California EPR – Responsible Textile Recovery Act (SB 707)

Key Highlights​

Purpose & Scope

• Establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for textiles sold in California.

• Shifts responsibility for textile waste management to producers/importers/brand owners.

• Aims to increase reuse, recycling, circularity, and reduce landfill/incineration of textiles.

Who Is a “Producer”?

• Brand owner or trademark holder selling textiles in California.

• Importers or distributors if the brand owner is not based in the U.S.

• Retailers selling private-label or exclusive brands.

• E-commerce sellers included if they sell into California.

Covered Products

• Apparel (all categories).

• Home textiles: sheets, towels, bedding, curtains, rugs.

• Accessories: bags, backpacks, soft luggage.

• Footwear, uniforms, and textile-based gear.

• Exceptions: carpets, mattresses, and certain industrial textiles already covered by other EPR laws.

Producer Requirements

• Join or create a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO).

• Pay annual EPR fees based on volume and type of textiles sold.

• Develop and implement a statewide textile recovery plan including:

  • Textile collection and drop-off network.

  • Sorting and reuse systems.

  • Recycling infrastructure (mechanical, chemical, T2T).

  • Reporting, auditing, and performance metrics.

Mandatory Goals & Performance Metrics

• Increase textile reuse, repair, and recycling rates.

• Reduce disposal to landfill or incineration.

• Establish equitable access to collection points.

• Support domestic recycling market development.

• Annual reporting to CalRecycle on progress, tonnage, recovery outcomes.

Implementation Timeline

• 2025–2026: PRO formation, program design, registration.

• 2027: Program launch; collection network operational.

• 2027–2030: Increasing recovery, recycling, market-development requirements.

• Full implementation by 2030, including annual audits and compliance reviews.

Compliance Obligations for Brands

• Submit SKU-level product data to PRO.

• Pay EPR fees tied to product type, material content, and volume.

• Labeling or consumer education as defined by PRO.

• Maintain full documentation for audits.

• Prohibited from selling textiles in CA if not in compliance.

Penalties

• Fines for non-compliance, inaccurate reporting, or failing to join a PRO.

• Potential restrictions on product sales in California for repeat violations.

Impact for Retailers, Manufacturers & Supply Chains

• Increased demand for recycled inputs, especially T2T rPET, MMCF, and mechanically recycled cotton.

• Need for SKU-level traceability and material transparency.

• Strong push toward design for recyclability and mono-material constructs.

• Supplier capability audits and alignment for EPR readiness.

• Opportunity for long-term offtake agreements, circular design partnerships, and local recycling investment.

Strategic Opportunities

• Early movers gain advantage in:

  • Material certification and recycled content strategy.

  • Closed-loop partnerships (collect–sort–recycle).

  • Data/PLM integration for EPR reporting.

  • Consumer-facing circular programs (repair, resale, recommerce).

• Potential for reduced fees through eco-modulated fee structures (design choices that improve recyclability).

 

LoopLab Support Capabilities

Circular products and material design enablement.

• Recyclability engineering and mono‑material optimization.

• ESPR, DPP, and California EPR compliance readiness frameworks.

• Supplier capability assessments and governance systems.

• Data model alignment for PLM, EPR reporting, and DPP integration.

• EPR fee modeling, eco‑modulation optimization, and risk mitigation.

• Roadmap creation, cross-functional training, and implementation support.