SB 707 Explained: What California Apparel Brands and Textile Suppliers Should Know

Staying ahead in fashion today means more than designing great collections—it means understanding the policies shaping how we source, sell, and take responsibility for what we make. And if you're a brand or supplier based in California, there’s a new bill on the table that deserves your attention.

CA SB 707, also known as the Responsible Textile Recovery Act, introduces a statewide system for managing textile waste—and it’s set to shift how businesses like yours operate.

In this post, our Policy Assistant, Taruna Anil, at World Collective breaks down the key points of the bill: who it affects, how it works, and why it matters for the future of fashion in California. Consider it your starting point to stay informed, aligned, and ready.

What Is the Responsible Textile Recovery Act?

The Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, also known as SB 707, was introduced by Josh Newman as a means to mitigate the negative impacts of textile waste in California and establish a standardized system for disposing of and recycling apparel.

The bill establishes a stewardship program—a framework that requires producers to take responsibility for the end-of-life management of their products, specifically for textiles.

The intention is to divert textiles from landfills and into recycling programs, or to reuse or repair them for a second life. The bill requires all “producers of textiles” to join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO).

It is vital for World Collective customers and suppliers to know the details of the Responsible Textile Recovery Act–not only to prepare for compliance with the bill but to utilize the mechanisms of the bill to source recycled textiles and material for reuse.

What Products Are Covered by SB 707?

A covered product, as defined by the bill, refers to any apparel or textile item that falls within the scope of SB 707. This includes most categories of clothing and accessories intended for regular use, special occasions, or activewear—regardless of gender, age, or style.

Items designed specifically for military, industrial, or hazardous use are excluded. In addition to garments, the bill also applies to a wide range of household textiles made from natural, artificial, or synthetic materials.

That includes products composed of fibers, yarns, or fabrics such as bedding, towels, curtains, and other soft furnishings commonly found in domestic settings.

Who Qualifies as a Producer?

The definition of a producer follows a clear hierarchy in the bill. It begins with the in-state manufacturer, brand owner, or licensee of a covered product. If none of those apply, responsibility shifts to the owner of the trademark or exclusive licensee.

If there is still no qualifying party, the in-state importer becomes the liable producer. As a final step, responsibility falls to the in-state distributor, retailer, or wholesaler.

Brands with less than one million in aggregate global turnover and sellers of secondhand clothing are exempt from the law.

The Role of CalRecycle and the PRO

California’s Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery (CalRecycle) will oversee the PRO. In other words, CalRecycle—the state agency in charge of waste and recycling—will supervise and make sure the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) follows the rules and runs the textile recovery program properly.

How will that work in action?

The PRO will have a governing body consisting of a diverse set of producers along with ex-officio members (individuals automatically appointed due to their roles within CalRecycle or other relevant departments involved in the collection, sorting, or management of covered products).

The PRO will collect fees from applicable producers to fund the producer responsibility plan.

From there, it will conduct a “needs assessment,” examining the existing scope and scale of covered products being sent to landfills, the effectiveness of existing recycling programs in California, market conditions, and levels of consumer awareness, education, and participation in textile recovery. It will also assess what fee levels are necessary for producers.

After the assessment, the PRO will construct the producer responsibility plan to submit to CalRecycle.

Collection Sites and Consumer Education

Under the stewardship program, PROs will approve free, convenient, and accessible collection sites throughout California, with a minimum of one per 25,000 people, resulting in a minimum of approximately 1,580 collection sites across the state.

In setting up these sites, PROs will take geographic distribution into account, ensuring a mix of permanent and temporary locations to maximize accessibility. They will also explore the use of mail-back programs to expand reach.

Alongside collection efforts, the PRO will launch a statewide education initiative to inform consumers about the program and encourage their participation.

Penalties for Noncompliance

These entities, as they are applied, are subject to paying fees to the PRO. If a producer fails to enroll in a PRO or does not account for all covered products in their plan, they are subject to a penalty of $10,000 per day, or $50,000 per day if it is discovered that their nonparticipation is intentional.

Opportunities for Reuse and Repair Businesses

Authorized collectors, sorters, and repair businesses benefit from SB 707, as they can register with PROs to source products collected through the PRO. They can collect, sort, or repair covered products for resale. A surge in resale businesses, vintage shops, and thrift stores is likely to occur with the enactment of SB707.

EPR and PROs in Action: France and the Netherlands

France

France has PROs in place for nearly every product category on the market, and its known as Refashion.

Refashion was approved in 2008 and has an expansive ecosystem for collection and diversion from landfill. It is also a resource, regularly publishing articles on recycling news and providing advisories on new laws.

We help brands to engage in an eco-design approach and support downstream actors to develop the recycling industry in France. - Refashion

The eco-organization operates sorting centers where collected textiles are categorized for recycling or reuse.

In 2023, 268,161 tons of clothing textiles, household linen, and footwear (CHF) were collected, representing 3.97 kg per inhabitant. 187,510 tons were sorted. By 2022, there will be 47,551 voluntary drop-off points and 66 sorting centers under agreement with Refashion.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands requires producers of textile products to report the number of products brought the previous year and how the producer met EPR guidelines.

It also requires the company to individually inform their customers on how to recycle unwanted products through a “suitable collection system” that must be free of charge.

The regulations require producers to meet the minimum thresholds of reuse and recycling: by 2025, 50% of the previous year’s weight sold must be prepared for reuse or recycling, and at least 20% must be reused–10% in the Netherlands.

Additionally, by 2025 all textile fibers of discarded textile products must be used in materials for new products. These thresholds will increase again in 2030.

The Netherlands allows producers to either collect/reuse/process discarded products individually, or they can join one of their three PROs: Stichting UPV Textiel, European Recycling Platform Netherlands B.V, and Collectief Circulair Textiel.

Key Takeaways

• SB707 is an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program applying to any producer who sells apparel or textile products within California; a $10-50,000/day fee applies if a producer that makes over one million in aggregate global turnover does not comply

• Defined producers (manufacturer, brand owner, licensee, trademark owner, in-state importer or distributor/wholesaler) will be required to pay fees to a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) with oversight by California’s Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)

• Authorized sorters, collectors, and repair businesses can register with the PRO to source recycled material collected.

• Upon approval of the PRO by CalRecycle or on July 1, 2030, whichever is sooner, producers will become responsible for paying into a PRO.

Looking Ahead: Turning Policy Into Practical Change

SB 707 signals a future where sourcing decisions can’t be separated from questions of transparency, circularity, and accountability. And it reminds us that the systems we’ve relied on won’t be enough to meet what’s coming next.

For brands and suppliers doing business in California—or simply wanting to stay ahead of the curve—this means building real visibility into every stage of the material lifecycle.

What fibers are in use? Where were they processed? What happens to them after the product’s life ends?

These types of questions need to star being seen as business and operational ones.

And this is exactly where digital sourcing and traceability tools become essential for your brand’s growth and even survival.

At World Collective, we’re helping fashion businesses meet this moment with the tools they need to navigate change intentionally.

Our marketplace connects brands to a vetted network of textile suppliers, offering clear documentation on specs, certifications, and availability—so teams can make smarter decisions from the very first step.

Built-in traceability features allow businesses to track the journey of materials, while our catalog includes sustainable, certified, and recycled options designed for circular systems.

Whether you’re preparing for compliance, reducing material waste, or building a supply chain that reflects your values, our solutions are here to help you do it with clarity and speed—without compromising care.

Because navigating the future of sourcing will be—or event better, ALREADY ARE—about designing systems that are built to last.

Written by Taruna Anil, Policy Assistant at World Collective
Edited by Maria Eugênia Lima, Content & Marketing Intern at World Collective