Agenda

Full Agenda
October 29, 2025 – EV Workshop
October 29, 2025 – EPR Workshop
October 30, 2025 – Conference

October 29, 2025 – EV Workshop

1:00 PM - 4:30 PM EST
Registration
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM EST
Welcome & Networking
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM EST

Welcoming Remarks

IKEA Canada’s Head of Public affairs, Tim Fuchs, and RCC’s Manager of Sustainability, Harrison Brook, kick off a new half-day workshop experience designed to inspire action in retail sustainability. Engage in conversation and connection with fellow participants as we begin a dynamic journey focused on innovation, impact, and shared responsibility.

Harrison Brook

Manager, Sustainability

Retail Council of Canada

Tim Fuchs

Head of Public Affairs

IKEA Canada

2:00 PM - 2:20 PM EST

Driving Change with IKEA’s Electric-Only Home Deliveries

Alicia Creagh

Fulfilment Sourcing Manager

IKEA Canada

Join us to explore how IKEA Canada is accelerating the shift to zero-emission logistics with its bold commitment by 2028, greater than 90% of home deliveries in key markets will use electric vehicles or other zero-carbon alternatives. This session will examine IKEA’s rapid EV fleet expansion since 2017 and its broader ambition to become climate-positive by 2030. 

2:20 PM - 2:25 PM EST
Sponsor Spotlight
2:25 PM - 3:05 PM EST

Fleet Electrification in Action: Real Strategies for Real Challenges

Fleet electrification is no longer a future goal—it’s happening now, and leading organizations are facing real, operational challenges as they begin the transition. This panel will spotlight what fleets are experiencing on the ground when it comes to operations—both the positive and the challenging. Using real fleet experience, panelists will share insights on charging infrastructure, software, connectivity, telematics, energy management, and more. The conversation will focus on how to reduce costs, improve uptime, and scale quickly at lowest risk. Attendees will walk away with a clearer understanding of the pain points and practical approaches to move forward

3:05 PM - 3:15 PM EST

Government Update

Details to be announced.

3:15 PM - 3:35 PM EST
Networking Break
3:35 PM - 3:40 PM EST
Sponsor Spotlight
3:40 PM - 5:10 PM EST

Zero Emission Workshop

Join IKEA Canada and Power ON in an interactive workshop will 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.

Tim Fuchs

Head of Public Affairs

IKEA Canada

Dave Jerman

Account Executive

PowerON Energy Solutions

5:10 PM - 5:10 PM EST
Closing Remarks
5:10 PM - 6:30 PM EST
Networking Reception

October 29, 2025 – EPR Workshop

1:00 PM - 4:30 PM EST
Registration
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM EST
Welcome & Networking
1:45 PM - 1:50 PM EST

Welcoming Remarks

Michael Zabaneh

VP, Sustainability

Retail Council of Canada

Join RCC’s VP of Sustainability, Michael Zabaneh, as he kicks off a new half-day workshop experience designed to inspire action and collaboration. Engage in conversation and connection with fellow participants as we begin a dynamic journey focused on innovation, impact, and shared responsibility

1:50 PM - 2:10 PM EST

Navigating EPR: Trends, challenges and opportunities

Mary Cummins

Registrar

RPRA

RPRA’s Registrar Mary Cummins will explore the evolving landscape of extended producer responsibility (EPR). As Ontario’s EPR regulator, RPRA is responsible for implementing and enforcing the province’s regulatory framework. In her keynote, Mary will highlight emerging trends, implementation challenges, cross-provincial harmonization, and efforts to strengthen regulatory effectiveness. 

2:10 PM - 2:15 PM EST

Forward Thinking in an Evolving EPR Landscape 

Jon McQuaid

Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Call2Recycle Canada

Sponsor Spotlight

As extended producer responsibility (EPR) battery regulations continue to evolve across Canada and globally, Canadian retailers are continually adapting to increasingly complex requirements. Jon McQuaid, VP of Marketing & Communications at Call2Recycle Canada, will highlight the shifting battery landscape and share actionable strategies retailers can deploy to maintain compliance, elevate public education and awareness, and advance corporate ESG commitments.

2:15 PM - 2:55 PM EST

Promoting Harmonization and Regulatory Effectiveness

Join EPR regulators from across Canada as they discuss how the provinces are collaborating to promote harmonization, drive efficiencies and ease regulatory burden. 

Mary Cummins

Registrar

RPRA

Ed Gugenheimer

CEO

ARMA

Cameron Parrack

Director of Programs and Stakeholder Relations

RPRA

Alanna McPhee

Executive Director, EPR Oversight

Divert NS

2:55 PM - 3:15 PM EST
Networking Break
3:15 PM - 3:40 PM EST

Panel Conversation

Details to be announced.

3:40 PM - 5:10 PM EST
3:40 PM - 3:45 PM EST
Sponsor Spotlight
3:45 PM - 5:10 PM EST

Opportunities for Alignment: Producer and Regulator Perspectives on EPR Transitions

This workshop session will explore Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) transitions across North America from multiple perspectives. Producers will share experiences as new programs roll out, including cost pressures, reporting, and operational realities. Provincial regulators will outline priorities for oversight, compliance, and verification, while highlighting opportunities for harmonization. The session will also draw feedback from stakeholders across the value chain to identify pathways for greater consistency, efficiency, and continuous improvement in EPR systems.

Michael Zabaneh

VP, Sustainability

Retail Council of Canada

Cameron Parrack

Director of Programs and Stakeholder Relations

RPRA

5:10 PM - 5:10 PM EST
Closing Remarks
5:10 PM - 6:30 PM EST
Networking Reception

October 30, 2025 – Conference

7:30 AM - 4:30 PM EST
Registration
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM EST
Networking Breakfast
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM EST

Welcoming Remarks

Main Session Hall

Michael Zabaneh

VP, Sustainability

Retail Council of Canada

Kim Furlong

President & CEO

Retail Council of Canada

Krista Scaldwell

President

Canadian Beverage Association

Michael Graydon

CEO

Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada

Cliff Hacking

President and CEO

Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA)

8:45 AM - 9:15 AM EST

Costco’s Sustainability Journey: From Operations to Global Supply Chains

Sheri Flies

Senior Vice President, Global Sustainability and Compliance

Costco Wholesale

Costco is advancing sustainability through a holistic approach that incorporates human rights, animal welfare, supply chain mapping, certification programs and land stewardship with the reduction of water, waste, energy, emissions and packaging. At the core of this effort is engaging and collaborating with its employees and suppliers to drive change across global supply chains and align sustainability with business practices. Lasting impact cannot be achieved by one company alone, real progress requires collaboration across the entire value chain to deliver the system transformation needed to reach our shared sustainability objectives.

9:15 AM - 9:20 AM EST

Why Nature is a Business Imperative 

Lauren Adey

Vice President, Marketing & Retail

Cool Climate Club

Sponsor Spotlight

75% of gen Z’s are worried about the future and suffer from climate anxiety and 63% of retailers said that sustainability initiatives helped boost revenues. A sustainability strategy is no longer optional for retailers, it’s an expectation from customers, who are increasingly shopping with their values. Learn more about how Cool Climate Club – a nature-based solution to climate action – provides customizable, turnkey solutions for retailers to build and amplify their sustainability strategy, while engaging younger audiences through bold marketing opportunities. 

9:20 AM - 9:50 AM EST

Rethinking Supply Chains for a Sustainable Future

Sam Hamam

Head of Supply Chain

McDonald's Canada

Global supply chains are under growing pressure to deliver not just efficiency, but environmental responsibility. This panel brings together industry leaders and sustainability experts to explore how decarbonization, safe chemical management, and climate risk mitigation can be embedded into the way we design, source, and move goods. We’ll discuss strategies for fostering sustainable consumption, advancing circularity, and driving collaborative action across the retail sector. Attendees will gain insights into practical solutions, partnerships, and innovations that can future-proof supply chains while creating long-term value for both business and the planet.

Additional Panelists to be Announced

9:50 AM - 9:55 AM EST

Three Trends to Watch: What Forward Thinking Retailers Need to Know About EPR

Adrian Vannahme

Chief Operating Officer

Reclay StewardEdge

Sponsor Spotlight

As extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations accelerate worldwide, Canadian retailers face mounting complexity at home and abroad. Adrian Vanaham, COO of the Canadian division of Reclay StewardEdge, highlights the rising cost of getting compliance right, the patchwork pace of regulatory alignment, and the practical tools that may finally make it all manageable. Drawing from cross continental insight, Adrian will map these shifts through the lens of EPR maturity progression in Europe and North America—offering valuable context for what’s likely to emerge next. He’ll also explore how forward-thinking teams can stay ahead of regulatory pressure while keeping costs under control. 

9:55 AM - 10:10 AM EST
Networking Break
10:10 AM - 10:45 AM EST

How Refill and Reuse Are Reshaping Consumer Goods 

As the consumer goods industry moves toward more sustainable packaging solutions, refill and reuse models are gaining traction as viable alternatives to single-use formats. This panel discussion will spotlight the Consumer Goods Forum’s Refill/ Reuse Pilot Project, bringing together leaders from participating companies to share real-world insights, challenges, and early results. 

Panelists will explore what it takes to implement scalable refill and reuse systems, how consumers are responding, and what’s needed to drive broader adoption across the value chain.  

Dr. Zahra Bhojani

Sustainability and Enterprise Plastics Lead

Loblaw Companies Limited

Kristina Friedman

Head of Sustainability for North America

Unilever

Ashley Fill

Director, Global Sustainability Communications

Procter and Gamble

10:45 AM - 10:55 AM EST
Sponsor Spotlight
10:55 AM - 11:25 AM EST

From Risk to Resilience: Sustainability as a Retail Strategy

Canadian retailers are operating in a time of profound transformation—facing climate-related risks, evolving consumer expectations, regulatory pressures, and supply chain volatility. In this context, sustainability is no longer optional; it’s a strategic lever for resilience, operational excellence, and long-term growth. This session will explore how leading retailers are integrating sustainability practices and proven solutions into core business strategies to mitigate risk, unlock efficiencies, and drive measurable impact. This panel discussion will focus on retail transformation and how sustainability is a catalyst for profitability and competitive advantage within organizations and across value chains.

Joshua Goodman

Head of Corporate Sustainability

Sobeys

Paul Yang

Head of Global Sustainability

Restaurant Brands International

Richard Henzie

Senior Director, Digital Energy

Schneider Electric Canada

Simone D’Angelo

Senior Manager, Engineering Design, Corporate Real Estate

BMO Financial Group

11:25 AM - 11:30 AM EST

PFAS, Forced Labor, EPR & EUDR: What’s Next in Regulatory Risk for Retailers? 

Eric Donato

Enterprise Account Executive

Source Intelligence

Sponsor Spotlight

The retail regulatory landscape is evolving fast—and getting riskier. From PFAS bans in North America to EPR packaging laws and the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), global retailers are facing rising scrutiny around product materials, labor practices, and sourcing origins. Get a rapid rundown of the most urgent compliance shifts and learn how automation, AI and supplier data tools can help you scale market access requirements, reduce negative brand risk exposure, and avoid costly disruptions. 

11:30 AM - 11:50 AM EST

Main Stage Session

Details to be announced.

11:50 AM - 12:20 PM EST
Networking Break - Sponsored By Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA)
12:20 PM - 1:05 PM EST
Morning Concurrent Sessions
12:20 PM - 1:05 PM EST

Retrofitting Right: Collaboration, Planning, and Execution for Sustainable Retail 

This panel session will explore the power of a holistic, systems-based approach to sustainable retrofits—going beyond product-specific upgrades to drive meaningful, long-term impact. Rather than spotlighting individual technologies, the discussion will showcase integrated strategies that maximize energy efficiency, cost savings, and decarbonization. 

Attendees will gain insights from industry experts who will share real-world best practices, emphasizing collaboration, coordinated planning, and accountability across project phases. Key themes include integrated mechanical-electrical-building systems planning, the value of design-build models, and aligning stakeholders early to improve outcomes.

Ashley Jones

Business Development Officer

SOFIAC

Wil Bell

Building Solutions & Decarbonization Lead

Modern Niagara

Sarahjayne Benedict

Operations Facilities Management Specialist

IKEA Canada

Matt Brunette

Program Manager, Energy Performance

Toronto Region Conservation Authority

Beyond Compliance: How Industry is Tackling PFAS and Chemicals of Concern

In an era where chemical management is becoming a core business imperative, Canadian retailers and CPG companies are entering uncharted territory as regulations on PFAS and other chemicals of concern rapidly evolve. With most PFAS now classified as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and a phased regulatory strategy in motion, businesses face complex compliance challenges spanning different product categories. This panel brings together industry experts to examine how leading companies are responding to proactively identify, substitute, and eliminate PFAS from their supply chains. Drawing on lessons from real-world experiences and market shifts, panellists will share strategies for enhancing supply chain transparency, conducting robust risk assessments, implementing product testing, and leveraging voluntary phase-outs and labelling initiatives.

Building Resilient Supply Chains Innovating for Sustainability and Business Growth

Details to be announced.

1:05 PM - 2:25 PM EST
Networking Lunch - Sponsored by Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (MARR)
1:25 PM - 1:45 PM EST

Legislation and Regulations Are Here. Is Your Packaging Ready? 

Curt Cozart

Chief Operating Officer

Association of Plastics Recyclers

Lunch & Learn

The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) is announcing a brand new tool that you will want in your toolkit. Join us for a demonstration and learn how this tool will help you review plastic packaging, align with legislative requirements, and complete annual reporting. The new tool is a companion to the APR Design® Guide, the widely recognized source of truth for designing plastics packaging for recyclability today. Get your company and suppliers ready for the big changes that lie ahead.  

2:25 PM - 3:10 PM EST
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions
2:25 PM - 3:10 PM EST

Climate Financing and Insurance

Details to be announced.

3:10 PM - 3:30 PM EST
Networking Break
3:30 PM - 3:35 PM EST
RCC Member Update
3:35 PM - 3:50 PM EST

Advancing Producer-Led Recycling: Circular Materials’ Strategic Vision for Canada   

Allen Langdon

CEO

Circular Materials

Sponsor Spotlight

As extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs for packaging and paper continue to advance across Canada, the need for cost-efficiency, harmonization and innovation in Canada’s recycling systems is evident. As a national, not-for-profit producer responsibility organization, Circular Materials manages the collection of over 1 million tonnes of packaging annually on behalf of producers, working to ensure material can be returned to producers for use in new products and packaging. In this session, Circular Materials’ CEO Allen Langdon shares insights into the strategic and forward-looking vision needed to truly advance the circular economy, from pilot programs to long-term investments.

3:50 PM - 4:10 PM EST

Navigating Greenwashing under the Competition Act: What’s New and Why You Should Care

Reema Mahbubani

Counsel to the Commissioner of Competition

Department of Justice

Recent changes to the Competition Act, along with the release of the Competition Bureau’s new guidance on environmental claims, raise important considerations for business.  This session will provide a high-level overview of the new legal framework, explore practical issues within the retail context, and address why these changes matter – including the increase in fines and penalties and the expansion of the new private right of action.

4:10 PM - 4:50 PM EST

How Business is Building Toward a Better Future with PepsiCo

Jim Andrew

Executive Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer

PepsiCo

As climate pressures and shifting regulations reshape the food and retail industries, business leaders face the urgent challenge of delivering growth while accelerating systemic change. PepsiCo’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Jim Andrew, will explore how the company is responding to this pivotal moment through its end-to-end sustainability strategy, pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). Jim will share how PepsiCo is scaling impact by embedding sustainability into core business operations and building resilience across its supply chains, speaking to the need for greater transparency and the power of bold, cross-sector collaboration to drive the systems-level change required for meaningful progress.

4:50 PM - 4:55 PM EST
Closing Remarks
4:55 PM - 6:00 PM EST
Networking Reception

Interested in having a presence and sharing your retail story at the Retail Sustainability Conference 2025?

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