Flushable wipes are one of the fastest-growing categories in personal care — and one of the most regulated in terms of claims. The terms GD4 and IWSFG appear in almost every supplier conversation, yet they are frequently misunderstood. Before you put “flushable” on your packaging, it is worth understanding what these standards actually are, how claims are supported, and what to ask your manufacturer.
What GD4 and IWSFG are
GD4 refers to the INDA/EDANA guidance for assessing the flushability of nonwoven wipes — a set of tests covering toilet and drainage clearance, disintegration, and impact on wastewater systems. IWSFG (International Water Services Flushability Group) publishes its own guidance for assessing flushability, used widely across the water services industry. Both provide test frameworks; neither is a single certificate that a whole factory holds. Claims are tied to specific product constructions and the materials used in them.
How claims are properly supported
The compliant way to state flushability is to tie it to the applicable materials and tests. A manufacturer should say: “developed with materials supported by GD4 and IWSFG-related testing” and “septic-safe performance is supported by material supplier testing reports for the applicable construction.” What you should avoid is a blanket statement like “all our wipes are flushable” or claiming company-wide GD4 certification — unless there is a formal certificate in the company’s name covering a specific SKU.
Why materials matter
Flushability depends heavily on the nonwoven construction. Plant-based fibers such as wood pulp and viscose blends are commonly used in flushable formats because of their dispersing behavior in water. But every construction is different: sheet size, basis weight, binder chemistry and liquid system all affect how the wipe disintegrates. That is why environmental and flushability claims must be material-specific, not brand-wide.
What to ask your manufacturer
Ask for the evidence chain in writing: which material supplier testing reports support the flushability claim, which SKUs they cover, and whether the company holds any certificates in its own name. A serious manufacturer will provide material documentation, test reports and manufacturing evidence, and will clearly distinguish between material-level support and company-level certification. If a supplier answers with vague assurances, that is a red flag.
Building a compliant flushable line
A typical compliant program looks like this: choose a flushable construction (for example, a wood pulp + viscose blend), confirm the material testing support applies to your specific sheet size and formula, and then print claims that match the evidence — “flushable wipes developed with materials supported by GD4 and IWSFG-related testing,” “septic-safe performance supported by material supplier testing reports for the applicable construction.” Available in private label formats with custom sheet counts, formulas and packaging. For a full overview of a compliant flushable program, including packaging formats and MOQs, see our Flushable Wipes OEM/ODM Manufacturing page.
FAQ
Does Riway claim GD4 certification?
We do not claim company-level GD4 certification unless a certificate in our name and for a specific SKU exists. Our flushable wipes are developed with materials supported by GD4 and IWSFG-related testing, and septic-safe performance is supported by material supplier testing reports for the applicable construction.
What does “supported by material testing” mean?
It means the flushability claim is backed by test reports from the material supplier for the specific construction used — not a blanket company-wide statement.
Can I print “flushable” on my private label pack?
Yes, if the claim matches the evidence for your specific product construction. Your manufacturer should provide the supporting material test documentation for the applicable SKU.