RILA Announces Launch of EPA Retail Sustainability Portal 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a web portal that will provide retailers with a central clearinghouse for information regarding environmental sustainability and compliance, noted the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA).

The retail-specific tool is the product of an ongoing dialogue between the EPA and its retail partners. RILA has been a primary resource and sounding board for the EPA during the design and development of the Web portal.

“This portal will provide retailers of all sizes instant access to information to further advance the industry’s collective efforts to apply sustainable practices to their operations,” said RILA Senior Vice President for Retail Operations Casey Chroust. “The EPA has been a tremendous partner in this effort, and we thank them for supporting the retail industry’s drive to implement environmentally sustainable practices and forward-thinking change throughout the supply chain.”

The Web portal creates a central location for environmental compliance, sustainability and pollution prevention resources applicable to the retail sector, a one-stop-shop for retailers looking for sustainability information from the EPA. The easy-access portal not only includes all EPA content related to retail environmental compliance, it also provides links to many of the leading non-EPA resources for environmentally responsible retailers.

“Compliance assistance is an important tool to help achieve compliance with environmental regulations. This collaboration with the retail industry provides a cost-effective way to provide educational and technical materials to help the retail sector maintain and go beyond compliance. We appreciate the support of the retail leaders that helped EPA develop the Retail Industry Web Portal,” said Lisa Lund, director, EPA Office of Compliance.

To view the portal, please visit: www.epa.gov/retailindustry

RILA and its members actively pursue and promote environmental sustainability in numerous ways.  In 2007, RILA launched the RILA Sustainability Initiative (RSI), a collaboration designed to help leading retail companies meet and exceed environmental standards by pursuing environmentally sustainable activities and responsible business practices.

RILA is a member of the EPA SmartWay Shipper Stakeholder Committee, which provides input toward the development of the program’s next generation.  Smartway is an innovative collaboration between U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.  In addition to this SmartWay partnership, RILA is also a partner with EPA’s Energy Star and WasteWise programs.

Also, in October, RILA will host the second annual Environmental Sustainability & Compliance Conference (ESCC).  This unique educational conference is the only sustainability conference designed and presented by retailers, for retailers. The event 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.

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) promotes consumer choice and economic freedom through public policy and industry operational excellence. Its members include the largest and most successful retailers operating in the U.S.--which together provide millions of jobs and operate more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.

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