Check out our latest webinar with the California Product Stewardship Council and Everywhere Apparel.
Update (July 1, 2026): CalRecycle selected Landbell USA as California's official Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) on February 27, 2026. Today, July 1, 2026, is the deadline for all obligated producers to register with Landbell USA at register.landbellusa.com, missing it can mean fines of up to $50,000 a day. The American Apparel & Footwear Association has filed a legal challenge to CalRecycle's PRO selection, with an injunction hearing set for August 2026, but the registration deadline stands in the meantime.
TLDR:
- What it is: The Responsible Textile Recovery Act is shaking things up in fashion. It mandates brands to be responsible for managing and financing the entire lifecycle of their products.
- Who’s affected: If you’re a fashion brand or retailer with over $1M in global revenue and you sell in California, you need to pay attention.
- Deadline: All obligated producers had to register with Landbell USA, the state's approved PRO, by July 1, 2026. Full recycling and reuse standards are required by 2030.
- How resale helps: Resale is not only great for the planet, but it can also help brands meet these new rules and drive more sales. Win-win!
ICYMI (In Case You Missed It):
California is making headlines again with its new Responsible Textile Recovery Act (SB 707), a game-changing law aimed at cutting down the massive pile of fashion waste the industry creates—about 92 million tons each year, globally. This law is part of a larger global movement to clean up fashion’s act and hold companies accountable for their environmental impact. The resale market has quickly become a bright spot in this new world, offering brands a way to comply with the law while staying profitable.
Even though the focus is on California, this law is part of a bigger worldwide push for more climate action. If your brand’s not already thinking about how to go circular, now’s the time.
So, What’s The California Responsible Textile Recovery Act All About?
At its core, this law makes fashion brands step up and take responsibility for what happens to their products after they’re sold. This happens through something called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which means that brands are now in charge of what happens to their clothes—whether that’s reuse, recycling, or another end-of-life solution. Oh, and it will cost you. Companies will need to fund these efforts on their own, as it’s no longer coming out of the state’s budget.
Here’s what brands will need to do:
- Create a plan: You’ll need to figure out how to collect, transport, repair, sort, recycle, and safely handle your products at the end of their lives. This isn’t just for clothes—think shoes, handbags, swimwear, and even undergarments.
- File reports: You’ll be sending regular updates to California about how you’re managing waste, along with data on things like recycling performance, fee structures, and how you’re educating consumers.
- Pay attention to deadlines: If you’re not following the rules, expect fines of up to $50,000 a day.
The clock’s ticking, and the push for sustainable practices is only getting stronger.
Who’s Affected By This Act?
- Brands & Retailers: If you make or sell apparel in California and your company earns more than $1 million globally per year, you’re affected.
- Online Marketplaces: Sites like Amazon, Etsy, or any online platform where people can sell goods will also have to follow these rules, especially if third-party sellers are making a significant chunk of sales in the state.
- What counts as a "Covered Product?": This law includes most textile items—clothes, shoes, and bags—but leaves out stuff like protective gear, FDA-regulated items, and military uniforms.
How Can Resale Help Brands Comply?
The good news is that resale isn’t just a way to drive new revenue—it’s a practical way for brands to meet the requirements of this law. Here’s how you can use resale to your advantage:
- Resale is exempt: Secondhand sellers are excluded from SB 707's producer obligations entirely. Registration, reporting, and future fees apply to new product, not resale.
- Resale is already the recovery system: SB 707 exists to build collection, reuse, and recycling infrastructure for textiles. A resale program already does that job, every item resold is one that never needed collecting, sorting, or recovering.
- Join the PRO: If you're an obligated producer, Landbell USA is the Producer Responsibility Organization managing product lifecycle requirements. Registration is live now.
Key dates to watch:
- 2024-2025: Time to form a plan and explore product lifecycle strategies.
- February 27, 2026: CalRecycle selects Landbell USA as the official PRO.
- July 1, 2026: Deadline for all obligated producers to register with Landbell USA.
- 2028: CalRecycle’s implementing regulations take effect.
- 2030: Full compliance is mandatory. If you’re not meeting recycling and reuse standards by then, the fines will hurt ($10,000-$50,000 per day, to be exact).
What Should Brands Do Next?
First things first: register with Landbell USA, the Producer Responsibility Organization CalRecycle selected to run California's textile recovery program. Registration takes about 5 to 10 minutes at register.landbellusa.com. There's currently no individual compliance pathway outside the approved PRO.
And if you’re not already thinking of resale, now’s your chance. A branded resale program not only helps you comply with SB 707 but also builds loyalty, opens new revenue streams, and helps position your brand as a sustainability leader. Partnering with platforms like Treet makes it easy for brands to create a resale solution that keeps products in use longer—reducing waste and making your brand part of the circular economy.
Final Thoughts:
California’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act is forcing brands to take ownership of their environmental footprint, but it’s also offering a huge opportunity to rethink how we do business. By embracing resale, brands can stay compliant, reduce waste, and build a more sustainable future. It’s a win for the planet and for your bottom line.
Quick Glossary:
- Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO): A group that helps brands manage the end-of-life stages of their products.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): A policy that shifts the cost and responsibility of product disposal from the government to the companies that make and sell the products.
Key Info to Know:
- Agency in Charge: CalRecycle (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery)
- Producer Responsibility Organization: Landbell USA (selected February 27, 2026)
- Law Reference: SB 707
- PRO Registration Deadline: July 1, 2026
- Full Compliance Deadline: 2030
- Signed Into Law: September 28, 2024
Time to get started! Registration with Landbell USA is live now at register.landbellusa.com.
