The revision of the standard includes several significant changes. The input verification of reclaimed material prior to recycling, established by the Recycled Claim Standard, is now an integral part of the standard. The revision of the standard also includes stronger social and environmental requirements that apply to the entire certified facility. Perhaps the most significant change is the addition of chemical requirements.

GRS v3 includes restrictions on chemicals used in the production of GRS products. The restrictions are based on the assignment of hazard codes, rather than testing against an RSL.

The desired effect of the GRS is to provide brands with a tool to encourage innovation in the use of reclaimed materials, to encourage and reward a strong commitment to social and environmental improvements in production, to establish more transparency in the supply chain, and to provide better information to consumers. The International Working Group was composed of representatives from five certification bodies: Control Union, ICEA, IMO, Intertek, and SCS Global Services.

The group dedicated many hours of their time and expertise into the revision of the standard. An additional group of stakeholders reviewed the standard and provided valuable feedback in two separate public reviews prior to the release of the standard. The members of the International Working Group are exclusively open to apply for accreditation to the standard for a period of six months, after which time, all CBs may apply.