How to Source Genuine GRS-Certified Swimwear

A technical, actionable, and verification-focused guide for buyers, brands, and sourcing managers.

Sustainable swimwear is becoming mainstream—but so is greenwashing. Many products claim to use recycled materials, yet only a portion meet the rigorous requirements set by Textile Exchange’s Global Recycled Standard (GRS). This guide gives you a verifiable, audit-ready process to identify genuine GRS-certified swimwear and avoid misleading claims.

How this guide fits in:
This article focuses specifically on GRS verification and compliance at the supplier and product level. For a broader, end-to-end framework covering sustainable materials, cost structures, certifications, EU/UK compliance, and long-term sourcing strategy, refer to our core pillar guide:
→ The Ultimate B2B Guide to Sustainable Swimwear

Key Takeaways

• GRS certification requires a minimum of 50% recycled content for a product to carry the GRS logo; 20% is only the minimum for material-level certification, not for logo use.

• Only Certified Organizations (Certification Bodies, CBs) accredited by Textile Exchange—including Control Union, SGS, Intertek, and TÜV Rheinland—are permitted to issue GRS certificates.

• GRS claims must be supported by valid Scope Certificates (SCs) and Transaction Certificates (TCs); marketing claims alone are not acceptable.

• Every processing stage must be certified—from recycling, to yarn, to fabric, to garment manufacturing—to qualify as a GRS product.

• Always cross-verify certificates via Textile Exchange’s public database to ensure authenticity.

• A supplier without TC capability cannot legally offer GRS-labeled products.

1. Understanding GRS Certification

What Is GRS?

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary standard developed by Textile Exchange to ensure the accuracy of recycled material claims and integrity of the entire production chain.

What Does GRS Cover?

GRS focuses on four key areas:

• Recycled Content Verification (validated according to ISO 14021)

• Chain of Custody (based on Textile Exchange’s Content Claim Standard, CCS)

• Environmental Requirements (chemical restrictions, wastewater, energy, emissions)

• Social Requirements (worker health, safety, and labor rights)

GRS Thresholds (Important)

The difference between material-level certification and product-level logo use is critical:

This distinction is essential and often misunderstood in marketing content.

2. Why GRS Matters for Swimwear

Swimwear fabrics like recycled nylon and polyester have significant environmental impact due to energy-intensive extrusion and dyeing. Choosing GRS-certified fabrics ensures:

• Verified recycled raw materials (post-consumer or post-industrial)

• Reduced chemical hazards (aligned with advanced chemical management frameworks such as ZDHC)

• Traceable supply chain from recycler to finished garment

• Independent oversight by accredited certifying bodies

• Lower risk of false or exaggerated sustainability claims

For brands building sustainable swimwear collections, GRS is a core tool to demonstrate credible environmental responsibility.

3. GRS vs. Other Sustainability Certifications

GRS is often seen alongside other textile certifications. Each covers different aspects of sustainability:

For recycled swimwear, GRS is the only standard in this group that simultaneously verifies recycled content and full supply-chain traceability.

4. How to Verify GRS Certification

Step 1 – Request the Correct Documents

A legitimate GRS claim must be backed by specific, valid documentation.

A. Scope Certificate (SC)

The Scope Certificate is issued to a production facility (spinner, knitter, dyer, printer, or garment maker). It confirms that the site is certified to handle GRS materials.

An SC typically includes:

• Facility name and address

• Standard (GRS)

• Certified product categories

• Validity dates

• Certifying Body (CB) name and logo

A factory cannot issue a GRS Transaction Certificate unless its Scope Certificate is valid and active.

B. Transaction Certificate (TC) – Required for Every Order

The Transaction Certificate is the only document that verifies your specific shipment contains GRS-certified material. It links certified inputs to a particular batch or order.

A valid TC includes:

• TC number and date

• Buyer and seller names and addresses

• Product descriptions and quantities

• Material composition (including % recycled content)

• Lot or batch numbers

• Referenced SC numbers

• Certifying Body (CB) signature and stamp

If your supplier refuses or is unable to issue a TC, the goods cannot legally be sold or labeled as GRS-certified.

Step 2 – Cross-Verify on Textile Exchange’s Database

To confirm authenticity, always cross-check certificates against Textile Exchange’s public directory:

1. Visit the official Textile Exchange certificate database.

2. Search by certificate number (SC or TC).

3. Confirm the company name, address, and standard match the document you received.

4. Check that the certificate status is active and not expired.

5. Verify the Certifying Body (e.g., Control Union, SGS, Intertek, TÜV Rheinland) is accredited.

Any mismatch in name, address, or validity dates is a serious red flag.

Step 3 – Confirm Logo & Labeling Rules

Only license holders with product-level certification (≥50% recycled content and a valid TC) are allowed to use the GRS logo on products or marketing materials.

Correct labeling must follow Textile Exchange’s policy:

• The logo must not be altered or distorted.

• The name of the Certifying Body must appear in connection with the GRS claim.

• The label must correspond to the certified product group identified in the certificate.

• Trims and accessories must also be certified or clearly excluded from the claim.

Self-designed icons or badges that resemble the GRS logo but are not authorized are non-compliant and misleading.

5. Identifying Misleading or Non-Compliant Claims

Common Greenwashing Patterns

While many brands genuinely pursue sustainability, others rely on vague or incomplete messaging. Watch for these patterns:

• Using terms like “eco-friendly” or “green” without any reference to certified standards or verifiable metrics.

• Claiming “GRS materials” based on 20% recycled content but displaying the GRS logo (logo requires ≥50%).

• Providing only a factory Scope Certificate but refusing to share order-specific Transaction Certificates.

• Highlighting one small recycled component instead of the overall composition of the garment.

• Listing certificates from organizations that are not recognized Textile Exchange Certification Bodies.

Red Flags to Watch For

These signals should prompt deeper scrutiny or a change of supplier:

• Blurry, partially cropped, or unsigned certificates.

• TCs with missing or inconsistent information (e.g., wrong addresses, incomplete product descriptions).

• Company name on the certificate does not match the supplier’s legal entity name.

• Expired SC or TC dates, or certificates that have been revoked.

• Non-responsive or evasive answers when you ask about TCs or supply-chain traceability.

If any of these appear, treat the sustainability claims as unreliable until proven otherwise.

6. How to Source From Verified GRS Suppliers

A. Ask the Right Questions

Structured questions help you quickly filter out non-compliant suppliers:

• “Can you share your current GRS Scope Certificate (SC) and its validity date?”

• “Which Certification Body (CB) issued your GRS certificate?”

• “Are you able to issue a GRS Transaction Certificate (TC) for each shipment we place?”

• “Which stages of your supply chain are GRS certified (recycling, yarn, knitting/weaving, dyeing, garment)?”

• “Can you share sample TCs or test reports from previous orders?”

A certified supplier will understand these questions and respond confidently, often with documentation ready.

B. Required Supplier Capabilities

A compliant GRS supplier should be able to demonstrate that they:

• Hold a valid, active GRS Scope Certificate.

• Maintain chain-of-custody documentation in line with the Content Claim Standard (CCS).

• Issue Transaction Certificates via an accredited Certification Body for each shipment.

• Use certified inputs across all relevant stages: yarn, fabric, dyeing, printing, and garment manufacturing.

• Pass regular audits and address Corrective Action Requests within required timelines.

If any critical stage in the chain is not certified, the final product cannot be marketed as GRS-certified.

C. Your GRS Sourcing Checklist

Use this checklist to minimize compliance risk and maintain full traceability:

• ☐ Verify the supplier’s Scope Certificate in the Textile Exchange database.

• ☐ Confirm that your product composition meets the ≥50% threshold for logo use.

• ☐ Require a Transaction Certificate for every GRS-labeled shipment.

• ☐ Check that trims and accessories are either certified or clearly excluded in claims.

• ☐ Request physical samples and compare them with the TC product descriptions.

• ☐ Validate the Certification Body’s accreditation.

• ☐ Review chemical management and wastewater documentation where available.

• ☐ Keep internal records (emails, TCs, SCs, inspection reports) for audit readiness.

7. Evaluating Brand Transparency & Integrity

Key Transparency Indicators

Beyond certificates, a brand’s communication and documentation practices signal its true level of responsibility.

Brands that proactively share this level of detail show genuine commitment instead of relying on vague green claims.

8. Final Summary: Ensuring Your Swimwear Is Truly GRS-Certified

To ensure your swimwear is genuinely GRS-certified, focus on verification, not just marketing language.

Always Verify:

• The supplier has a valid, active Scope Certificate.

• Each critical production stage in the supply chain is GRS certified.

• Your specific shipment is covered by a Transaction Certificate.

• The GRS logo and claims are used legally and correctly (only at ≥50% recycled content).

• Certificate details (names, addresses, dates) match Textile Exchange records.

When these conditions are met, you can be confident that the swimwear meets high standards of recycled content, environmental responsibility, and supply-chain integrity.

Done right, GRS is more than a logo—it is a full system of traceability and accountability that protects your brand and your customers.

You can adapt this guide for internal sourcing manuals, brand training, or customer-facing sustainability pages to reinforce transparency and trust.