In order to ensure that clothing and textiles are kept out of landfills, the California Retailers Association (CRA), the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), and the National Retail Federation (NRF) have signed an MoU to jointly create an independent, 501(c)(3) Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO). The recently established organisation will comply with California’s pioneering Extended Producer Responsibility rule for textiles by collecting, repairing, reusing, and recycling materials after use.
California’s SB 707, which went into effect in 2024, mandates that textile importers and manufacturers join and finance a PRO in order to assume responsibility for end-of-life management. In order to comply with the law, the PRO will create and carry out a strategy that addresses the safe and appropriate handling of covered products as well as their collection, transportation, repair, and recycling. A PRO must be approved by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery by 1st March 2026, after the PRO application deadline of 1st January 2026.
The three associations’ intentions are formally stated in the MOU to:
Create a separate, producer-led PRO to act as a representative and guarantee adherence to SB 707 for all manufacturers of clothing and textile products.
Engage and include manufacturers, brands, retailers, collectors, sorters, recyclers, repair companies, and other stakeholders throughout the textile value chain to foster innovation and optimise program impact.
Get the PRO ready to create and carry out a successful stewardship program that complies with all legal criteria and fortifies the infrastructure for collection, repair, reuse, and recycling.
Rachel Michelin, President of the CRA, stated that California’s SB 707 positions the state as a national leader in responsible textile management. She emphasized that the association is proud to help set the standard for innovation and collaboration in environmental sustainability.
Steve Lamar, President and CEO of the AAFA, highlighted that the partnership reflects the industry’s commitment to supporting a circular transition. He noted that by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders from across the supply chain, the initiative aims to establish an inclusive organization tailored to California’s market and regulatory landscape.
Stephanie Martz, Chief Administrative Officer and Legal Counsel at the NRF, added that member organizations collectively bring extensive experience in building producer responsibility organizations (PROs), as well as in extended producer responsibility (EPR) compliance and implementation. She expressed optimism about working collaboratively to create an organization that can meet California’s immediate needs and potentially support similar efforts in other states moving forward.
