About RMS

The Recycled Material Standard

RMS Program Documentation

The Recycled Material Standard is the core of the RMS Program. The standards have been developed through a multi-stakeholder consensus process, focusing on clear rules, definitions, and guidelines to create an even playing field among competitors and a strong assurance mechanism for brands and consumers. Certified participants will play a key role in advancing the use of recycled materials.

The RMS Framework, Plastic Module, Plastic Material Classification, Label and Trademark Guidelines, and other supporting policies and resources are available for download below. We encourage interested parties to sign up here for updates and announcements as additional resources are published.

Standards & Guidance
- The RMS Framework
  The Recycled Material Standard (RMS) Framework provides the core set of criteria for certification to the RMS for any material sector. The Material Modules are intended to supplement the Framework with additional material-specific criteria, definitions, and examples.
- The RMS Plastics Module
  This Module applies to plastic-based material intended to be certified to the Recycled Material Standard. The requirements contained in this Module shall be considered binding and necessary for RMS certification of plastic-based materials.
- The RMS Plastic Material Classification
  For the purposes of certification and chain of custody in accordance with the RMS, all plastic-based materials shall be classified according to the categories presented in the RMS Plastic Material Classification. This document is subject to change as participants make requests for material designations.
- The RMS Label and Trademark Guidelines
  The RMS plays a critical role in advancing the use of recycled materials. Companies that support these efforts will be eligible to use labels to identify products and packages that use recycled materials – or in the case of ARC purchases to demonstrate their support for investments in recycling.
Policies
- RMS Participant Application
- RMS Participant Terms and Conditions
- RMS Good Practice Principles
  The Good Practice Principles serve as a means to maintain the integrity of the RMS Program, ensuring that participating companies are supporting the greater good in key sustainability impact areas. All participating organizations must sign an attestation that they comply with these guiding principles on an annual basis.
- RMS Fee Schedule
  This document describes the fees that apply to program participants that are certified to RMS Standards and/or choose to participate in the certificate trading platform known as the RMS ARC Registry.
- RMS Complaints and Appeals Process
  This document lays out the process for addressing complaints or appeals related to participants that are certified to the Recycled Material Standard (RMS).
- RMS Standards Maintenance
  This document serves as a record of the RMS standards development process and sets forth the policy for the continuous maintenance process.
- RMS Recognition of Other Standards – pending
Certification Body Resources
- RMS Certification Body Application
- RMS Requirements for Certification Bodies
  These requirements have been established to ensure that RMS certification programs are managed in a manner that fosters consistency and impartiality for all participants seeking certification.
- Policy for Accreditation of RMS Certification Bodies
  This document outlines the policy for accreditation of certification bodies to assess conformance with the Recycled Material Standard (RMS).
- RMS Certification Body Agreement
ARC Registry Resources
Additional Resources
- About RMS: Features and Benefits
  This document highlights many of the features and benefits that set the RMS apart from other certification programs.
- About RMS: Attributes of Recycled Content (ARC)
  This document helps readers understand the fundamentals of the RMS’s new environmental commodity. Funding from ARC purchases directly supports investments in North American processing facilities.
- About RMS: Mass Balance
  This document helps readers understand the basic concept of mass balance accounting for recycled materials.
- About RMS: Post-Industrial Plastics
  This document summarizes the importance of post-industrial plastics in a circular economy. With more brands setting targets for reducing reliance on virgin plastics, traceability of post-industrial materials will increasingly play an important role.
- Comparison of Recycled Material Standards
  This document presents a side-by-side evaluation of the RMS compared to other standards.
- Prepare for RMS Certification
  This page explains the steps required to prepare for RMS Certification.
- RMS Accredited Certification Bodies
  This page lists accredited certification bodies meeting the RMS Requirements for Certification Bodies.
- Download the RMS Participant Toolkit
  This will help determine the best fit for your company. Certificates can cover a single site or multiple sites. Small business entities that meet the requirements specified in the RMS Plastics Module may participate in group certification with other companies that conduct similar types of operations. In addition, companies may choose to participate in the chain of custody system, ARC trading, or both.