of what to verify.

Table columns not lining up?

If your table looks uneven, right-click the table and select AutoFit, then choose AutoFit to Window. This stretches the table to fill the page width evenly.

Help me format my verification checklist table.

Add the documentation requirements summary

Beyond the certificates themselves, organizations must maintain a set of supporting records to stay audit-ready. This summary gives your guide's readers a single reference for every document they need to keep on file.

Below the TC verification checklist, add a Heading 2 titled Documentation Requirements Summary.
Write an introductory sentence explaining that certified organizations must maintain the following records for audit readiness.
Add a bulleted list in Word covering each of the six documentation requirements below.

Reclaimed Material Declaration Forms (Appendix C): collected at least annually from suppliers, or whenever the reclaimed material source changes.
Legal authorization documents: covering all reclaimed material sources.
Inspection records: for incoming shipments, confirming non-virgin status and whether the material is pre-consumer or post-consumer.
Batch-level recording: pre-consumer and post-consumer percentages recorded separately for each batch at every certified site, then recorded on the Transaction Certificate.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS): one for each chemical substance or mixture used. Each SDS must be current, meaning less than 3 years old.
Social compliance documentation: including policy documents and training records for worker rights and safety.

Why does this list apply to GRS but not fully to RCS?

RCS does not cover social, environmental, or chemical processing requirements. If your organization holds only an RCS certification, the Safety Data Sheets and social compliance documentation items do not apply. The chain of custody records (declaration forms, inspection records, batch-level tracking) still apply to both standards.

After the bulleted list, add a paragraph noting the TC issuance timeline: Transaction Certificates must be issued within 14 calendar days after a valid TC application is completed.
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Scroll through Section 6 from top to bottom. You should see the chain of custody overview with SC and TC definitions, the TE-ID note, the TC verification checklist table with nine rows, the logo use warning, the documentation requirements bulleted list, and the 14-day TC issuance note.

Section 6 feels too long or disorganized?

Make sure each subsection uses a Heading 2 style. The three subsections (Key Certificates, Transaction Certificate Verification Checklist, Documentation Requirements Summary) should each be clearly separated by their own heading. If the section feels dense, check that your introductory paragraphs are short and that the table and bulleted list carry the detail.

Help me organize Section 6 of my compliance guide.

✔️ Awesome, I've got everything!

Great. Double check that you have saved your document before moving on.

ⓧ I'd like to double check Section 6

Your Section 6 should contain the following elements in order:

A Heading 1 title for Section 6: Chain of Custody and Documentation.
An introductory paragraph explaining that every supply chain stage must be certified, from the recycler to the final B2B seller.
A Heading 2 subsection titled Key Certificates, with definitions of Scope Certificates (SC) and Transaction Certificates (TC).
A paragraph noting the TE-ID requirement starting January 1, 2024.
A Heading 2 subsection titled Transaction Certificate Verification Checklist, with a two-column table (TC Field, What to Verify) containing nine rows: Standard Reference, Box 2, Box 3, Box 7, Box 8, Box 10, Box 14, Boxes 13/13a/13b, and Signature/Stamp/Date.
A bold critical note stating that a TC does not entitle the buyer/consignee to use the GRS logo, referencing the GRS Logo Use and Claims Guide.
A Heading 2 subsection titled Documentation Requirements Summary, with a bulleted list of six document types (Reclaimed Material Declaration Forms, legal authorization documents, inspection records, batch-level recording, Safety Data Sheets, social compliance documentation).
A closing note about the 14-calendar-day TC issuance requirement.

Section 6 gives your guide a complete documentation reference that organizations can use day-to-day. Next up, you will create the audit preparation checklist and map out the critical transition to the Materials Matter Standard.

Create the Audit Preparation and Transition Roadmap

Your compliance guide now has a solid chain of custody and documentation section covering Scope Certificates, Transaction Certificates, and required records. Next, you'll tackle the most actionable parts of the guide: audit preparation and the transition to a brand-new standard.

Audits can fail when organizations don't know exactly what documentation to prepare for each compliance area. In this step, you'll create a four-part audit checklist for GRS certification and document the Materials Matter Standard transition timeline that will reshape RCS and GRS certification through 2029.

In this step, get ready to:

Write an audit readiness checklist organized into four GRS compliance areas.
Document the Materials Matter Standard transition timeline and create a Transition Action Plan table.
Build the appendices with a key Textile Exchange document reference table and finalize the guide.

Write the audit preparation checklist

GRS certification audits evaluate organizations across four distinct compliance areas. A clear checklist organized by each area helps organizations gather the right documentation before auditors arrive.

Click on the 7. Audit Preparation placeholder heading in your document.
Below the heading, type an introductory paragraph explaining that GRS audits cover four compliance areas, and that organizations should prepare documentation for each area before the audit.
Add a Heading 2 subsection titled Audit Readiness Checklist.

Now you'll add the four compliance areas. Each area becomes its own subsection with a checklist of required documentation.

Add a Heading 3 titled Section A: General Requirements.
Under Section A, create a bulleted checklist covering: chain of custody documentation, volume reconciliation records, and Transaction Certificate records.
Add a Heading 3 titled Section B: Social Requirements.
Under Section B, add checklist items for: signed compliance documents for GRS Social Principles, policy documents and training records surrounding worker rights and safety, and accepted equivalent social audits.
For the equivalent social audits item, add a sub-list with three criteria. The audit must be conducted against GRS-recognized social principles. The full audit report must be accessible to the GRS inspector. The audit must be conducted by a qualified auditor.
Add a Heading 3 titled Section C: Environmental Requirements.
Under Section C, add checklist items for: Environmental Management System (EMS) documentation, energy and water use records, wastewater and emissions records, and waste management documentation.
Add an item for accepted equivalent environmental audits with a note that the audit must not be older than 12 months at the time of the GRS audit.
Add a Heading 3 titled Section D: Chemical Requirements.
Under Section D, add checklist items for: chemical declaration forms stating compliance with chemical requirements, policy documents and training records related to chemical procedures, and current Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for each substance or mixture used.
Add a note that SDS documents must be current, meaning less than three years old.

What do these four sections cover?

Section A (General) focuses on chain of custody paperwork. This is the foundation every certified organization needs. Sections B, C, and D add social, environmental, and chemical compliance layers that make GRS more rigorous than RCS.

The chemical restrictions in Section D are aligned with the ZDHC MRSL and REACH SVHC lists. This means organizations must track every chemical substance they use and maintain current Safety Data Sheets.

One final addition is needed to clarify the difference between GRS and RCS audits.

Below the Section D checklist, add a highlighted note (you can use Word's text highlighting or a bordered text box) stating: "For RCS audits, only Section A (General) applies. RCS does not cover social, environmental, or chemical processing requirements."
Save your document by pressing Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows).

Why call out the RCS difference?

RCS only verifies recycled content and chain of custody. It does not include social, environmental, or chemical requirements. Organizations seeking RCS certification only need the Section A documentation, which significantly reduces their audit preparation workload.

Scroll through Section 7 and confirm you have four subsections (A through D), each with a documentation checklist, and a note about RCS at the end.

Build the Materials Matter Standard transition timeline

The Materials Matter Standard is replacing both GRS and RCS over the next few years. Any compliance guide written today must cover this transition so organizations can plan ahead.

Click on the 8. Materials Matter Standard Transition placeholder heading in your document.
Below the heading, type an introductory paragraph explaining that Textile Exchange published the Materials Matter Standard (TE-MM-STN-101-V1.0) on December 12, 2025, and that it will supersede both GRS and RCS.
Add a Heading 2 subsection titled Transition Timeline.

Now create a bulleted timeline with each milestone. These dates come directly from the Materials Matter Transition Policy (TE-MM-POL-102-V1.0).

Add the following milestones as a formatted list. December 12, 2025: Materials Matter Standard (TE-MM-STN-101-V1.0) published.
December 31, 2026: Materials Matter Standard becomes effective. Audits may begin under the new standard if the certification body is licensed.
December 31, 2027: Materials Matter Standard becomes mandatory. All Tier 4 audits must be conducted under the new standard. It supersedes GRS-101-V4.0 and RCS-101-V2.0.
June 30, 2029: All claims and labels must be to the Materials Matter Standard.
March 31, 2029: All remaining GRS and RCS scope certificates are withdrawn. No recertification including these standards is possible after this date.

What happens to RCS-only organizations?

RCS certified organizations who do not plan to transition to the Materials Matter Standard will not be eligible for an RCS audit after the mandatory date. They will cease being certified when their current scope certificate expires. Any remaining RCS scope certificates will be withdrawn on March 31, 2029.

Add a Heading 2 subsection titled Transition Action Plan.
Insert a table by clicking Insert in the top menu bar, then clicking Table.
Create a table with 3 columns: Target Date, Recommended Action, and Priority.
Add rows for each major milestone. For example: "Now" with action "Review the Materials Matter Standard and mapping document (TE-MM-GUI-102)" and priority "High."
Include a row for "Before December 31, 2026" with action "Conduct a gap analysis between current GRS/RCS certification and Materials Matter requirements" and priority "High."
Include a row for "Before December 31, 2027" with action "Complete first audit under the Materials Matter Standard" and priority "Critical."
Include a row for "Before June 30, 2029" with action "Update all product claims and labels to Materials Matter" and priority "High."
Add any additional action rows you feel would be useful for your audience.

What about scope certificate validity?

Under the Materials Matter Standard, Tier 4 scope certificates have a 3-year validity period. Tiers 0 through 3 have a 1-year validity period. This is important for organizations planning their recertification schedule during the transition.

Save your document by pressing Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows).

Scroll through Section 8 and confirm you have the timeline list with all five milestone dates and the Transition Action Plan table.

Complete the appendices and finalize the document

The appendices give readers a single reference point for finding all the official Textile Exchange documents referenced throughout the guide.

Click on the 9. Appendices placeholder heading in your document.
Add a Heading 2 subsection titled Appendix A: Key Textile Exchange Documents.
Insert a table by clicking Insert in the top menu bar, then clicking Table.
Create a table with 2 columns: Document Code and Document Title.

Now populate the table with all the key documents. Add one row per document.

Add a row with code GRS-101 and title "Global Recycled Standard V4.0."
Add a row with code GRS-102 and title "GRS Certification Procedures V4.0."
Add a row with code GRS-201 and title "GRS User Manual."
Add a row with code GRS-301 and title "GRS Logo Use and Claims Guide."
Add a row with code RCS-101 and title "Recycled Claim Standard V2.0."
Add a row with code CCS-101 and title "Content Claim Standard."
Add a row with code ASR-101 and title "Accreditation and Certification Procedures."
Add a row with code TE-101 and title "Terms and Definitions."
Add a row with code TE-MM-STN-101 and title "Materials Matter Standard V1.0."
Add a row with code TE-MM-POL-102 and title "Materials Matter Transition Policy V1.0."
Add a row with code TE-MM-GUI-102 and title "Mapping Current Standards to Materials Matter."

Where can readers find these documents?

All of these documents are published by Textile Exchange and available through their knowledge center. Add a note below the table pointing readers to textileexchange.org to access the latest versions.

Below the reference table, add a paragraph stating that all documents can be accessed through the Textile Exchange website at textileexchange.org.

The last task is to update the Table of Contents so it reflects all nine completed sections.

Scroll to the top of your document and click anywhere inside the Table of Contents.
Click Update Table (or right-click the TOC and select Update Field).
Select Update entire table to capture all new headings and subsections.
Save your document by pressing Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows).

Your Table of Contents should now show all nine sections, including subsections for the Audit Readiness Checklist, Transition Timeline, Transition Action Plan, and Appendix A.

Table of Contents not showing new sections?

Make sure you applied the correct heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3) to your section and subsection titles. The automatic Table of Contents only picks up text formatted with Word's built-in heading styles, not manually bolded or enlarged text.

To check, click on a heading that is missing from the TOC. Look at the Styles group on the Home tab. The correct heading style should be highlighted. If it shows "Normal" instead, reapply the appropriate heading style.

Still stuck? My Table of Contents is not updating to show all my sections after I click Update Table. How do I fix this?

Secret mission

Build a Supplier Verification Protocol

Your compliance guide covers what the standards require. But how do you verify that each supplier in your chain of custody actually meets those requirements? Build an original Supplier Verification Protocol with a ready-to-use assessment questionnaire and scoring matrix.

Clean Up Your Resources

This project runs entirely on your local machine using Microsoft Word. There are no cloud resources or ongoing costs.

Decide whether to keep your document for future reference, or delete it entirely.

Resources you used:

GRS_RCS_Compliance_Guide.docx Word document (local file).

Keep everything running

No action needed. Choose this if you plan to use the compliance guide as a working reference document or want to continue refining it.

Your GRS_RCS_Compliance_Guide.docx file stays saved on your computer wherever you saved it.
Consider backing it up to a cloud storage service for safekeeping.

Pause - I'll come back to this later

Since this is a local Word document with no running processes, there is nothing to pause. Your file stays safely on disk until you need it.

Make sure the document is saved by pressing Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows).
Close Microsoft Word. You can reopen the file anytime to pick up where you left off.

Delete - I don't want to use this again

Remove the compliance guide document from your computer entirely.

Close GRS_RCS_Compliance_Guide.docx if it is still open in Microsoft Word.
Open Finder (macOS) or File Explorer (Windows) and navigate to where you saved the document.
Right-click GRS_RCS_Compliance_Guide.docx and select Move to Trash (macOS) or Delete (Windows).
Empty your Trash (macOS) or Recycle Bin (Windows) to permanently remove the file.

Nice Work!

Nice work! You just built a professional-grade GRS/RCS Certification Compliance Guide tailored to glove products, turning complex international standards into a clear, actionable business reference document.

You've learned how to:

Build a structured compliance guide with a detailed GRS vs RCS comparison framework covering scope, recycled content thresholds, labeling rules, and glove-specific material applications with real-world certified compositions.
Create a chain of custody documentation guide covering Scope Certificates, Transaction Certificates, and a four-section audit preparation checklist spanning General, Social, Environmental, and Chemical compliance areas.
Document the Materials Matter Standard transition timeline from December 2025 publication through March 2029 certificate withdrawal, with an actionable transition plan for certified organizations.
Secret Mission: Developed an original Supplier Verification Protocol with an assessment questionnaire, scoring matrix, and red flags guide.

Ready to quiz yourself?