EPR Compliance & Reporting

Apparel & Textile EPR Compliance Solutions for SB 707 and Beyond

In the United States, California has become the first state to implement a mandatory textile EPR program through SB 707, the Responsible Textile Recovery Act, approved in September 2024. Textile EPR regulations shift responsibility for post-consumer textile waste from municipalities to producers to manage end-of-life responsibility. These laws place new obligations on producers to fund and support textile collection, reuse, repair, and recycling programs.Clearyst helps apparel brands, manufacturers, and retailers understand how textile EPR laws apply to their business and prepare for compliance with evolving state and global regulations.
What Is Textile EPR

What Is Textile EPR and How Does SB 707 Affect Apparel Companies?

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles shifts responsibility for post-consumer textile waste from municipalities to producers. Under textile EPR laws, companies that place apparel or textiles on the market are financially and operationally responsible for managing those products at end of life.

California SB 707 is the first comprehensive textile EPR framework in the United States. It applies broadly to apparel, footwear, and other textile articles. It impacts many companies selling apparel into California, including domestic brands, importers, and online retailers. The producer is the company responsible for placing the product on the California market, with responsibility assigned through a clear hierarchy. Producers are required to participate in a state-approved Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO).
Apparel & Footwear Brand Owners
Brand owners selling apparel or footwear into California under their own label are considered producers under SB 707.
Textile Manufacturers & Importers
Textile manufacturers and importers placing covered products on the California market have compliance obligations.
Retailers Selling Private-Label or Owned Brands
Retailers selling private-label or owned-brand apparel and textile products are considered producers under the law.
E-Commerce & DTC Companies Selling into California
E-commerce and DTC companies selling apparel into California are considered producers, regardless of where they are based.
1
Register with an Approved Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO)
Producers must join Landbell USA, the state-approved PRO, by July 1, 2026.
2
Track and Report Apparel and Textile Sales Data and Material Composition
Collect and report product category, fiber composition, and sales volume data through the PRO.
3
Fund Statewide Textile Collection, Reuse, Repair, and Recycling Programs
Producers contribute to statewide infrastructure for post-consumer textile recovery through the PRO.
4
Meet Performance, Transparency, and Reporting Requirements Set by the State
Comply with CalRecycle-mandated performance targets and annual transparency reporting obligations.
SB 707 Requirements

SB 707 Requirements for Apparel and Textile Producers

SB 707 establishes a structured compliance framework that requires producers to meet performance, transparency, and reporting requirements set by the state. These obligations are designed to improve textile recovery rates and reduce landfill disposal across California.
TEXTILE EPR LAWS

Why Textile EPR Laws Are Being Implemented

Textile waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the U.S. Textile EPR laws aim to:
Reduce landfill disposal and illegal dumping
Expand infrastructure for reuse, resale, repair, and recycling
Shift end-of-life costs from taxpayers to producers
Encourage more durable, recyclable, and circular apparel design
SB 707 is widely viewed as a model for future textile EPR legislation in other states.
HOW TO PREPARE

How Apparel & Textile Companies Can Prepare for SB 707

SB 707 establishes a structured compliance framework that requires producers to meet performance, transparency, and reporting requirements set by the state. These obligations are designed to improve textile recovery rates and reduce landfill disposal across California.

01 Determining Applicability

Confirming whether their apparel or textile products fall under SB 707, and checking for any available size exemptions.

02 Tracking Regulatory Timelines

Monitoring California deadlines and future state developments in NY, WA, MA, and other states with proposed legislation.

03 Compiling Textile Data

Collecting product category, fiber composition, volumes, and packaging data needed for PRO and regulatory reporting.

04 Coordinating Reporting

Aligning data with PRO and regulatory expectations for submission and ongoing compliance.
Get Started with Apparel EPR Compliance
Why Act Now

Why Act Now on SB 707 and Textile EPR

Textile EPRSB 707 signals a major regulatory shift for the apparel and textile industry. Deadlines are approaching quickly. By July 1, 2026, producers must join the approved PRO. Final regulations to be adopted by July 2028.

As additional states explore textile EPR laws, early preparation helps companies:
Reduce Compliance and Financial Risk
Avoid civil penalties of up to $10,000–$50,000/day for violations once the plan is approved.
Spread Implementation Costs Over Time
Build compliance infrastructure gradually rather than in a costly last-minute scramble.
Build Internal Readiness for Future Regulations
Prepare for NY, WA, MA, and other states likely to follow California's lead in the late 2020s.
Align Compliance with Broader Sustainability and Circularity Goals
Connect EPR obligations with ESG commitments and circularity initiatives already underway.

keep in mind

Quick Takeaways for Apparel & Textile Producers

Three things to keep front of mind as the textile EPR landscape develops.
SB 707 is the first U.S. textile EPR law, already moving through implementation in California with specific deadlines for PRO formation, plan submission, reporting, and compliance enforcement.
Future textile EPR laws are in progress in several states, with varying requirements around collection systems, reporting, and producer plans — screening these early helps brands prepare for multi-state compliance.
Many proposed bills aim to build on California’s model, with potential take-back mandates, producer funding obligations, and reporting timelines that will expand if adopted.
SB 707 vs. Future Textile EPR Laws

Side-by-Side Comparison

California's SB 707 is the first U.S. textile EPR law, but it won't be the last. Here's how it compares to proposed legislation emerging across the country.
Aspect
🇺🇸  SB 707 (California Responsible Textile Recovery Act)
Future/Proposed Textile EPR Laws (e.g., NY, WA & others)
STATUS
Enacted 2024
Enacted & signed into law (2024) — first U.S. textile EPR program.
Pending / Proposed
New York S3217, Washington HB 1420; others under discussion. (DLA Piper)
Jurisdiction
California only.
Individual states (NY, WA, MA, OR, CT, NJ likely to follow).
Covered Products
Apparel, footwear, accessories, bedding, towels, curtains & many textile articles.
Proposed to include broad textile categories such as clothing, bags, accessories, with possible exclusions/exemptions varying by bill (Treet)
Who Must Comply
Producers (brand owners, manufacturers, importers, certain retailers/marketplaces) selling into CA; size exemptions may apply (DLA Piper)
Generally defined similarly — brands, manufacturers, retailers above revenue thresholds (details vary by state proposal) (Treet)
Producer Responsibility
On February 27, 2026, Landbell USA was approved as the PRO responsible for implementing the Act’s requirements. Producers must join the PRO by July 1, 2026.  (EPR Group)
Proposed models typically require PRO participation, EPR plans or individual recovery programs, with brand funding and reporting obligations (Treet)
Collection & Recovery
PRO must organize statewide collection, repair, reuse, recycling infrastructure; map recovery systems; address contamination like PFAS (SGSCorp)
Future laws propose similar goals: statewide collection systems, recycling/reuse targets, take-back programs; specifics vary and remain in draft stages (Treet)
Reporting & Plans
PRO submits stewardship plan by dates set by CalRecycle (plan due ~2030); producers must report data via PRO; annual transparency reports required (SGSCorp)
Proposed bills require brands to file EPR plans or sustainability reporting (e.g., New York requires plan by end 2026) and annual reporting; targets/due dates vary by state (Treet)
Timeline & Deadlines
Producers must join the approved PRO by July 1, 2026. The State will adopt regulations to implement SB 707 by July 1, 2028, with full rollout by July 1, 2030.(Waste Dive)
Proposed program timelines differ: e.g., NY plan due Dec 31 2026; others expect phased implementation through the late 2020s (Treet)
Penalties
California can impose civil penalties up to ~$10,000–$50,000/day for violations once plan approved (DLA Piper)
Future laws are likely to include penalties for failing to file plans/report or meet performance targets — details depend on final bill language (Treet)
Policy Intent
Divert textile waste from landfills; fund repair/reuse/recycling; shift costs to producers; build circular infrastructure (Default)
Similar sustainability goals — reduce waste, improve recycling/reuse, require brand accountability; may include specific reuse/ban provisions (e.g., textiles destruction bans) (Treet)
Geographic Scope
Affects producers selling apparel/textiles in California
Would affect producers selling into each adopting state (NY, WA, MA, etc.) upon enactment

SB 253 and SB 261 FAQ Section

1. What is SB 707?
SB 707 is California’s textile EPR law requiring apparel and textile producers to fund and manage end-of-life textile programs.
2. Who must comply with textile EPR laws?
Brand owners, manufacturers, importers, and certain retailers selling apparel into California.
3. Does SB 707 apply to online apparel sales?
Yes. Many e-commerce and DTC sellers into California are considered producers.
4. What data is required for textile EPR reporting?
Product categories, fiber composition, sales volumes, and other material-related data.
5. How can Clearyst help with SB 707 compliance?
Clearyst provides obligation assessment, data organization, reporting readiness, and ongoing EPR advisory support.
Ensure Apparel EPR Compliance