GreenBlue’s Recycled Material Standard, a third-party certification that ensures the verification and traceability of recycled materials, is seeking volunteers for a Paper Technical Development Committee. The Committee will create a fully integrated, paper-specific recycling certification module that holistically assesses the chain of custody for recycled paper.
As a project of the environmental nonprofit GreenBlue, the team behind The Recycled Material Standard understands that a diverse balance of stakeholders is critical for establishing a strong, unbiased module. That’s why The Recycled Material Standard is seeking volunteers from across paper manufacturing supply chains as well as professionals from government, academia, and NGOs across regions.
To get involved with the new Paper Technical Development Committee, please contact [email protected].
The Committee’s Goal: Creating a Fully Integrated Tracing Methodology for Recycled Paper Materials
Even though recycled fiber has been a critical resource for the paper industry, the value chain has yet to see a fully integrated tracing methodology to support reporting and consumer-facing claims for recycled fibers.
That’s where The Recycled Material Standard — and you — come in. Our industry-leading certification scheme for recycled plastic materials has connected stakeholders across the value chain under one trusted system. Now, we’re excited to build that same bridge for recycled paper materials as we work to make sure that these materials are verified, traceable, and scalable.
“The Recycled Material Standard was designed to unlock true industry potential,” said Recycled Material Standard Director Ross Bergman. “Across all material industries — from plastics to paper — we can do that by reducing the audit burden for our partners and making it easy to account for all potential recycled inputs.”
“One of the most frequent requests I receive from members is for GreenBlue to be more active in the fiber space,” said GreenBlue Executive Director Paul Nowak. “Ross and the RMS team are part of our larger strategy to support these members’ goals. “
By expanding The Recycled Material Standard’s proven certification scheme into paper, the Committee will help to maximize the value and volume of this recycled content, keep waste out of landfills, and reduce unnecessary raw material sourcing.
Your Role on the Paper Technical Development Committee
The current project plan aims to commence the Paper Technical Development Committee in Q2 2025. Members of the Committee can expect to participate in monthly meetings. The Committee will work together to deliver a draft of the new module for public comment by year-end.
Any stakeholder interested in serving on the Committee should contact GreenBlue at [email protected]. Candidates will be asked to submit a statement of interest to participate as well as a resume or CV highlighting relevant work experience.
How Does The Recycled Material Standard Work?
The Recycled Material Standard was created to advance the use of recycled materials by comprehensively verifying the traceability of recycled materials from collection through reprocessing.
The Recycled Material Standard’s certification architecture is modular. This design lets us holistically assess a material’s chain of custody, while adapting for variances across different materials. Because the definition of recycled plastic content is vastly different from the definition of recycled paper or aluminum, our modular framework lets us consider variables like: differing levels of maturity, technical issues, policy requirements, and societal pressures.
The Recycled Material Standard’s certification, while voluntary, can help industry meet the reporting and certification requirements emerging from Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, minimum Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) content requirements, environmental marketing claim regulations, and more material policies.
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About GreenBlue
GreenBlue is an environmental nonprofit on a mission to accelerate the transition to a regenerative, just, and sustainable materials economy. GreenBlue is the parent nonprofit of seven projects, including the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, How2Recycle, and The Recycled Material Standard. Through these projects and their hundreds of members, GreenBlue strives to be the most reliable and accurate source of truth compelling the packaging value chain to construct environmentally regenerative, socially responsible systems. Learn more at https://greenblue.org/.
About The Recycled Material Standard
The Recycled Material Standard is a universal third-party certification dedicated to ensuring that recycled materials are verified, traceable, and scalable for real-world adoption. The Recycled Material Standard connects stakeholders across the value chain under one system, equipping brands and suppliers with the clear, credible tools they need to build a stronger, more transparent recycled materials market. The Recycled Material Standard is a project of the environmental nonprofit GreenBlue, which also houses projects like The Sustainable Packaging Coalition and How2Recycle. Learn more at https://www.rmscertified.com/