Recycling Assurance 3-Step Test
A patent-pending chemical testing method that identifies whether yarn, fibre or fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles, and to exactly what percentage.
The problem with recycled polyester claims
With the growth of recycled polyester, virgin and recycled polyester have become essentially indistinguishable to the naked eye in terms of look, feel and quality.
That has made it straightforward for unscrupulous suppliers to sell regular polyester as recycled, and genuinely difficult for brands to know what they are actually buying.
Most verification methods on the market give you an expected range of recycled content. We developed RA3 because we didn't think a range was good enough.
How our Recycling Assurance 3-Step Test (RA3) works
Developed by Waste2Wear in 2019 and refined over several years, RA3 is a chemical testing method that goes beyond what the industry has accepted as standard verification.
Where others give you a range, RA3 gives you the exact percentage of recycled PET bottle content in any fibre, yarn, fabric or finished product. It is the only method in the world that does this.
Exact content, not a range
RA3 identifies the precise percentage of recycled PET bottle content in a sample, not an estimated range. That number is specific to your product and your order, and can be verified independently.
Applicable across the supply chain
RA3 can be applied to fibres, yarns, fabrics and finished products, making it useful at any stage of your supply chain rather than only at the point of final manufacture.
Validated by Wessling
The RA3 methodology has been independently validated by Wessling, a German testing and certification institute. For brands that require third-party documentation, Wessling can conduct independent testing on request and issue their own certified results.
Third-party certified
Beyond our own blockchain traceability and RA3 testing, all Waste2Wear fabrics can be independently verified through recognised third-party certification bodies. If your business requires that level of documentation, it is available on request.
We understand if you're sceptical
The recycled textiles space has a trust problem and we are well aware of it. Our RA3 test is our answer to that. A patent-pending method that gives you a precise recycled content figure rather than a range or a category. Independent third-party testing is also available on request for brands that want verification that sits entirely outside of us.
If you work with other suppliers and want to verify what percentage of a product is actually made from recycled plastics, you can send it to us. We will test it and give you a precise figure. No obligation to work with us beyond that.
Used by the world's leading companies
"During our intensive search for sustainable materials for the linings in our bags, we discovered that materials can be called recycled if the non-recycled base is mixed with a minimum of 10-15% recycled material. This was not good enough for us as we want to do the best we can for the environment. Waste2Wear is the only supplier that guarantees 100% recycled material for our bags lining. To prove this, Waste2Wear uses the award-winning RA-3 Assurance test method."
Frits Besemer, CEO and Founder, Alpha 96
Frequently asked questions
What is the RA3 test?
RA3 is our patent-pending, in-house method for verifying exactly how much of an rPET product is genuinely recycled. We developed it in 2019 because the recycled polyester market lets suppliers claim recycled content that is difficult for a brand to check. Rather than an estimated range, RA3 returns a precise percentage for the fibre, yarn, fabric or finished product we test. You can read more about how we approach verification in our recycled-content verification article.
How is RA3 different from other recycled-content verification methods?
Most verification approaches on the market rely on paper trails and supplier declarations, which tell you what a supplier says went into a product rather than what is actually there. RA3 is a chemical testing method we run ourselves, so the result comes from the product, not from someone's paperwork. That is a meaningful difference when a brand or a regulator asks us to prove a recycled-content claim rather than simply state it.
Does RA3 give an exact recycled-content percentage or a range?
RA3 gives an exact percentage. Most verification methods on the market only tell you that recycled content falls somewhere within a range, which is not enough when a buyer or a regulator asks what a product is actually made of. We built RA3 to return a single, specific figure tied to your product and your order, and that figure can be independently verified by Wessling on request.
What materials can RA3 be applied to?
RA3 is scoped to rPET. We built and validated the methodology specifically for recycled polyester, from fibre through to finished product, and we do not apply it to rPP or any other material. If you are sourcing rPP, we verify that content through GRS certification and our supply chain records instead.
Who validates the RA3 methodology?
The RA3 methodology has been independently validated by Wessling, a German testing institute. That validation covers the method itself, and beyond that, we also offer independent, product-level verification through Wessling on request, though this sits outside our standard process.
Can I send my own products to be tested with RA3?
Yes. Brands can send us their own rPET products, whether or not we manufactured them, and we will run RA3 on them as a standalone testing service. This is useful if you want to check a claim from another supplier or confirm the recycled content of something already in your range.
At what point in the supply chain can RA3 be used?
We can apply RA3 at fibre, yarn, fabric or finished product stage, which means we are not limited to checking raw material before it goes into production. Testing further down the chain, closer to the finished product, gives you a result that reflects what actually reached you rather than what went in at the start.
Is third-party verification included as standard?
No, third-party verification through Wessling is available on request rather than included by default. Our standard RA3 result already comes from our own validated in-house testing, and independent verification is there for brands who want an additional layer of assurance for a specific order or audit.
How does RA3 relate to GRS and our other certifications?
RA3 and GRS work at different levels. GRS is a company-level standard that certifies recycled content moving through our supply chain, while RA3 is our own in-house test that tells you the exact recycled-content percentage of a specific product. Used together, they give you both the systemic assurance of a recognised standard and a precise, product-level number.
Why does verified recycled content matter for compliance?
Regulators and buyers increasingly want proof rather than a claim, particularly as EU rules around recycled content and product data tighten. Having an exact, tested percentage behind every rPET product means we can support your compliance documentation with a number that holds up, rather than an estimate that needs to be qualified later.