THE ORGANIZATION
The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) is a powerful network of local governments, non-government organizations, businesses, and individuals supporting policies and projects where producers share in the responsibility for managing problem products at their end of life.
CPSC is California’s thought leader and expert on Product Stewardship and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) movement.
EPR enjoys the support of more than 26 million Californians. That’s nearly 70% of the state's population! Nearly 150 resolutions have been passed by California local jurisdictions and organizations supporting a more sustainable and toxic free environment through product stewardship. CPSC works closely with companies like Flame King who have redesigned products for reuse as well as those who have established pilot or permanent collection programs with some sharing of costs with others in the product chain.
In July 2015, the CPSC Board, current CPSC Executive Director (Doug Kobold), and others formed the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC), a 501(c)(4). With CPSC’s legislative successes in California, increasing demands for CPSC’s assistance had come from all across the country, creating the need for an entity that could carry CPSC’s work forward, without lobbying limits, on a national scale.
Let us know how we can help your city or county take the first step towards adopting producer responsibility to promote safer, healthier families and communities!
CPSC Vision
Producers have the primary responsibility to establish, fund, and maximize material recovery systems to support a circular economy for their products with state government setting the performance goals and ensuring accountability and transparency.
CPSC Mission Statement
To shift California’s material economy from a linear model that subsidizes resource extraction, including ratepayer financed collection and disposal, towards a circular economy that relies upon producer-financed and managed recovery programs overseen by state agencies with all participants compensated for their contributions, while improving the health and well-being of all Californians.
CPSC will accomplish our mission by:
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Providing greater support for waste prevention and materials recovery than comparable supports for raw materials or energy extraction;
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Fostering separation of materials discards for safety and recovery; and
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Keeping products in use longer through reuse, repair, and salvage.
From the Executive Director
Welcome to the CPSC website! Our goals are to educate you about producer responsibility, inspire you, and provide you with the tools to take action. Have a product related problem in your community? Let us know how we can help! Learn more about current sponsorship opportunities, or consider showing your support by contributing to CPSC so we can continue to work on the products that matter the most to you, your family, and your community.
With gratitude,
Doug Kobold
BOARD MEMBERS
CPSC is grateful to have a board that reflects both the diversity of our state's communities and diversity of industry stakeholders. Learn more about how CPSC, by design, ensures diversity on nearly every front.
Julia Au
Senior Outreach, Education, and Compliance Manager
RethinkWaste
San Carlos, CA
Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs Manager, Recology
San Francisco, CA
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Susanne Passantino
Market Director Government Affairs
Republic Services
Los Angeles, CA
Chris Sheppard
Senior Civil Engineer
County of LA
Dept. of Public Works
Los Angeles, CA
STAFF
We are a diverse group of highly accomplished experts in our fields of practice. We are passionate about the work we do and the communities we serve.
SPONSORS
Thank you to our sponsors and associates for supporting CPSC!
CPSC advocates on behalf of countless cities, towns, and other jurisdictions here in California. We are grateful for their financial support, along with various other sponsors, and all that they do to further our mission and vision for material management in California. Learn more about sponsoring CPSC here and click here to learn more about CPSC sponsorship levels.
Circular Sponsors ($20,000 or more)
Platinum Sponsors ($10,000 or more)
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Gold Sponsors ($5,000 to $9,999)
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Silver Sponsors ($2,500 to $4,999)
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Toews
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Bronze Sponsors
Product Care Association of Canada
R3 Consulting
Regent Apparel
SGA Marketing
RRS Consulting
Textile Exchange
Circular Polymers
Potential Industries
Visions Paint
Green Sponsors
California Association of Recycling Market Development Zones
TDC Environmental
Business Waste Management Consulting
Green Cities of California
Reciprocal Benefits Sponsors
California Resource Recovery Association
CPSC Staff Representation on External Boards
Our team continues to advance EPR initiatives by actively participating on external boards
ANNUAL REPORTS
AWARDS
Arrow Awards
Overview
The California Product Stewardship Council recognizes California businesses for outstanding leadership, innovation and partnerships in product stewardship and green design. The Arrow Awards recognize innovative product stewardship programs, outstanding partnerships in product stewardship and serve to inspire organizations to integrate the principles of product stewardship.
Learn more about current and previous awards!
The nomination period for the 2023 Arrow Awards has closed! Stay tuned for the 2024 nomination application.
Eligibility
Any business entity (division or facility located in California), third party stewardship organizations and non‐profits are eligible to apply.
Award Recipient Benefits
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A custom-designed award made of recycled materials by Bay Area artist Ellen Blakeley presented at an evening awards event attended by more than 700 local and state government representatives, state legislators and industry representatives.
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Statewide media coverage
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Organization’s profile on CPSC’s Arrow Awards web page for one year
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Organization’s profile in CPSC’s electronic newsletter, distributed to more than 3,000 viewers
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Organization’s video (if submitted) uploaded to CPSC’s YouTube Channel
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Use of Arrow Awards medallion on organization’s public relations materials
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Ongoing promotion and support from CPSC
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A link from CPSC’s website to award recipients
Award Categories
Overall Excellence Award: The Golden Arrow Award for Overall Excellence in Product Stewardship
This award will be given to a company that demonstrates excellence in several aspects of product stewardship, including green design, toxics reduction, packaging reduction, increased reuse, repair, re-manufacture, convenient product take-back and end of life (EOL) management for one or more products.
Note: Do not apply for this award. The Golden Arrow Award winner will be selected by the review panel from the applicants of the categories below. If you wish to be considered for the Golden Arrow Award, then ensure your application speaks to all three individual categories.
Green Arrow Award for System and Design Innovations
This award will be given to a company that demonstrates an innovative product, package or system-approach that removes or reduces toxic or other problematic attributes present in other similar products. Examples: citrus cleaners that replace petroleum solvents; refillable packaging vs. one-way disposable; integrated (cradle-to-cradle) approach to providing a product, i.e., prepaid mailer to return product to manufacturer for reuse or recycling.
The Bow and Arrow Award for Coalition Building
This award will be given to a company or group that has excelled in building partnerships and demonstrating the inter-dependence between producers, distributors, retailers, public agencies and other stakeholders. The award may recognize a producer, a group of producers, an industry or trade association, or a stewardship organization that works with public agencies, retailers or other stakeholders to deal with EOL issues.
The Infinity Arrow Award for Service and Take-Back
This award will recognize a retail business, group of businesses, or chain that has initiated an outstanding Take Back program for one or more product as an additional convenience and service to their customers, and works with the producers of those products in developing safe storage and recovery of EOL products and packages.
Read more about current and previous award winning
companies. View pictures from the ceremonies and
see the press on CPSC's arrow awards.
Pictured right: Group photo featuring the 2022 Arrow
Award recipients, CPSC staff, and CPSC board members.
Legislative Awards
Overview
The California Product Stewardship Council recognizes California legislators for outstanding leadership, innovative solutions, and development of strategic partnerships in regards to statewide policies on product stewardship and green design. Read more about current and previous award winning legislators.
Associate/Sponsor of the Year Awards
Overview
The California Product Stewardship Council recognizes associates and partners for outstanding leadership in their field, innovative solutions to longstanding issues, and effective partnership in regards to product stewardship and green design in California. Read more about current and previous award winning local governments and sponsors.
PRESS FEATURING CPSC
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California Product Stewardship Council’s “Make the Electronic Marine Flare Switch” Campaign Promotes Safe Marine Flare Disposal and Reusable Alternatives - Scrap Monster, 11/24/23
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California Product Stewardship Council’s “Make the Electronic Marine Flare Switch” Campaign Promotes Safe Marine Flare Disposal and Reusable Alternatives - Waste Advantage, 11/22/23
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Circular Polymers by Ascend and ReDefyne Experts Highlight Expanded Options for Post-Consumer Recycled Nylons - Textile World, 11/14/23
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Right to Repair Wins in California With U.S. Proposal in the Works - Waste 360, 11/6/23
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A Q&A with Senator Josh Newman: How the circular economy effort in California is making a major impact on the environment - Sac News & Review, 10/24/23
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Pyrotechnic marine flares ignite concerns for safety - Best of SNO, 10/5/23
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Pyrotechnic marine flares ignite concerns for safety - Scot Scoop, 9/29/23
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California Responsible Textile Recovery Act Tabled Until 2024 - Sourcing Journal, 9/21/23
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Keeping Up - Capitol Morning Report, 9/15/23
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California legislative snapshot: Right-to-repair, labor dispute bill, bottle bill expansion still on table - WasteDrive, 9/6/23
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AATCC To Announce 2023 Future Leaders Award Recipients - Textile World, 8/29/23
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Upcoming Marine Flare Collection Events - The Log, 8/17/23
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Sustainable Textiles: Protecting Your Health and the Planet - YMyHealth, 7/25/23
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EPR & Textile Stewardship with Joanne of CPSC - Clothes Horse, 7/16/23
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Make your camping trip more sustainable by swapping out this one item - The Orange County Register, 7/14/23
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California’s proposed Responsible Textile Recovery Act pulled from legislative session - Fashion Dive, 7/12/23
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Newman converts textile recycling measure to 2-year bill - Politico, 7/11/23
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CalRecycle names its first packaging EPR advisory board - Resource Recycling, 7/10/23
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California textile recycling bill gets amendments ahead of key hearing - Politico, 7/6/23
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Goodwill project finds clothing repair sustainable, but expensive - Mission Local, 5/18/23
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A slew of countries are asking fashion companies to pay for recycling programs as clothing waste becomes overwhelming - Fortune, 5/31/23
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How Fashion Companies Can Take Responsibility for Their Waste and Move Toward A Just, Circular Textile Economy - Fibershed, 5/26/23
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Regulators Want Fashion Brands to Pay for Their Textile Waste - Bloomberg, 5/25/23
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Zero Waste Symposium returns in person to the North Bay - Northern California Public Media, 5/12/23
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California SB 707: EPR Textile Recycling and Repair Program with CPSC’s Dr. Joanne Brasch - Swap Society, 4/27/23
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Why Recycling Plants Keep Catching on Fire - TIME, 4/13/23
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California officials hint at big e-scrap program changes - E-Scrap News, 3/29/23
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In California, Textile Waste is Out of Fashion - Future World, 3/16/23
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California Senate Committee to Hold Hearing on Textile Recycling Bill - International Sleep Products Association, 3/14/23
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The Textile Dilemma: From Manufacturing, To Waste, To Solutions - EcoJustice Radio, 3/6/23
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California could make apparel producers liable for textile waste - Sourcing Journal, 3/6/23
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California legislature takes on textiles - Recycling Today, 3/3/23
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Fashion companies would have to help recycle clothes under proposed California bill - Paradise Post, 3/3/23
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California legislature takes on textiles - Waste Today, 3/3/23
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Fashion companies would have to help recycle clothes under proposed California bill - The Mendocino Beacon, 3/3/23
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Fashion companies would have to help recycle clothes under proposed California bill - The Orange County Register, 3/2/23
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California, US introduces bill for collection & recycling of textiles - Fibre2Fashion, 3/2/23
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Legislation Introduced to create first-of-its-kind EPR textile recycling and repair program in CA - Waste Advantage, 2/28/23
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A California bill wants to make brands responsible for fashion's waste problem - Vogue Business, 2/27/23
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