This reference is for brands, suppliers, and page owners working with recycled-material claims under GRS or RCS. It explains the Materials Matter Standard (MMS) transition published by Textile Exchange and how to connect certificates, supply-chain records, and product-page wording. It does not mean that every GRS or RCS certificate expires on one date, and it does not replace the certification body’s decision for a particular organization or certificate.
1. Separate the three objects
Standard and audit: MMS is a new standard system published by Textile Exchange. Its first edition includes materials in the existing Responsible Animal Fiber framework, such as wool, alpaca, and mohair, and recycled materials currently covered by GRS and RCS. Organic Content Standard (OCS) follows a separate gradual transition pathway and should not be folded into the GRS/RCS conclusion here.
Certificates and chain of custody: The status of an existing GRS or RCS certificate must be checked against the certificate, applicable standard, supply-chain tier, and certification-body arrangements. A Scope Certificate, Transaction Certificate, inventory record, or batch record answers a different question; one document cannot replace the whole evidence chain.
Claims and labels: Wording and labels on websites, packaging, hangtags, and other materials follow their own transition rules. The standard effective date, the Tier 4 audit date, and the claims-and-labels date are different milestones.
2. The published transition timeline
| Date | Published milestone | Review focus |
|---|---|---|
| December 12, 2025 | The final MMS and Claims and Labeling Policy were published. | Use the final documents, not a pilot version or training deck. |
| December 31, 2026 | MMS becomes effective; eligible organizations may begin MMS audits or continue under current standards during the transition. | Ask the certification body about tier, scope, eligibility, and scheduling. |
| December 31, 2027 | Tier 4 audits from this date forward must use MMS. | Apply this to affected Tier 4 organizations and the next audit; do not turn it into a universal certificate-expiry date. |
| June 30, 2029 | New claims and labels must transition to the MMS policy. | Review websites, packaging, hangtags, and claims or artwork awaiting approval. |
3. Build an evidence map
Organize records by organization, site, supply-chain tier, material, product or batch, and proposed claim. Keep the current Scope Certificate, applicable Transaction Certificate or transaction record, supplier and processing-site details, material composition or batch linkage, inventory status, and proposed page or label wording. Record the version, validity, and source of each document. When the scope does not match, return to the certification body or certificate system for confirmation.
Do not write that an in-date GRS/RCS certificate means every old page claim can continue indefinitely. Do not turn the MMS transition dates into a conclusion that Amazon CPF will automatically accept, retain, or remove a page label. CPF or another platform program requires a separate check of the applicable platform rules, submission flow, and product-level requirements.
4. Four checks before changing a page
- Identify the organization’s supply-chain tier; do not apply a Tier 4 rule directly to Tiers 1–3.
- Match product and batch records to certificate scope, transaction records, materials, and quantities.
- Break each page claim into a verifiable material, processing, or supply-chain attribute and confirm the permitted name and label use.
- Save formal answers from the certification body, Textile Exchange, or the platform. Keep unverified items marked for confirmation instead of presenting them as guaranteed outcomes.
5. Sources and limits
This page is based on Textile Exchange’s Materials Matter Standard, Transition Policy, Claims and Labeling resources, and related FAQs, checked on August 23, 2026. Certificate applicability, audit arrangements, and claim approval must be confirmed against the current official documents and the certification body’s instructions. Greenark (Shenzhen) Certification Co., Ltd. provides evidence-organization and review guidance only; it does not promise certification results, platform display, or processing time.
