Agenda

2025 Agenda

Full Agenda
October 29, 2025
October 30, 2025

October 29, 2025

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

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

2:00 PM - 2:20 PM EST

Driving Change With IKEA’s Electric-Only Home Deliveries

Elizabeth Wilson

Country Customer Fulfillment 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

Panel Conversation with Siemens

Details to be announced.

3:05 PM - 3:15 PM EST

Federal Government Update

Details to be announced.

3:15 PM - 3:45 PM EST
Networking Break
3:45 PM - 3:50 PM EST
Sponsor Spotlight
3:50 PM - 4:50 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.

4:50 PM - 5:00 PM EST
Closing Remarks

October 30, 2025

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

Opening Keynote Session

Details to be announced

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

Supply Chain Management Panel

Details 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 - 10:30 AM EST

How Refill and Reuse Are Reshaping Consumer Goods 

Dr. Zahra Bhojani

Sustainability and Enterprise Plastics Lead

Loblaw Companies Limited

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.  

More panelists to be announced

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM EST
Networking Break
10:45 AM - 11:15 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.

Panelists to be announced

11:15 AM - 11:20 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. 

11:20 AM - 11:40 AM EST

The Future of AI in Sustainability

Details to be announced

11:40 AM - 12:10 PM EST
Networking Break
12:10 PM - 12:55 PM EST
Morning Concurrent Sessions
12:10 PM - 12:55 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.  

Ashley Jones

Business Development Officer

SOFIAC

Wil Bell

Building Solutions & Decarbonization Lead

Modern Niagara

12:55 PM - 2:15 PM EST
Networking Lunch
1:15 PM - 1:35 PM EST

Legislation and Regulations Are Here. Is Your Packaging Ready? 

Curt Cozart

Chief Operating Officer

Association of Plastics Recyclers

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.  

1:45 PM - 2:30 PM EST
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM EST
Networking Break
3:30 PM - 3:35 PM EST
RCC Member Update
3:35 PM - 4:05 PM EST

The State of Recycling Across Canada

Details to be announced.

4:05 PM - 4:10 PM EST

Circular Materials

Allen Langdon

CEO

Circular Materials

Sponsor Spotlight

Details to be announced.

4:15 PM - 4:35 PM EST

Main Stage Session

Details to be announced.

4:35 PM - 5:15 PM EST

Closing Keynote

Details to be announced.

5:15 PM - 5:20 PM EST
Closing Remarks
5:20 PM - 6:15 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.