Landbell USA to serve as PRO under California’s textile EPR law

CalRecycled announced Feb. 27 that Landbell USA was selected to serve as the producer responsibility organization (PRO) for California’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) law for textiles.

The Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, or S.B. 707, was signed into law by Gov. Newsom in late 2024.  

Under the law, Landbell USA will be responsible for implementing a plan for the collection, transportation and management of covered apparel and textile products, including items such as shirts and dresses, leisurewear and athletic wear, handbags and accessories, bedding, window coverings, towels and tablecloths. 

Two other organizations applied for the role of PRO: the Circular Textile Alliance, based in Sacramento, California; and the Textile Renewal Alliance, also based in Sacramento.

Landbell USA is part of the Landbell Group of Germany and operates one of the first textile PROs in the world through its European Recycling Platform (ERP) Netherlands entity.

Landbell says its program design prioritizes reuse and repair, with a goal to prepare a significant share of collected covered materials for reuse and repair, with retailer and community-based organizations making repair services visible and accessible.

Producers of covered products are required to join Landbell USA by July 1.

The National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC), headquartered in Sacramento, has voiced its support for the selection of Landbell USA, applauding CalReycle's “careful due diligence.”

“The selection of a textile PRO represents a critical milestone in moving landmark policy into operational practice,” NSAC adds. “Successful implementation of S.B. 707 will require collaboration, transparency, innovation and strong stakeholder engagement across the textile value chain."  

NSAC has been promoting and helping to craft EPR policy in the United States through its National Textile Circularity Working Group and Packaging and EPR Implementation Working Group, which convene local and state governments, industry leaders, nonprofits, recyclers and policymakers to address implementation challenges and support practical program design. 

NSAC’s Executive Director and CEO Heidi Sanborn will serve as a member of Landbell’s Advisory Committee, which brings together additional perspectives from policy and legislation, municipal outreach, eco-design and digital product passports, footwear deconstruction, academic curriculum reform, spinner innovation and community creative hubs. NSAC says Sanborn and other Advisory Committee members translate statute into practical targets, convene sector peers when collaboration is required and strengthen implementation through diverse expertise. 

As the first textile EPR program in the nation moves into implementation, NSAC encourages those committed to strengthening textile systems through policy, pilots and scalable solutions to engage in its National Textile Circularity Working Group.