RMS News

RMS Fundamentals: Everything You Need to Know to Prepare for Public Comment

By: Sarah Messer

October 21, 2020

After nearly two years of development, the Recycled Material Standard will soon be released for a public review and comment period.  Two webinars are being offered to review the standard and address commonly asked questions. 

The first webinar, or Part 1, is scheduled for October 28, 2020. The second webinar, or Part 2, is scheduled for November 4, 2020. Each webinar will cover key elements of the Standard, so stakeholders can provide the most substantive feedback during the public comment period.  Webinars will be recorded for participants that cannot attend the live session.


PUBLIC COMMENTS – PART 1

October 28, 2020 
Webinar duration: 1:00pm – 2:00pm ET

Part 1 will feature:

  • The rationale for certification of recycled materials
  • Open-loop and closed-loop systems
  • The RMS approach
  • Types of certification claims and control systems
  • Definitions for recycled materials (post-industrial & post-consumer)
  • Two types of chain of custody claims, percentage-based and mass balance allocations

PUBLIC COMMENTS – PART 2

November 4, 2020
Webinar duration: 1:00pm – 2:00pm ET

Part 2 will feature:

  • Recap on certification claims and control systems
  • Deep dive on the RMS ARC trading system
  • Additionality tests
  • Eligibility for existing processors
  • Reinvestment criteria
  • ARC registry
  • Retiring certificates and making claims

Presenter: Laura Thompson
Project Lead, Recycled Material Standard (RMS), GreenBlue

Bio: Since 1995, Laura has worked primarily in the pulp and paper industry in a wide variety of positions – from R&D to product development – including 12 years as Director of Sustainability for Sappi North America. In her role, Laura was Sappi’s point person for several industry wide collaborative organizations including The Recycling Partnership and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. As a result of her volunteer spirit and her accomplishments in various STEM roles, Laura was named as the 2018 Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Maine. Laura’s educational background includes a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and an MS and PhD in paper science from the Institute of Paper Science and Technology.  Laura will be using her technical skills and collaborative nature to lead the development of GreenBlue’s Recycled Material Standard.