Alastair Taylor

We’re proud to celebrate another industry recognition for Supply Chain Now Founder, CEO, and Host Scott Luton – he has been named one of the ISCEA Top 10 Supply Chain Influencers of 2026. The International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA) highlights leaders who actively shape the profession by sharing research, perspectives, and practical insights that help advance the global supply chain conversation. (ISCEA) Scott’s inclusion reflects the spirit of the Supply Chain Now community: real conversations, practical takeaways, and a commitment to connecting practitioners across industries and roles. Through interviews, events, and ongoing dialogue with leaders around the world, his goal has always been to amplify voices and help move the industry forward together. We’re grateful to our listeners, partners, and guests; this recognition belongs to the entire community that shows up and shares knowledge every day. Check out the entire list and learn more about ISCEA here.

Inside the reverse logistics education gap and the economic blind spot keeping it invisible Special Guest Blog Post written by Deborah Dull   Tony Sciarrotta has been asking the same question at industry conferences for years. As the Senior Director of Circularity and Reverse Logistics at the National Retail Federation, he knows what answer he’s going to get. But he keeps asking anyway. “Anybody in here go to school for returns management, reverse logistics, circularity? Any degrees in those fields the room?” It’s rare that anyone raises their hand. “That’s what’s wrong with our industry,” Sciarrotta told me at NRF Rev this January, the first conference under NRF’s new reverse logistics banner. “We still need to fix it.”   The Numbers That Should Make Headlines Here’s what makes reverse logistics so fascinating: the scale is staggering, but the infrastructure to support it needs to be stronger. According to the National Retail Federation, American retailers processed approximately $890 billion in returns in 2024 which is roughly 17% of all retail sales – and it’s higher for ecommerce. But that number almost certainly understates reality. “We have a fragmented industry,” Sciarrotta explained. “Where are all those returns going? It has to be…