The Circularity & Reverse Logistics Committee is an invite-only group exclusively open to senior executives and thought leaders from NRF and current RLA member companies who are driving innovation in circular supply chain practices. The committee’s mission is to advance circularity by addressing the challenges and opportunities in reverse logistics, product returns and the reuse, repair, refurbishment, resale and recycling of goods and materials.
Committee meetings offer a collaborative forum for peer exchange, featuring member-led presentations, expert insights and strategic discussions on emerging trends and solutions. These sessions are held in a closed-door, members-only environment to foster candid dialogue and focused problem-solving.
The committee includes specialized working groups focused on key sectors and topics, including:
NRF Consumer Returns
Electronics Returns & Reverse Logistics
European Returns & Reverse Logistics
Fashion Returns & Reverse Logistics
Women in Reverse Logistics
Together, these groups support the development of actionable strategies that help close the loop in retail and supply chain operations, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable circular economy.
The Circularity & Reverse Logistics Council meets virtually on a regular basis throughout the year to share best practices, issues, solutions and business opportunities within specific topics involving the reverse logistics industry. In addition, the council hosts supporting webinars throughout the year.
The Circularity & Reverse Logistics Committee extends invitations to sustainability and reverse logistics roles within NRF and RLA member companies. The associated working groups are open to those in related operational roles.
NRF Consumer Returns Working Group: The NRF Consumer Returns Working Group explores ways to reduce the cost and adverse impacts of consumer returns by improving sales processes to reduce unwanted consumer returns and optimizing reverse logistics processes to recover maximum value for returned products. Maximizing recovery value includes improving dispositioning decisions for inspecting, repackaging, refreshing, refurbishing and repairing products for resale; optimizing resale, liquidation, and recycling channels; and exploring other opportunities to minimize waste and maximize the value of recovered products and materials.
Electronics Returns & Reverse Logistics Working Group: The Electronics Returns & Reverse Logistics Working Group focuses on the unique needs of retailers and manufacturers in the electronics industry. It explores ways to reduce the cost and adverse impacts of electronics returns by improving sales processes to reduce unwanted returns and optimizing reverse logistics processes to recover maximum value for returned products. Maximizing recovery value includes improving dispositioning decisions for inspecting, repackaging, refurbishing and repairing electronics products for resale; optimizing resale, liquidation, parts recovery and recycling channels; and exploring other opportunities to minimize waste and maximize the value of recovered electronic products, parts and materials.
European Returns & Reverse Logistics Working Group: This group highlights best practices, insights and legal requirements from Europe that can reduce returns and provide efficient reverse logistics and processing know-how, as well as increasing asset recovery for member companies. Meetings include industry thought leaders based in Europe and engaged in circular economy activities.
Fashion Returns & Reverse Logistics Working Group: The Fashion Returns & Reverse Logistics Working Group includes industry executives focused on the operational side of fashion and textile circularity. The group includes those with expertise in reverse logistics, retail returns, collecting, sorting, resale, repair and recycling.
Women in Reverse Logistics Working Group: This group promotes people coming together to celebrate the role of women in reverse logistics by sharing knowledge, expertise and workplace experiences through leadership, networking support and excellent communication.
To join the Circularity & Reverse Logistics Committee or its associated working groups, or to learn more about reverse logistics, please contact councils@nrf.com.
Interested in joining a council, but unsure which one is right for you or unsure of your company’s membership status? We want you to be part of our retail and reverse logistics community. Connect with the team today at membershipinfo@nrf.com to learn more.
