August 19, 2024 ,

The Recycled Material Standard Announces Standard Updates and Revisions

Approval of International Market and Developmental Criteria Pilot Certification

The Recycled Material Standard (RMS) is expanding its certification scope for pilot testing in developmental criteria and international markets. 

In line with the ISEAL Code of Good practice, the RMS intends to conduct pilot audits to assess ideal criteria for fully expanding the scope of certification. To support requirements in US EPR policies, developmental criteria will also focus on the development of a holistic Responsible End Market Certification. The RMS will also conduct pilot certification audits to gather essential feedback and education, ensuring the development of practical yet rigorous criteria for traceability and responsibility. 

The temporary expansion was approved by the RMS Advisory Committee. International certification and developmental criteria evaluation will be conducted on a temporary basis, with permanent adoption in Q1 2025 after standard revisions are published and reviewed through the appropriate stakeholder and public comment periods.

The RMS welcomes new participants and certification bodies in markets outside of North America to apply for accreditation as part of our international expansion. The RMS team will work with CBs and auditors to assess additional audit criteria based on geography and participant operations. 

Approval of Rule Revision Request: Multi-Site Mass Balance Minimum Input

As defined in the RMS Standards Maintenance Policy, certified participants and stakeholders may request revisions to RMS rules and standard clauses. 

A participant recently submitted an official request to review and remove the minimum facility input requirements for multi-site mass balance as defined in the RMS Framework 6.4.5.9(b). After consideration by the RMS Advisory Committee, the request was approved, and the minimum 10% certified input requirement has been removed. 

This allows facilities included in a multi-site certificate to make RMS mass balance output claims on materials without physically transferring certified inputs to that site. All other requirements for mass balance accounting remain the same for multi-site certificates. Mass Balance cannot be conducted across product groups, and the accounting balance for each product group using mass balance must remain positive, accounting for system losses.

 This update will be reflected in a full standard revision, open to stakeholder and public comment, in Q1 2025.

For questions, please contact rms@greenblue.org