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.
For more information on how to participate in the work of the Center or other related inquiries, contact sustainability@nrf.com.
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.
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.
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.
January 11-12, 2026
Sheraton Times Square | NYC
NRF Rev is a new event where reverse logistics meets revenue strategy. We bring together a diverse group of retailers, manufacturers and industry partners across the circular economy to help drive new strategies in cost-savings, profitability and customer satisfaction.
From returns as a new revenue source to attracting new consumers, retailers are reimagining reverse logistics.
NRF and Deloitte collaborated to develop Retail Circularity: An Action Guide for Retailers that provides an industry-wide perspective on emerging circular business models. Explore key findings from the guide.
The National Retail Federation created a database of enacted state laws and regulations on a variety of packaging, chemical, food additive, shopping bag, extended producer responsibility (EPR) and other sustainability issues affecting food and general retailers.
Members-only content. Please log in to view.
Led by NRF Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Scot Case, the NRF Center for Retail Sustainability is governed by an external advisory board comprised of senior-level sustainability executives, industry partners, academics and other subject matter experts. It includes the Sustainability Council, Extended Producer Responsibility Committee, Circularity and Reverse Logistics Committee and multiple related working groups. The Council, committees and working groups are issue-focused, collaborative problem-solving and networking groups open to senior executives and their designees.
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.
