NRF Center for Retail Sustainability

NRF Center for Retail Sustainability background

NRF Center for Retail Sustainability

The NRF Center for Retail Sustainability is the industry’s hub designed to support retailers’ efforts to generate economic value while creating net positive environmental, social and community benefits.

The Center highlights industry efforts, provides tools and resources for NRF members and facilitates engagement across retail value chains to make it easier for consumers to find high-quality, affordable and more sustainable products.

Get involved

For more information on how to participate in the work of the Center or other related inquiries, contact sustainability@nrf.com.

Areas of focus

Consumer insights

Leveraging consumer insights to support a broader understanding about what consumers mean when they express a desire to buy more sustainable products, how different consumers understand sustainability differently, how sustainability priorities shift from product category to product category, and how retailers can better understand the sustainability priorities of their consumers.

Circular economy

Facilitating the emergence of the circular economy by supporting retailer efforts to reduce waste; improve recycling efforts; sell products made from recycled, regenerative and other innovative materials; collect, refurbish and resell products; and improve retail’s reverse logistics processes.

Supply chain traceability

Improving supply chain traceability solutions by clarifying retailer and consumer needs, identifying existing tools, mapping overlapping and unique areas of focus, and supporting standards for data collection and data sharing protocols.

NRF Center for Retail Sustainability background
Leadership

Led by NRF Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Scot Case, the Center will be governed by an external advisory board comprised of senior-level sustainability executives, industry partners, academics and other subject matter experts. The NRF Center for Retail Sustainability expands upon the work of NRF’s existing Sustainability Council.

The NRF Sustainability Council is a collaborative networking group open to senior executives and their designees focused on corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG), and related sustainability issues. Learn more.

 
Latest news

NRF announces acquisition of Reverse Logistics Association 

The National Retail Federation acquired the Reverse Logistics Association, a global trade association for the retail returns and reverse logistics industry, in September 2023. 

The acquisition ensures members and the industry will continue to receive the most forward thinking, real world and actionable innovations, research and information to drive the evolution of the world’s supply chain.

 
Supply chain
 
Read the blog post

NRF launches Center for Retail Sustainability

The Center supports retailers’ commitments to create net positive environmental, social and community benefits while generating economic value.

Consumer demand for more sustainable solutions is increasing, especially among younger generations: Members of the millennial generation (born 1981 to 1996) and Generation Z (1997 to 2012) express the greatest interest in sustainability. These groups will surpass the purchasing power of their Baby Boomer elders by 2030, with $68 trillion in wealth transferring to the younger generations.

 
Sustainability goals
 
Sustainability
 
NRF members are addressing climate change

Driven by longstanding consumer and investor interest and scientific consensus, many NRF members believe climate change demands action and have been addressing climate change as one of their strategic priorities for years. NRF supports member efforts to address climate change.

Recent content

Walmart provides a peek at a connected, sustainable supply chain
 
Jane Ewing and David Guggina at NRF Supply Chain 360 Summit.
Collaboration ensures a company-wide commitment to leaving things ‘better than we found them’.
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3 ways retailers made it matter at NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show
 
Sara Eisen of CNBC and Raj Subramaniam of FedEx Corporation at NRF 2024: Retail's Big Show.
Impactful retail is driven by efficient tech and meaningful experiences.
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PepsiCo moves toward creating a more sustainable future
 
PepsiCo's Steven Williams
NRF 2024: CEO Steven Williams on a collaborative approach to positive change.
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NRF launches Center for Retail Sustainability
 
Sustainability goals
The Center supports retailers’ commitments to create net positive environmental, social and community benefits.
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NRF Debuts New Center for Retail Sustainability
 
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NRF Debuts New Center for Retail Sustainability
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Creating a circular retail economy
 
Sustainability
A workshop at NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show will help retailers understand how to evolve their businesses.
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REI re-embraces its mission to help people of all kinds spend more time in the great outdoors
 
REI store
CMO Chris Speyer oversees the co-op’s attempt to appeal to a more diverse population.
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How reverse logistics makes the retail cycle go around
 
Woman returning clothes at a store.
Retail Gets Real episode 324: Tony Sciarrotta of the Reverse Logistics Association explains the cycle of returned items.
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5 sustainability terms retail executives need to understand
 
A plant sprouting from a pile of books.
Understanding what the terms sustainabilty, corporate social responsibility, ESG, circularity and regenerative mean.
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5 ways retailers are building the circular economy
 
Clothing and recycle sign
Retailers and suppliers are embracing practices to drive profitable, consumer-friendly sustainability solutions.
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NRF Announces Acquisition of Reverse Logistics Association
 
Boardroom
NRF Announces Acquisition of Reverse Logistics Association
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