RILA’s Environmental Sustainability and Compliance Conference Sees Record Breaking Attendance
The second annual Environmental Sustainability and Compliance Conference (ESCC) held in Dallas, Texas saw attendance top expectations for 2009, beating 2008 attendance, the Retail Industry Leaders Association announced today. “This year’s attendance growth reflects both the retail industry’s commitment to sustainability and the educational and collaborative approach the conference offers to executives involved in establishing environmental programs and integrating green practices into their companies.” said Casey Chroust, executive vice president, retail operations. RILA’s 2009 Environmental Sustainability & Compliance Conference (ESCC) is the only sustainability conference designed and presented by retailers, for retailers. The conference brings together business leaders from across the retail spectrum to hear from their peers, share best practices, and learn the latest operational strategies for environmental sustainability and compliance. A business imperative, retailers and product manufacturers understand that sound environmental practices improve their companies’ performance and create opportunities for growth and sustainable business longevity. In today’s economic climate, green initiatives can be a differentiator for customers, a money-saver for retailers and driver of innovation. The conference’s program addressed the key operational aspects of environmental sustainability and compliance for the retail industry, including sessions on energy, waste management, water conservation, store operations, real estate development, and supply chain issues. General Sessions for the opening day included a look at the approaches to sustainability by leading retailers, research on the green consumer and retailers’ role in product stewardship. Breakout sessions covered waste minimization and management, educating consumers on corporate social responsibility reports and retail marketers on articulating retail sustainability efforts, and approaches to green power procurement and improved energy management. The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is the trade association of the world’s largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and operate more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.
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Brian Dodge SVP, Communications & State Affairs Phone: 703-600-2017 Email: brian.dodge@rila.org