Recycled Content Declarations a Retailer Will Actually Accept
Retailers accept recycled content claims backed by lot-specific chain of custody transaction certificates, valid scope codes, and verified migration test reports.
Transaction Certificate
Compliance Document
Official record issued by a certification body verifies that a specific shipment of goods meets the requirements of a sustainable forestry or recycling standard. A transaction certificate provides the link between the seller and the buyer in the chain of custody for materials like fsc or pefc certified board. It proves that the products listed were produced and traded according to the rules of the scheme.
This document is required for any company wishing to make a certified claim on their own invoices or packaging.
Information Content
The certificate lists the unique identification number of the transaction, the names of the certified parties, dates and volume of the material being moved. It also specifies the claim category, such as hundred percent or mix, which determines how the buyer can use the material in their own calculations. Unlike a general participation certificate which shows a company is a member of a scheme, this document is specific to an individual batch of goods.
Auditors use these records to perform a volume reconciliation which ensures no uncertified material has been slipped into the supply chain.
Digital Management
Most modern schemes manage these certificates through online portals to prevent fraud and speed up the verification process. The buyer must check the certificate against the physical delivery to ensure the data matches.