Zero Waste Committee
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RILA’s Zero Waste Committee is composed of retail waste management and compliance practitioners who work to improve materials management throughout their facilities and supply chains on the path to a more circular economy. Zero waste practitioners address issues that affect recycling, donation, composting, reuse, and other diversion options for waste generated at retail facilities and, increasingly, in product and packaging supply chains.
The retail industry operates in a changing domestic and global waste landscape to ensure efficient operations that meet customer expectations, comply with all relevant regulations, and respond to the need to address the environmental impacts of products and packaging. Leading retailers are working across the value chain with stakeholders to assess alternative materials, new service offerings, and more reliable diversion-enabling markets.
The Zero Waste Committee provides RILA members a forum for practitioners to benchmark and hear from experts regularly on rotating topics related to the implementation, management, and oversight of waste programs. The committee has sub-projects, benchmarking surveys, and monthly, focused benchmarking calls on members’ highest priority issues.
RILA members have full access to past call content, reports and benchmarking results which can be found below.
For more information on RILA's Zero Waste Committee, contact Erin Hiatt, senior director, sustainability and innovation at erin.hiatt@rila.org.
Committee Materials
External Stakeholder Communications Library
Resources are available to RILA committee members. Please login to access or contact us to learn more about membership.
Lululemon Polybag Case Study
After a month pilot, Caroline Colt, Asst. Manager of a Lululemon store in Colorado successfully implemented a ground-up polybag recycling program.
Carry Out Shopping Bag Compliance & Sustainability Survey
Peer survey on shopping bag regulation tracking, compliance, and sustainability approaches. (Members-only content. Please log-in to access).
China Ban on Plastics - A Conversation with UL
UL provides an overview of the China ban on plastics announced earlier in the year and answers questions from members
July 2019 Zero Waste Committee Survey Report
Peer survey on various submitted waste topics. (Members-only content. Please log-in to access).
June 2020 RILA ECC Virtual Meeting Day 1
Day 1 of the June 23 & 24 2020 RILA Virtual Environmental Compliance Committee Meeting
July 2020 Sustainability and Zero Waste Survey
Peer survey on current sustainability and zero waste practices.
June 2020 RILA ECC Virtual Meeting Day 2
Day 2 of the June 23 & 24, 2020 RILA Virtual Environmental Compliance Committee Meeting
March 2020 RILA Retail Donations Survey
Peer survey on retail donation programs and challenges.
ESG 101 - Understanding the Landscape Webinar Recording
Webinar featuring Leaders Arena, BlackRock, former CalSTRS Director, and HIP Investor on the basics of ESG investor criteria and trends.
Sustainability & Zero Waste Committee Survey Report
Peer survey on various submitted sustainability and waste topics. (Members-only content. Please log-in to access).
ESG Roadmap: Opportunities & Potholes Along the Way Webinar
Webinar featuring Leaders Arena and AllianceBernstein on ideas for structuring and communicating an ESG program.
Maximizing Value of Unsold Inventory Webinar
Webinar featuring a panel of industry experts and thought leaders to discuss inventory management strategies, options and financial considerations.
Retail Donation Programs Webinar
Good360, Feeding America, and Goodwill discuss donation of excess inventory, the state of donation organizations and key donation info for retailers.
How Retailers are Setting & Implementing Targets Webinar
Webinar featuring CDP and CVS Health on Science-Based Targets (SBTs) and Scope 3 emissions reduction approaches.
Sustainable Packaging Webinar Recording
Sustainable Packaging Coalition & Walmart on industry initiatives to improve packaging sustainability.(Members-only. Please log-in to access).

Sustainable Protective Packaging Innovation Challenge
Open innovation challenge webinar for startups & entrepreneurs to showcase their innovations in protective packaging materials.

Textile Circularity: The Missing Links Webinar
Discussion with industry experts on what’s still needed to make meaningful progress towards textile circularity.