Q: How does GRS certification work for recycled zippers?
Recycled zippers are usually handled under a chain-of-custody standard, and the key document is a transaction certificate that links a specific shipment to certified recycled content. The certificate is not a property of the zipper in general; it covers a quantity and a date. Ask the supplier for the scope certificate of the production site and for the transaction certificate for your order, and check that the product category and the material match. Check the percentage of recycled content declared and how it is calculated. The tape, the teeth and the slider may have different inputs, so ask which parts are covered. Keep the certificates with the invoice and the packing list, because a buyer's audit will ask for the link. Confirm the lead time for issuing the transaction certificate, since it may come after shipment. If the certificate cannot be provided for the specific lot, the claim of recycled content is not supported.