For dried flower exporters in Southeast Asia looking to sell on Alibaba.com and access premium international markets, understanding GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification has become increasingly important. This certification, originally developed for textiles, now applies to any product containing recycled materials—including packaging for agricultural exports like dried flowers, herbs, and botanical products.
GRS Certification Thresholds Explained
The Global Recycled Standard operates on a tiered system that many exporters find confusing at first. Here's what you need to know:
- 20% recycled content minimum: Products can be GRS certified and used for B2B documentation, but cannot carry the consumer-facing GRS label
- 50% recycled content minimum: Required for products that will display the GRS logo to end consumers
- 100% chain of custody: All suppliers in the production chain must also be GRS certified, from raw material recyclers to final packaging manufacturers [1]
Why GRS Matters for Dried Flower Exports
While dried flowers themselves are natural products, their packaging often represents the largest environmental footprint in the export supply chain. European and North American buyers increasingly require proof of sustainable packaging practices. GRS certification provides third-party verification that your packaging contains verified recycled content and meets social and environmental standards throughout the supply chain.
Major certification bodies offering GRS audits include Textile Exchange (standard owner), SCS Global Services, Ecocert, and Intertek. Each follows the same GRS standard but may differ in pricing, audit frequency, and regional availability [1][5][6].
Nothing will change significantly until either the Money part sorts out, or legislation sets strict boundaries (EU?) for the use of more expensive but environmental friendly materials. [7]
