Regulating the Future of Fashion: The Impact of California’s Textile EPR on the U.S. with Rachel Kibbe from American Circular Textiels

How do you build a circular textile system in a country that lacks the infrastructure to collect, sort, or recycle at scale?

In this deep dive conversation, Carl is joined by Rachel Kibbe, founder of American Circular Textiles and Circular Services Group, to unpack the complexities of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the U.S. and draw sharp comparisons with Europe’s more established systems.

Together, they explore:

• The current white spots in U.S. textile collection and why Europe’s 20+ year head start matters
• How the California SB707 EPR bill could redefine circularity—if implemented with the right incentives
• Fee structures, eco-modulation, and the need to finance not just design, but also infrastructure
• The risk of monopolization in Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) and what it means for innovation
• Why voluntary, collaborative blueprints—like the one Carl is helping pilot in Germany—could shape future regulation

This is not just another podcast on sustainability. It’s a rare, behind-the-scenes dialogue between two people on the front lines of system change—blending entrepreneurial urgency with deep policy knowledge.

If you’re working in fashion, waste management, policy, or investing in circular solutions, this episode will challenge your assumptions and offer a grounded roadmap for what real circularity looks like at scale.

Contact Us

This is interactive content - send us your questions to the guests and we record another session just focusing on your questions!

You have suggestions for new guests or want to sponsor the show?

• Contact Carl via LinkedIn

Thanks for listening and keep podcasting!