Recycled Content Verification
Suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers are increasingly challenged to ensure that environmental and sustainable claims of their products are meeting consumer demand for transparency and authenticity.
Today’s consumer are knowledgeable and wary of misleading sustainability claims or “eco-claims” that are reported on products and packaging, sometimes referred to as greenwashing. Intertek’s Verified Recycled Content program supports suppliers and manufacturers validate and communicate the pre-consumer and/or post-consumer recycled content in their material, product or package in accordance with global labelling standards.
Certification
Intertek’s Verified Recycled Content program includes an evaluation report, certificate and the use of an Intertek Sustainability Certification mark that can be used on products and packaging and will help you to effectively market your recycled content claim to your customers.
Benefits
There are several benefits to verifying your recycled content verification, such as:
- Demonstrating leadership in reducing reliance on virgin materials and resources,
- Satisfying procurement requirements and customer expectations for sustainable products,
- Meet global regulatory requirements for environmental labelling and “eco-claims”,
- Meet consumer demand for greater transparency,
- Contribute to LEED® points (or other building programs),
- Differentiate your product with certification from an independent third party.
Process
The verification process involves several steps with the Intertek team:
- Data Collections and Analysis: Intertek helps you assemble your data and documentation required for our review. This includes information about manufacturing, processes, and chain of custody procedures for materials to determine if conformance is achieved as well as the nature of your claim.
- Evaluation: The Intertek evaluator writes a draft assessment report that details the findings of the review, 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.
- Onsite Inspection: The evaluator uses a risk-based approach to determine if an onsite inspection is required based on the data and documentation collected in step 1. If it is needed, the onsite inspection may be recommended prior to granting certification.
- Technical Review: The Intertek Program Manager reviews the evaluation and report, which is then sent to you for review and comment, prior to certification.
- Certification Decision: If the requirements of the verification are met, Intertek issues the final report, certificate(s), and certification mark. Once certified, your company and products are listed on the Intertek Sustainability Certification Directory.
- Certification Maintenance: Certification is valid for 3 years provided there are no changes to materials, suppliers, processes, etc. Intertek’s Certification Manager will send a brief survey each year to confirm that no changes have occurred.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Intertek certification mark enables you to confidently showcase your sustainability efforts to your consumer. This provides you with a distinct advantage in busy and competitive marketplace for products demonstrating environmentally beneficial qualities. Including recycled content in the manufacture of your product, not only speaks to the efficiencies and integrity of your supply chain, it also speaks to the commitment you’ve made to environmental stewardship.
Yes, many clients have multiple production facilities. Information and documentation will be required from each facility involved in production.
Yes, you can get the final product verified. For e.g. a pulp supplier has their pulp recycled content verified and now the paper manufacturer would like the paper to be verified and the use of certification. We will use supplier certifications as evidence of compliance with the Intertek Verified Recycled Content program.
No changes can be made to the words on the certification mark. For other details, please refer to our label usage guidelines.
There are some circumstances where recycled material generated within your own facility can be certified. Intertek recommends contacting the Sustainability Program Manager for specifics.
There is no commercially available test to determine the recycle content percentage in any material or products. To determine recycled content, Intertek performs a mass balance calculation on the overall product weight to determine the recycle content percentage in a product which is supported by documentation from suppliers and/or site inspection conducted by Intertek
This program will authenticate finished product recycled content claims to classify materials using definitions consistent with ISO 14021: 2016 Environmental labels and declarations – Self-declared environmental claims.
