Food brands, distributors, and hospitality operators cannot afford weak links in their packaging supply chain. Safety, compliance, and sustainability are now baseline expectations, not optional extras. Retailers demand proof, regulators tighten requirements, and consumers expect trust at every stage.
This is why independent accreditation matters. Just as EcoVadis and Sedex validate ethical sourcing, BRCGS sets the global standard for packaging safety and quality, giving you confidence that your supplier is operating at the highest level.
What is BRCGS?
BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards) Packaging Materials is the world’s leading certification for packaging safety and quality. Originally developed by the British Retail Consortium, BRCGS Packaging Materials sets clear benchmarks to ensure packaging is manufactured, stored, and supplied under strict hygiene and compliance standards, covering:
- Safety: preventing contamination risks in food and consumer packaging
- Quality: consistent processes that meet customer and retailer expectations
- Legality: alignment with UK, EU, and global packaging regulations
- Management systems: robust audits, traceability, and continuous improvement
For businesses handling food, drink, or consumer goods, BRCGS accreditation is independent proof that packaging will not introduce risks to products, consumers, or brands.
What is a BRCGS AA Grade?
BRCGS uses a grading system to rate performance at audit. An AA grade is the highest possible rating. It shows that a site has achieved exceptional compliance with BRCGS requirements, with very few or no non-conformities identified. For customers, it signals a supplier that is audit-ready, reliable, and operating at the highest standard.
Who Benefits from BRCGS Certification?
The standard is designed for packaging manufacturers, converters, distributors, and wholesalers. But its impact is felt across the entire supply chain:
- Food and beverage brands: Confidence that packaging complies with UK and EU safety legislation.
- Hospitality and food service operators: Assurance that customer-facing packaging meets hygiene and sustainability standards.
- Distributors and national accounts: Reliable, large-volume supply with fewer audit requirements and reduced risk of disruption.
- Procurement teams: Simplified supplier approval and access to accredited partners already recognised by retailers.
Why BRCGS Matters in the Food Packaging Supply Chain
For distributors, wholesalers, and hospitality operators, packaging is inseparable from product integrity. Customers expect safe, compliant, and sustainable solutions that protect their brand as well as the end consumer. It impacts consumer safety, regulatory compliance, and brand reputation. Failures carry high costs: recalls, penalties, lost contracts, and long-term damage to trust.
BRCGS Packaging Materials accreditation directly addresses these risks. Certified suppliers meet strict requirements including:
Hazard analysis: Structured controls to identify and reduce risks before they impact production
Traceability: Clear records from raw material to finished pack, enabling rapid response if issues arise
Hygiene: Strict standards for handling, storage, and manufacturing to prevent contamination
Management systems: Documented processes, regular audits, and continuous improvement built into daily operations
Importantly, while BRCGS certification is not a legal requirement, it is often mandatory for gaining access to leading retailers, food manufacturers, and national distributors. In practice, it is a minimum expectation for serious players in the market.
Why Choose a BRCGS-Accredited Packaging Partner?
Choosing a supplier with BRCGS accreditation is not just about compliance. It is about protecting your business from disruption, supporting your sustainability commitments, and ensuring customer trust. Accreditation proves that your supplier operates at the highest levels of safety, efficiency, and responsibility.
Benefits of BRCGS Accreditation
Food safety and compliance: strict hygiene and hazard controls reduce contamination risks and recalls, while providing due diligence evidence to regulators
Increased trust: certification demonstrates a commitment to safety and quality, building confidence with customers and consumers
Brand reputation and risk reduction: protects both supplier and customer from costly failures or reputational damage linked to packaging
Market access and retailer demands: around 70% of the world’s top retailers recognise BRCGS accreditation, making it a prerequisite for entry into new markets and contracts
Operational excellence: structured audits and management systems improve efficiency, cut duplicate customer audits, and strengthen reliability of supply
Sustainability and ESG: issue 7 includes environmental modules such as plastic-pellet loss prevention and verification of eco claims, supporting customer ESG goals
In a market shaped by tighter regulation and rising consumer expectations, BRCGS certification gives you a competitive edge. It signals to your customers and regulators alike that packaging safety is built into your supply chain, not bolted on as an afterthought.
How GM Food Packaging Meets BRC Standards in Practice
At GM, accreditation is not an add-on; it underpins how we operate. Our facilities hold BRCGS AA grade certification, the highest rating available, showing that processes are designed to keep your supply chain safe and audit-ready at all times.
This means:
BRCGS AA grade warehousing: Climate-controlled, hygienic facilities where packaging is stored and distributed under strict safety standards
Robust supplier controls: Every global sourcing partner is vetted for compliance, quality, and ethical standards
Quality testing and traceability: Full records across sourcing, storage, and delivery, ensuring complete accountability and audit readiness
GM keeps your supply chain compliant, reduces risk of disruption, and removes the burden of secondary audits. By working with us, you partner with a supplier who combines accreditation with innovation, helping you meet both immediate and long-term operational goals.
Looking Ahead: Raising Packaging Standards Across the Industry
The role of packaging is evolving, shaped by stricter legislation, sustainability pressures, and changing consumer expectations. By choosing BRCGS-accredited partners, distributors and food brands can protect supply chains, strengthen compliance, and build lasting trust with their customers.
GM Food Packaging’s AA grade accreditation reflects a wider commitment to responsible, innovative supply. By embedding compliance and safety into every stage of our operation, we help customers future-proof their packaging supply chains, protect their brands, and stay ahead of regulatory change.
Choose a packaging partner who keeps you compliant, credible, and customer-ready. Protect your reputation and contact GM today to partner with a BRCGS AA grade packaging supplier that meets the highest safety standards.