Green Retail World will be at Internet Retailing Expo (IRX 2023) and eDelivery Expo (eDX 2023) later this month, with editor Ben Sillitoe an event ambassador and one of the speakers taking part in a wide-ranging conference programme.
We are pleased to see that an event focused on the world of e-commerce has included so many aspects related to sustainability and greener retailing, so we felt it was only right to call them out.
Below we suggest the five greener retailing things to look out for at IRX 2023 and eDX 2023, and we encourage those in the industry to sign up for the two-day event, which takes place on 24-25 May at NEC Birmingham.
Here’s our five to follow (we’re obviously biased about number 1!):
1. Panel debate hosted by Green Retail World editor, Ben Sillitoe
Green Retail World is set to moderate a panel on the recycle revolution in retail, which will explore the benefits that come when retailers build rental platforms to widen their reach. Panellists for the session are Millie Pearson, chief operating officer of The Edit LDN, and Nicola Gleave, founder of Worn By Us. Pearson will also be running her own session, called Breaking into the Circular Economy, at 15:00 in Theatre 2 on day one, where she will discuss the intersection where the reselling market and social selling meet.
Where to find it: Theatre 4, 15:25, Wednesday 24 May 2023
2. Fireside chat: Sustainability versus Circularity – what does sustainability mean to your customers?
Reskinned CEO & founder, Matt Hanrahan, will be interviewed on stage about his business, which supports several retailers such as Seasalt and River Island in the resale of clothing online. Retail Reflections founder, Andrew Busby, will pose the questions on stage as he did on several occasions at the recent Retail Technology Show in London. Visitors to this session can expect to hear about the growing consumer demand for pre-loved, and what retailers are doing to cater for this growing trend.
Where to find it: Theatre 4, 13:40, Wednesday 24 May 2023
3. Fireside chat: Decarbonising Retail – the BRC Climate Action Roadmap
Nicki Hunt, Climate Action Roadmap project manager at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), is set to highlight the benefits of joining the BRC’s mission to help retailers collaborate and find common solutions in the race to reaching net zero carbon emissions. Those in attendance can also expect to hear about some of the major challenges facing the industry as it wakes up to the climate crisis, which should help bring some clarity to a complex situation.
Where to find it: Theatre 3, 14:10, Wednesday 24 May 2023
4. Panel debate on The Conscious Consumer and encouraging consumers to make informed choices
Moderated by founder of eCommerce Masterplan, Chloe Thomas, this session brings together Ben Dreyer, strategy, sustainability & operations director at Boden, Joanna Yarrow, chief sustainability officer at M&C Saatchi Group, and Anna Green, founder of Positive Retail. This one will be great for hearing about individual retailer strategy and the wider trends influencing purchasing decisions in modern shopping.
Where to find it: Theatre 1, 12:05, Wednesday 24 May 2023
5. Day 2 Opening Keynote on building brands during a cost-of-living crisis
This Plenary Theatre 1 keynote comes from James Peach, global brand director at Vinted, which helps consumers sell their old clothing online and is regarded as a pre-loved pioneer. How might a cost-of-living crisis change retailers’ approach to marketing is one of the key questions Peach will discuss. We’d imagine Peach will suggest the various benefits of the resale market in a challenging economy, as well as highlighting the story behind Vinted’s rise to prominence in recent years.
Where to find it: Theatre 1, 10:00, Thursday 25 May 2023
There are several other greener retailing nuggets to look out for over the two days at IRX 2023 in Birmingham, as well as conference sessions and exhibitor stands bringing the industry up to speed with all the latest techniques and technologies helping drive retail forward.
Contact our editor, Ben Sillitoe, if you’d like to catch up at the show.
Sign up to attend the event here
[Image credit: Steve Burden Photography for Internet Retailing Events]
