Speaking at The Wall Street Journal’s Global Food Forum, Jason Buechel said one of his goals as the next CEO of Whole Foods Market is “to reconnect to many parts of our heritage as a company.” What advice would you have for Jason Buechel as he prepares to take over as CEO of Whole Foods?

New university research finds up-tempo, major mode music can offer a way for green companies to overcome the consumer “attitude-behavior gap.” Does it make sense that up-tempo, major mode music in marketing can help consumers follow through on their intentions to purchase more ethical and sustainable products?

According to a new survey, half of U.S. consumers have some level of interest in eco-labels to guide their fashion purchases, including 13.1 percent who are “very interested.” What do you think of the consumer appeal of eco-labels and the challenges in developing and implementing them?

A recent exposé on fast-fashion retailer H&M alleges that the company’s environmental promise is undermined by greenwashing. What can other chains with an environmental/sustainable promise learn from what H&M is now dealing with?

Shein has become the most downloaded app in America, according to a watchdog group. But now the Chinese fast-fashion giant has gotten on the wrong side of thredUP. Do you see a role in retail marketing for companies to compare and contrast their practices with rivals based on environmental, social and governance grounds?

Shekar Natarajan, chief supply chain officer at American Eagle Outfitters, thinks it’s in his company’s best interest to work with competitors to deliver online orders to consumers across the U.S. How likely are retailers in large numbers to buy into a delivery aggregation system?

Hoping to support its logistics speed and sustainability goals, Lego Group has developed plans to open its first U.S. manufacturing plant. Do you see Lego’s logistics resiliency, sustainability ambitions or some other factors benefiting most from opening a factory in the U.S.?

Walmart is launching trucking pilot projects to test the use of electric, liquid hydrogen and natural gas-powered vehicles as a partial start to meeting its 2040 corporate zero emissions goal. Which fuel — electric, liquid hydrogen or natural gas — do you think holds the greatest potential to replace diesel and gasoline in retail supply chain operations?

Best Buy recently became the first national retailer to offer a service that picks up old tech from customers’ homes to be recycled. The price of the service, at $199, however, may come with some sticker shock. Will Best Buy’s Standalone Haul-Away service, at $199, hold enough appeal to consumers?

James Cromwell, the Oscar-nominated actor, has a problem with Starbucks over its policy of upcharging for non-dairy milk options, and demonstrated it by gluing his hand to a counter as part of a PETA protest. Do objections by celebrities increase the likelihood that Starbucks will end the upcharge for non-dairy beverages in its coffee drinks?

Dick’s Sporting Goods is piloting an in-store buy-back program for select outdoor hard and soft goods. The program is being done in partnership with Out&Back Outdoor, a re-seller founded in late 2019. Does a resale program make sense for Dick’s Sporting Goods?

Walmart seems to have improved its public image a lot over the past few years, but a new study indicates that consumers are still not huge fans of shopping in the retail giant’s stores. Why do you think customers that love Walmart’s low prices remain dissatisfied with the shopping experience?

An Oracle study finds 93 percent of business leaders would trust a bot over a human to make decisions on environmental, social, and governance programs. Are human biases and emotions holding back progress within organizations around sustainability and ESG initiatives?

Sam’s Club announced that its Member’s Mark brand will embrace a new slogan “Made with Our Member and Planet in Mind” and commit to making the environment and sustainability areas of focus.  Do you see Sam’s Club securing many benefits with Member’s Mark’s sustainability upgrades?

A survey of major global retailers finds that less than 20 percent are on track to cut their Scope 3 emissions by enough to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement targets for limiting the rise in global temperatures. What advice would you have for retailers around reducing their Scope 3 or indirect greenhouse gas emissions?

Target is testing out a new solar panel setup at one California location to see if it can successfully use the technology to power the entire store and move toward becoming a fully solar-powered chain. Do you see solar as being a sustainable way to power grocery stores the size of Target?

Lululemon athletica says a test of its “Like New” trade-in and resale program in California and Texas was a success, and now the yoga-inspired chain is rolling it out nationwide. Do you expect that lululemon’s business will benefit more from its resale program than other retailers?

Target’s is selling used apparel through a new relationship with ThredUP. The retailer, as of late March, has its own page on ThredUP featuring a selection of used apparel curated by its team from the resale platform’s assortment. Do you see Target succeeding with resale through its ThredUp relationship?

IKEA is making its Buy Back & Resell program permanent across its 37 U.S. stores following a pilot last summer. Do you see more benefits than potential drawbacks to IKEA’s expanding Buy Back & Resell program?

Meijer is holding its first ever Sustainable Supplier Summit, a virtual meeting that will give select attendees an opportunity to meet remotely with buyers in the appropriate department to discuss their products. Do you think a virtual summit like this is a good move for grocers who want to find new, sustainable products?

A new survey finds 59 percent of U.S. consumers believe disposal instructions on items are hard to find, and 63 percent would be more likely to purchase products with well-marked recycling directions. Would more detailed instructions on packaging help improve recycling rates in the U.S.?

A major name in consumer packaged goods is looking to create a new soda bottle more sustainable than anything that has appeared on the shelves so far. Would a fully compostable paper bottle represent a magic bullet for sustainability?

The term “consumer” is reportedly facing some backlash as over-consumption takes the blame for many environmental issues, according to a new article. Should brands and retailers stop using the word “consumer” or be more careful about how it is used?

If Starbucks makes good on its most recent environmentally-minded endeavor, by 2025 you may not see nearly as many of the chain’s paper cups in the hands of coffee drinkers. To what extent do you think Starbucks will be able to reduce reliance on the disposable paper cup?

Mimicking nutritional rating labels aimed at encouraging healthier eating, Target has introduced a new Target Zero icon to make it easier for consumers to identify products designed to reduce waste. What do you think of the potential appeal of Target Zero and similar labels to guide sustainable purchases?

A smartphone app meant to tackle the problem of food waste and help customers keep their grocery bill down in the process is hoping to make a name for itself in the U.S. How important do you think the reduction of food waste is to the U.S. consumer and what should grocers do to address the issue?

Retailers in 2022 will need to prove their sustainability commitments and establish their environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials or lose business. What will be some of the biggest trade offs that retailers will have to make in pursuing sustainability goals?

In the technology space, in-house teams are facing challenges balancing product public relations with the desire to showcase their company’s value, mission and purpose, according to a new study. Have you been seeing heightened conflicts between brand marketing and product marketing, and what advice do you have for marketers?

Persistent disruptions in supply chains, new perspectives on worker welfare and safety, a renewed focus on food insecurity and climate change concerns will all play a role in driving food trends in 2022, according to the International Food Information Council (IFIC). Which food trends do you see emerging or accelerating in 2022?

A suburb of Salt Lake City recently revealed plans to build Utah’s first “15-minute city,” a residential planning model in which all daily necessities are accessible by foot or by bike within a quarter of an hour. How would you rate the development potential and overall appeal of 15-minute cities?

Gad Allon, a professor at Wharton School of Business, believes raising consumer awareness is key to reducing retail’s massive rate of returns. Do you see any benefit to retailers in making consumers aware of the likely negative repercussions of their online returns?

Despite heightened awareness over climate change threats in recent years, surveys continue to battle it out over how much of a premium consumers are willing to pay for sustainable goods. Do you think most consumers are willing to pay a little more, a lot more or no more for sustainable products?

Amazon.com is launching new curbside-recyclable insulated packaging that the company says does away with the need to use bubble bags or plastic liners.  Do you expect Amazon’s new packaging to be popular with its customers?

Giant Food has become the latest grocer to partner with Flashfood, an app that lets customers save money and reduce food waste by purchasing items near their “best by” or “sell by” dates. What do you think of the potential of Flashfood, Too Good To Go and other apps designed to reduce food waste?

Ralph Lauren will soon have technology at its disposal that could enable a new degree of product customization, which would make the experience of shopping at its flagship stores more distinctive and sustainable. Will the use of technologies enabling customization and sustainability be a winner for Ralph Lauren?

Boston Beer recently decided to throw away “millions of cases” of Truly, instead of discounting the product, in response to a broad slowdown in the hard seltzer category over the summer. Did Boston Beer make the right decision?

Macy’s is the latest apparel retailer to boost its focus on sustainability as customers continue to expect a greater environmental commitment from the fashion industry. Will sustainability be a positive brand marketing point for Macy’s going forward and will it affect how consumers see the retailer?

Tech savvy Gen-Z has unprecedented power to influence not only its peers but prior generations. But it’s important not to label them, according to an IRI white paper. What suggestions would you have around connecting and driving loyalty with Gen-Z?

The Bank of America (BofA) has identified five “megatrends” — some accelerated by the pandemic — representing tailwinds advancing sports apparel and footwear growth. Do you expect sportswear growth to outpace overall apparel and footwear categories in the years ahead?

A new university study finds using “gain language,” or highlighting positive possible outcomes, works better at encouraging people to go green than “loss language,” or highlighting negative potential outcomes. What personally persuades you and, conversely, dissuades you to go green when buying a product?

Madewell has opened a pop-up called A Circular Store in partnership with thredUP, the fashion resale site, with a focus on re-commerce education. Does Madewell’s A Circular Store work mainly as a marketing vehicle or do you see elements that could be used in permanent locations?

Walmart has launched an online shopping destination called “Built for Better” to make it easier for shoppers to identify and purchase products that are better for them and the environment.  Will “Built for Better” resonate with Walmart’s existing customers and help it attract new ones?

Fast-fashion retailer Primark announced last week that it will open its newest store in the U.S. in Philadelphia’s Fashion District on Sept 16.  What do you think about Primark’s fast-fashion business model and its chances for success in the U.S.?

In the prospectus for its IPO, Allbirds said its growth will be driven by three trends influencing how consumers make their purchase decisions in apparel and footwear: purpose-driven positioning, casualization and omnichannel retail. Which of the three trends will be most important in driving Allbirds’ growth in the years ahead?

Taking on popular marketplaces such as Poshmark, Thredup and Depop, Urban Outfitters plans to launch a peer-to-peer secondhand marketplace, Nuuly Thrift, this fall. Do you see a big sales opportunity for Urban Outfitters and other retailers in establishing peer-to-peer resale marketplaces?

A new online retailer is going a long way to keep the brands it sells honest about their avowed commitments to environmental and social issues. Do you see the enhanced level of vetting for social and environmental responsibility claims that Toward is implementing as being something that will set it apart?

Single-use plastic has gone out of fashion in the U.S. and finding an adequate replacement is easier said than done. Some of the biggest names in the retail industry are vying to create one. Do you think any of the options presented in this competition offer a truly convenient alternative to the single use plastic bag?

Shein, the secretive fast fashion upstart from China, isn’t exactly environmentally sustainable or transparent but it’s crushing it with American teens. Why haven’t lack of transparency nor its sustainability challenges been much of a hurdle for Shein?

A new research study concludes that record-setting weather events such as the heat wave that hit the Pacific Northwest this summer are going to happen more frequently and with greater severity in the years to come.  How significant a threat is climate change to the short, mid and long-term interests of retailers and their partners?

Madewell announced on Monday the launch of Madewell Forever, a branded denim resale service. The program expands on Madewell’s partnership with thredUp, which started with Madewell Archive, an in-store section selling the brand’s denim jeans. Will circular economy credentials be determinant of retail and brand success in the years to come?