Publisher: MIT Climate & Sustainability Consortium

Published Date: Oct 2023

This research article delves into the regulatory challenges hindering e-waste recycling and recovery. The report highlights the critical role of advanced disassembly technologies and global cooperation in overcoming these regulatory challenges. It also underscores the opportunity for standardized logistics and a cohesive legislative effort to benefit the environment and the economy.

Publisher: MIT
Published Date: May 2023

This MIT study examines how nanostores manage cardboard packaging waste, focusing on the return, reuse, and recycling practices in Bolivia's La Paz and El Alto. It reveals a significant reuse rate of 75% among small retailers, suggesting potential for increasing cardboard returnability at scale. The study proposes that enhancing package durability and regulatory support could improve sustainability in supply chains. Ultimately, the authors emphasize the role of nanostores in advancing a circular economy.

Publisher: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Author: Sarah Lohmar
Published Date: June 2023

This research focuses on textile reuse and donation in Boston and Cambridge post-Massachusetts' ban on textile disposal. It highlights the necessity of diverting textiles from incineration to protect the environment, and it explores stakeholder responsibilities in the textile recovery process. The report provides strategic recommendations to improve the textile recovery space in three key categories: stewardship, educational efforts, and policy initiatives.

Authors: Marat Ibragimov, Siham El Kiham, John R. Hauser
Author’s Schools: Emory University, Frankfurt School, MIT (respectively)
Published Date: Feb 2024

This study investigates how pre-purchase customer activities on retailers' websites can inform return management strategies. The authors examined data from a European apparel retailer to find customer patterns such as last-click purchases and the impact of focused browsing in reducing return likelihood. Strategic adjustments in online product visibility and customer browsing could significantly improve retailers' performance by decreasing return rates.

Publisher: MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics and Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
Published Date: 2023

The "State of Supply Chain Sustainability 2023" report highlights resilience in sustainability commitments across supply chains. However, it uncovers challenges in global adoption of net-zero goals, particularly with Scope 3 emissions and the disparity in net-zero commitment between wealthier and lower-income regions. This underscores the need for collaborative efforts and standardized measurements to advance supply chain sustainability globally.

Publisher: NRF & Appreis Retail
Published Date: 2023

The 2023 NRF Consumer Returns Report highlights the significant impact of returns and fraud on the retail industry. In 2023, merchandise returns reached $743 billion, accounting for 14.5% of total sales, with fraud and abuse constituting 13.7% of these returns and $101 billion in losses. The report sheds light on evolving consumer behaviors, such as bracketing and wardrobing. The NRF advocates for the retail sector and emphasizes the need for strategic adjustments to counteract fraud and sustain profitability.

Publisher: ReverseLogix
Published Date: 2024

This whitepaper explores the importance of optimizing the e-commerce returns process to satisfy and retain customers. It highlights the challenges retailers face in creating efficient returns management systems, such as technology integration and meeting the demands of a flexible customer-centric approach. It recommends leveraging technology to provide customers with a smooth front-end experience while providing an efficient process for internal back-end operations.

Publisher: GoTRG
Published Date: 2023

This report reveals that retail returns hit $743 billion in 2023. Retailers are responding to the escalating costs by shifting strategies to be less consumer-centric, focusing instead on 1) reducing returns costs and 2) improving recovery rates through technology and third-party partnerships. goTRG predicts that managing returns will become increasingly crucial for improving customer satisfaction and operations.

Non RLA Member can purchase the book using this Shopify link.

Publisher: Rich Bulger
Published Date: 2024

Going Circular: The Evolution of Reverse Logistics into a Competitive Weapon
Explore the transformative power of reverse logistics in 'Going Circular: The Evolution of Reverse Logistics into a Competitive Weapon' by Rich Bulger.
This book explores concept of how reverse logistics is transforming from being a “necessary evil” into a dynamic driver of profitable growth and sustainability. In Going Circular: The Evolution of Reverse Logistics into a Competitive Weapon, Rich Bulger redefines reverse logistics and presents it as a crucial component for boosting revenue, enhancing customer experience, and supporting the circular economy. Comprising seven chapters and three “reUse” case studies, Going Circular is a must-read for professionals that are looking to integrate reverse logistics into their evolving business strategies. By using this insightful guide to integrate reverse logistics into sales, marketing, and customer retention, Going Circular will help businesses on their path to both sustainable transformation and increased profitability.

Industry and Ecological Crisis - The Nightmare Beyond All Nightmares!

This is a 21minutes Video

Publisher: goTRG
Published Date: 2023

As the holiday season approaches, understanding the dynamics of retail returns becomes crucial for both retailers and consumers. This report delves into the latest trends, challenges, and strategies that major retailers are adopting, based on the goTRG 2023 Holiday Survey. The holiday season, characterized by increased shopping and gifting, often sees a surge in returns, making it a critical period for retailers. By analyzing these trends, retailers can better prepare for the influx and ensure customer satisfaction.

Publisher: NRF & APPRISS Retail
Publisher Data: 2022

■ Retail sales are on track to increase between 6% and 8% year-overyear. Non-store and online sales year-over-year, which are included in the total figure, are expected to grow between 11% and 13%.
■ As retail sales have continued to grow, return rates and return fraud rates have remained essentially flat year-over-year: 16.5% in 2022 compared with 16.6% in 2021.
■ For the first time since 2019, when online data was captured as part of this survey, online return rates are in line with overall return rates and have dropped by 21%.
■ Holiday return rates are also essentially flat year-over-year at 17.9%, but holiday return fraud decreased slightly from 10.8% to 10.1%.
■ Of the nearly 44% of respondents planning to hire to handle returns during the holidays, more than 70% intend to add staff to stores.
■ Responsibility for returns has shifted from ecommerce to supply chain in scenarios where one department is responsible for both in-store and online returns and when in-store and online returns are handled separately.
■ Buy online, return in-store (BORIS) return fraud is expected to be 48% higher than fraud in returns to non-store locations, potentially spotlighting an area to further streamline data and process protocols when multichannel return processes are present.

Publisher: Liquidity Services
Published Date: 2023

This new benchmarking study, which was independently conducted among 100+ retail reverse logistics and supply chain leaders, explores industry best practices for increasing recovery, improving transportation and storage/warehouse efficiency, and obtaining better data and analytics.

Big and Bulky Returns:- Transform Unavoidable Costs into Potential Revenue

This is a 39 minutes Video

Publisher: goTRG
Published Date: 2023

In an analysis by goTRG based on a recent survey, GoTRG finds that retailers are looking for collaborators who understand their challenges, anticipate their needs, and offer tailored solutions that are balanced between touch and technology. The solution also needs to optimize the process to ensure maximum financial recovery and minimal waste according to Sender Shamiss, President/CEO of goTRG.

Publisher: Trew
Published Date: 2021

While automation helps improve efficiency and reduce the cost of processing returns, the Goldilocks Dilemma comes into play. Too much automation, you lose. Too little automation, you also lose. How do you get the automation “just right”? This article outlines a two very different operational profiles and sample layouts used for returns automation that were “just right” for these retailers.

Publisher: Trew
Published Date: 2022

Returns are no longer that small cost center located in the back of the distribution center. The rise in e-commerce is forcing all retailers to re-examine and adjust their plans to deal with returns and many are looking to automation to help. This article outlines the 7 operational considerations retailers need to review when looking for an automated solution. Unless, of course, you have a crystal ball.

 MySize, a sizing technology company, found that 50% of consumers return apparel and footwear bought online because of sizing issues. In its latest white paper, The Returns Hangover, additional findings from their survey are included as well as opportunities for online retailers to satisfy various concerns through AI-driven measurement technology including reducing returns.

Katie Schoolov, Senior Producer at CNBC has been reporting on the nasty, wasteful problem of returns as the numbers continue to break records: $761 billion in returns last year (more than the entire spend on national defense) and 5.8 million pounds of landfill waste. She was finally able to get this exclusive interview with Amazon's head of North American returns, Cherris Armour, in her first ever public interview. Watch to hear all the ways Amazon is working to solve the problem by reselling, donating and liquidating returns.

Returns Index Survey Results: Insights for Q4 2021 Present Situation and Q1 2022 Expectations – Rise in Costs Outpaces Volumes