RCC 2025 Sustainability Conference, October 29–30, 2025

Date:

Share post:

The Sustainability Shake-Up Retail Can’t Ignore — RCC 2025 Conference

October 29–30 | Toronto Congress Centre

What’s Next in Regulatory Risk for Retailers, QSRs, CPGs and Supply Chains: From emerging recycling rules and plastics reporting to responsible sourcing and greenwashing under the Competition Act, regulatory risk is reshaping the landscape for retailer operations and global supply chains. At the same time, consumer expectations are also rising — more than half of Canadians now factor climate impact into their purchases (Boston Consulting Group, Climate and the Canadian Consumer, 2023), making sustainability both a compliance requirement and a business imperative.

Retail Council of Canada (RCC) is convening industry leaders at the Retail Sustainability Conference 2025, October 29–30 at the Toronto Congress Centre. Expect hands-on workshops, sharp regulatory insight, and actionable case studies to help your business move from ambition to execution. Buy tickets  (20% group discounts available — ideal for cross-functional teams).

This year carries extra weight with opening remarks from Todd McCarthy, Hon. Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (Ontario), underscoring that government policy and retail strategy must now move in lockstep in order to drive meaningful progress.

October 29 — Practical, Interactive Workshops

Day one is built for leaders who need solutions they can implement now. Sessions include:

  • Electronic Vehicle (EV) Zero-Emission Fleet Transformation Deep Dive — IKEA Canada and PowerON share real-world lessons on electrifying delivery fleets, from cost modeling to charging infrastructure and what it takes to accelerate adoption across operations.
  • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Deep Dive — Featuring regulator and producer perspectives, this workshop will tackle cost pressures, compliance challenges, and opportunities to streamline reporting and harmonize recycling systems as new provincial programs roll out.

Additional experts will bring perspectives on financing, infrastructure, and compliance tools — helping teams understand the latest trends, best practices and innovation efforts in navigating emerging requirements.

October 30 — Strategy, Regulation & Innovation

Day two dives into the biggest sustainability challenges shaping Canadian retail, quick-service restaurants, CPGs and supply chain partners — and how to turn them into opportunity:

  • Big Brand Journeys & Strategy: Costco’s Sustainability Journey: From Operations to Global Supply Chains · From Risk to Resilience: Sustainability as a Retail Strategy · Why Nature Is a Business Imperative
  • Supply Chains & Packaging: Rethinking Supply Chains for a Sustainable Future · Legislation and Regulations Are Here. Is Your Packaging Ready? · Solving Common Packaging Data Management Challenges
  • Consumer-Driven Innovation: How Refill and Reuse Are Reshaping Consumer Goods · Sustainable Procurement for Retail Leaders: The Advantage Your Brand Needs · Scaling Solar Energy in Retail Real Estate
  • Regulatory & Risk Readiness: What’s Next in Regulatory Risk for Retailers, QSRs, CPGs and Supply Chains: From EPR and plastics reporting to responsible sourcing, and the rising risk of greenwashing under the Competition Act.
  • Circularity & Recycling: The Evolution of Flexible Plastics Recycling – Improving Recycling Opportunities and Outcomes · Advancing Producer-Led Recycling: Circular Materials’ Strategic Vision for Canada
  • Global Brand Insight: Hear from PepsiCo’s global sustainability leadership on embedding climate resilience, circular packaging, and value chain decarbonization into growth strategy.

These sessions cut through theory to deliver clear strategies, compliance insight, and emerging pathways to scale change.

Why Bring Your Team

Speakers span PepsiCo, IKEA, Unilever, McCain Foods, leading compliance experts, and government voices — a rare chance for sustainability, supply chain, operations, government relations, marketing, legal and finance teams to learn together. Group ticket discounts make it easy to send the right mix of leaders to build one coordinated plan.

Seats are limited — prepare your team to navigate regulatory and market pressures with insights to drive best practices into action.

Reserve your spot 

RELATED ARTICLES

Load more

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required

RECENT articles

The Jilly Box introduces digital gift cards ahead of holiday shopping season

The Canadian lifestyle brand is expanding its online marketplace offerings and preparing to launch its $199 Winter Jilly Box, featuring seven products valued at more than $450.

Second Cup Café celebrates grand opening at Oakville GO Station

Transit hubs a key part of Second Cup's growth.

Birks opens second Vancouver boutique at Oakridge Park

Birks has opened a new Vancouver store at Oakridge Park, expanding its presence in the city with a retail concept focused on fine jewellery and bridal collections.

Buds Play and Learn Brings STEM-Focused Indoor Play to North York as Developers Rethink Retail Amenities: Medallion Corporation

Buds Play and Learn opens at Emery Crossing in North York, highlighting growing demand for family-focused retail, educational play spaces and community amenities in high-rise neighbourhoods.

Teen Entrepreneur Chanelle Chalazan Expands into Publishing with Chic & Charmed Magazine

Saskatoon teen entrepreneur Chanelle Chalazan has launched Chic & Charmed Magazine, expanding her jewellery business into print publishing while planning a March 2027 entrepreneurship conference.

Daily Synopsis: November 12, 2026

Canadian Tire aims to attract customers with price cuts, T&T Supermarket expanding rapidly, Zellers opens to crowds in Cambridge, and other news.

Choice Properties REIT reports net income of $888.5 million in Q3

Choice Properties said the period end occupancy was 97.8%, with Retail at 97.5%, Industrial at 98.6%, and Mixed-Use & Residential at 91.4%.

FBOMBZ Surpasses One Million Bottles Sold as Canadian RTD Cocktail Brand Expands Nationwide

Canadian beverage brand FBOMBZ has sold more than one million bottles in under a year, earning LCBO rankings and expanding into Alberta and Saskatchewan, with further national growth planned.

Atome Bakery Expands Across Canada With Ready-to-Bake French Artisan Bread and Pastries

Vancouver-based Atome Bakery has shipped more than 40,000 boxes and doubled sales annually as it expands its ready-to-bake French bread and pastry delivery business across Canada.

Retail Insider “Q3 2026 Policy & Regulation Report”: Operating Details Determine the Outcome

Tariffs, tax relief and competition reforms reached Canadian retail through specific operating rules in Q3. Retail Insider’s report examines why policy announcements and measurable commercial outcomes must be assessed separately.

Spacer Mobility and NUNORM Target Retail Growth After $400,000 Dragons’ Den Offer

Canadian entrepreneurs Meryl and Mick Baker are looking to accelerate the retail expansion of Spacer Mobility and NUNORM after accepting a $400,000 on-air offer from Michele Romanow on CBC’s Dragons’ Den.

Loblaw partners with Too Good To Go to sell surplus prepared foods across Canada

The program offers customers Surprise Bags containing about $24 worth of prepared foods for prices starting at $11.99 at participating Loblaw grocery stores.

Canadian Tire Corporation reports retail sales growth to $4.74 billion in Q3

Canadian Tire said the quarter also had an increase in the annual dividend to $7.30 per share, marking the company's 17th consecutive year of dividend increase.

The Ordinary and Diamonds Factory Prepare Yorkville Stores as Cumberland Street Sees Retail Changes

The Ordinary is relocating its Yorkville boutique to 162 Cumberland Street, while Diamonds Factory prepares a neighbouring storefront. Recent openings by Harry Rosen, Ross Mayer and Rock 'N Karma, along with the confirmed ERES closure, illustrate ongoing retail changes in the Toronto neighbourhood.

Nostalgic technology makes a comeback as younger Canadians drive demand: Best Buy

A Best Buy Canada survey finds Millennials and Gen Z are leading renewed interest in physical media, retro gaming and older technology ahead of the holiday shopping season.

High Liner Foods sees hike in sales, net income and gross profit

Recently it was reported that High Liner Foods had agreed to be acquired by Japanese seafood company Umios Corp. in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $1.25 billion.

Corby Spirit and Wine sees continued growth in ready-to-drink cocktails

Corby said it has operated in an evolving beverage alcohol environment characterized by ongoing moderation trends and heightened value-seeking behaviour.

Leon’s Turns to Financing and Promotions as Canadian Shoppers Remain Cautious

Leon's Furniture says customer financing helped lift average basket values during the third quarter of 2026. The retailer is preparing for an important November promotional period while Canadian shoppers remain cautious about major purchases and inventory delays continue.

Loblaw Targets Premium Pet Food Market with Reformulated President’s Choice Line

Loblaw is reformulating its President’s Choice Nutrition First dry pet food portfolio with specialized diets and advertised savings against selected premium brands. The move brings grocery private label into closer competition with Canadian specialty retailers including Pet Valu.

Crombie REIT Expands Grocery-Anchored Portfolio with $350 Million in Canadian Retail Acquisitions

Crombie REIT is pursuing approximately $350 million in acquisitions involving 28 Canadian retail properties, including 13 in Ontario. The expansion will increase its grocery-anchored holdings as the landlord reports strong leasing conditions, advances new developments and sells weaker shopping centres.