What is a GRS plastic bag? Why use a GRS plastic bag? Are GRS plastic bags environmentally friendly?

In 2021, more and more customers require GRS recyclable plastic bags. So what exactly are GRS plastic bags? Why use GRS plastic bags? Are GRS bags environmentally friendly? With these questions in mind, let's take a look below. Shunxingyuan, a professional flexible packaging manufacturer, will answer them one by one for you.

I. Introduction to GRS Plastic Bags

GRS plastic bags, or recyclable plastic bags, refer to plastic bags that meet customer requirements, achieve internationally recognized environmental standards, and are truly recyclable and reusable. They are an important product of environmentally friendly packaging bags.

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary, and comprehensive product standard that specifies third-party certification requirements for recycled content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions. The goal of GRS is to increase the use of recycled materials in products and to reduce and eliminate the harm caused by their production. Today, GRS has been adopted by brands such as ZARA, H&M, ADIDAS, Uniqlo, NIKE, IKEA, and GAP, impacting the entire industry chain and all related supply chains.

Post-consumer recycled plastic bags: Materials generated by households or commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities as end-product users that can no longer be used for their intended purpose. Includes materials recovered from the distribution chain. That is, plastic bags recycled after consumer consumption.

Pre-consumer recycled plastic bags: Materials diverted from waste streams during the manufacturing process. Excludes the reuse of certain materials, such as rework, regrinding, or residues generated during processing and reused in the same process. That is, plastic bags recycled without consumer consumption.

Recycled content: The proportion of recycled materials in a product or packaging by weight. Only pre-consumer and post-consumer materials are considered recycled content.

Because GRS plastic bags are made from waste recycling, they are very popular in foreign countries, especially in developed countries in Europe and America.

II. GRS Plastic Bags Superior to Traditional Recycled Plastic Bags

Traditional commercially recycled materials, due to their unstable quality and poor physical properties, are mostly cheaper than new materials and have poorer performance than new materials.

To meet the requirements of brand customers and achieve internationally recognized environmental standards (such as GRS), GRS-certified recyclable plastic bags have more stable quality and better performance than traditional recycled plastic bags.

III. GRS Plastic Bags are Truly Environmentally Friendly

1. Allows waste to be recycled, reducing the need for excessive resource development and environmental pollution.

2. Proves that plastic packaging bags can be recycled, as GRS is a traceability certification, the most credible proof of recyclable packaging bags.

4. All certified products have standard recycled material content labeling, providing a reference for further recycling.

5. Enhances the company's market competitiveness in terms of "green" and "environmental protection," making it easier to be recognized by companies with recycling capabilities.

6. GRS certification provides greater protection for employees, who are important assets of the company and the driving force behind its progress.