Agenda

Full Agenda
October 27, 2026 – Workshops
October 28, 2026 – Conference

October 27, 2026 – Workshops

Workshops

Recycled Content Workshop

1:00 PM - 4:30 PM EST

Registration Open

1:30 PM - 1:40 PM EST

Welcome Remarks

Kick off the half-day workshop experience designed to inspire action and collaboration. Engage in conversation and connection with fellow participants as we explore how recycled content and circular thinking are reshaping retail’s approach to innovation, impact, and shared responsibility.

1:40 PM - 2:00 PM EST

Recycled Content Workshop

Understand how retailers can meaningfully incorporate recycled content into products and packaging. From supplier sourcing and labeling requirements to consumer communication and evolving regulations, this session will cover the practical steps and business case for making the shift — and how recycled content fits into your broader sustainability strategy.

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM EST

Networking Break

ZEV Workshop

1:00 PM - 4:30 PM EST

Registration Open

1:30 PM - 1:40 PM EST

Welcome Remarks

Dive into a half-day workshop built to spark new thinking and drive meaningful change. Connect with fellow participants as we explore the road ahead on zero-emission vehicles, from fleet transition to infrastructure and everything in between.


1:40 PM - 2:00 PM EST

ZEV Workshop

Dive into key enablers of zero-emission delivery, including fleet transition strategies, charging infrastructure for both residential and commercial needs, and available incentives and funding.

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM EST

Networking Break

October 27, 2026 – Workshops

Conference

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Registration Open
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM EST
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM EST
1:30 PM - 1:40 PM EST
1:30 PM - 1:40 PM EST
1:40 PM - 2:00 PM EST
1:40 PM - 2:00 PM EST
2:00 PM - 2:05 PM EST
Sponsor Spotlight
2:00 PM - 2:05 PM EST
Sponsor Spotlight
2:05 PM - 2:30 PM EST
2:05 PM - 2:30 PM EST
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM EST
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM EST
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM EST
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM EST
4:30 PM - 4:40 PM EST
Closing Remarks
4:30 PM - 4:40 PM EST
Closing Remarks

October 28, 2026 – Conference

Conference

7:30 AM - 4:30 PM EST
Registration Open
7:30 AM - 8:15 AM EST

Networking Breakfast

8:15 AM - 8:30 AM EST

Welcoming Remarks

Main Session Hall

Join RCC’s President and CEO Kim Furlong and Michael Zabaneh, Vice President Sustainability, as they kick off RCC’s Retail Sustainability Conference. Get ready for an inspiring day of learning, recognition, expanding your connections, and collaborating on new ideas for more sustainable retail in Canada.

Michael Zabaneh

VP, Sustainability

Retail Council of Canada

Kim Furlong

President & CEO

Retail Council of Canada

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM EST

Inside Walmart: Scaling Sustainability Across Retail Value Chains

Kathleen McLaughlin

Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer

Walmart Inc.

Main Session Hall

As sustainability becomes increasingly central to business performance, leaders are being challenged to move faster, think bigger, and operate differently.

Recognized globally for her leadership, including on TIME’s TIME100 Climate list, Kathleen McLaughlin will share what it takes to lead sustainability transformation across one of the world’s largest and most complex retail ecosystems. At Walmart, this work spans climate, supply chains, communities, and economic opportunity, reflecting a model where sustainability is not separate from the business, but deeply embedded within it.

Don’t miss this unique vantage point on how organizations can shift from intention to impact by leveraging scale, partnerships, and innovation to drive measurable change.

9:00 AM - 9:05 AM EST
Sponsor Spotlight
9:05 AM - 9:35 AM EST

Main Stage Session

Details to be announced

9:35 AM - 9:40 AM EST
Sponsor Spotlight
9:40 AM - 10:10 AM EST

Main Stage Session

Details to be announced

10:10 AM - 10:15 AM EST
Sponsor Spotlight
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM EST

Main Stage Session

Details to be announced

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM EST

Main Stage Session

Details to be announced

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EST

Networking Break

Enjoy networking and refreshments in the exhibit hall with fellow attendees and connect with exhibitors to learn more about how they are supporting the industry.

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM EST
Morning Concurrent Sessions
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM EST
Networking Lunch
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EST
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EST

Networking Break

Enjoy networking and refreshments in the exhibit hall with fellow attendees and connect with exhibitors to learn more about how they are supporting the industry.

3:15 PM - 3:20 PM EST

RCC Member Update

Michael Zabaneh

VP, Sustainability

Retail Council of Canada

3:20 PM - 3:25 PM EST
Sponsor Spotlight
3:25 PM - 3:55 PM EST

Main Stage Session

Details to be announced

3:55 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Sponsor Spotlight
3:55 PM - 4:30 PM EST

The New Era of Sustainability: Value Creation at Colgate-Palmolive

Main Session Hall

One of the most influential sustainability executives in the consumer goods industry joins RCC’s Retail Sustainability Conference for an in-depth conversation. Ann Tracy has spent three decades at Colgate-Palmolive, and since becoming its first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer in 2020, she has repositioned the company’s net-zero agenda as a trigger for commercial growth.

In this fireside chat, Tracy explores the business case in full: how embedding sustainability into core strategy has driven measurable results, including more than $1 billion in energy savings over two decades, and how the company is scaling circularity, responsible sourcing, and emissions reduction across a $20 billion global operation.

This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from a leader who has done it and gain insight into what it takes to turn sustainability ambition into competitive advantage.

Ann Tracy

Chief Sustainability Officer

Colgate-Palmolive

Kim Furlong

President & CEO

Retail Council of Canada

4:30 PM - 4:40 PM EST
Closing Remarks
4:40 PM - 5:30 PM EST

Networking Reception

Enjoy networking and refreshments with fellow attendees and connect with exhibitors to learn more about how they are supporting the industry.

5:30 PM - 8:30 PM EST

Retail Sustainability Excellence Awards Gala Dinner

Join our awards gala dinner that celebrates the best of Canadian retail sustainability.

Separate Ticket Required

Interested in having a presence and sharing your retail story at the
Retail Sustainability Conference 2026?

Contact RCC Sponsorship at rccsponsorship@retailcouncil.org for more information.