Selling into California? Here’s What You Need to Know About SB707
California’s SB707 Responsible Textile Recovery Act marks an important milestone for brands selling textiles into the US.
As the first mandatory textile Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme in the United States, it introduces new obligations for producers and signals a broader shift towards greater responsibility for products throughout their lifecycle.
What is SB707?
SB707 requires producers of covered textile products sold in California to take responsibility for what happens to those products when consumers no longer want them.
Rather than local authorities funding textile waste management, producers will collectively finance and support a statewide system for the collection, reuse, repair and recycling of textiles through an approved Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO).
The legislation applies to a broad range of textile products, including clothing, footwear, accessories and household textiles, although some exemptions apply for smaller businesses and certain product categories.
Key implementation dates
SB707 is being introduced gradually, giving businesses time to prepare.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| September 2024 | SB707 signed into law |
| February 2026 | Circular Action Alliance appointed as California’s Producer Responsibility Organisation |
| 1 July 2026 | Producers expected to have joined the PRO |
| 2027–2028 | Needs Assessment, Stewardship Plan and reporting framework developed |
| 2030 | Statewide textile collection, reuse and recycling programme becomes operational |
Although the operational scheme won’t be fully implemented until 2030, brands selling into California should already be confirming whether they fall within scope and understanding their future obligations.
What does this mean for brands?
If you sell covered textile products into California, SB707 requires you to participate in California’s textile stewardship programme.
In practical terms, brands should:
- Confirm whether they are considered a producer under the legislation.
- Join California’s approved Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO).
- Pay producer fees to fund the scheme.
- Prepare for future reporting obligations as they are introduced.
The reporting framework is still being developed, but it’s expected to include information about the products producers place on the California market.
Five questions worth asking now
Even though reporting requirements will continue to develop, SB707 is a good opportunity to review how product information is managed across the business.
Ask your team:
- Can we quickly identify every product we sell into California?
- Do we have accurate material and fibre composition for every product?
- Is product information held consistently across different systems?
- Can we retrieve product data without relying on manual processes?
- Are we confident we could respond quickly if additional reporting requirements are introduced?
Many brands are already reviewing this information as part of their preparation for GPSR, PPWR and Digital Product Passports. Bringing product information together in a single digital product record not only supports today’s requirements, but also makes it easier to respond as new regulations emerge.
Looking beyond SB707
Every new regulation doesn’t require a new system.
Often, it starts with better product information.
That’s the approach Vivobarefoot took. By focusing on the information needed for today’s requirements, they created a scalable digital foundation that can expand as new obligations emerge.
Explore the Vivobarefoot case study.
