Reverse Logistics Association
The Reverse Logistics Association was a membership-based professional industry association, founded in 2002 and headquartered in the United States, serving retailers, manufacturers, and service providers in the returns, recovery, repair, recycling, and resale sectors. The RLA brand was retired in 2023 following its acquisition by the National Retail Federation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersAlpharetta, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Reverse Logistics Association does
The Reverse Logistics Association (RLA) was a professional industry association founded in 2002 and headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, serving the reverse logistics sector — specifically companies and individuals working in returns, recovery, repair, refurbishment, recycling, and resale. Rather than operating a technology product, RLA functioned as a membership-based community organization providing industry advocacy, professional development, standards development, research, and networking events to a horizontal member base of retailers, manufacturers, and service providers. Its go-to-market was community-led, monetized through recurring membership dues and event participation, with no disclosed proprietary software or platform offering.
RLA was acquired by the National Retail Federation (NRF) in 2023, after which the RLA brand was officially retired and its community integrated into NRF's Center for Retail Sustainability. As of the available data, the independent RLA entity no longer operates and the rla.org domain resolves to unrelated Bayer TDS technical documentation pages, indicating the original association web presence is no longer maintained. In April 2026, former RLA executives — including Jeremy Vick as president — launched the Reverse Logistics Network (RLN) as a separate independent professional community to serve the industry, signaling that industry stewardship has fragmented between NRF (post-acquisition) and RLN (successor). Any analysis of RLA as a going-concern investment target is therefore not viable; the relevant vehicles for industry exposure are NRF's reverse logistics practice and the newly launched RLN.
Reverse Logistics Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Reverse Logistics Association
- Legal name
- Reverse Logistics Association
- Website
- https://rla.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Reverse Logistics Association was a membership-based professional industry association, founded in 2002 and headquartered in the United States, serving retailers, manufacturers, and service providers in the returns, recovery, repair, recycling, and resale sectors. The RLA brand was retired in 2023 following its acquisition by the National Retail Federation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Reverse Logistics Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Association Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reverse Logistics Coordination (Non-Asset-Based Returns Management) (TLAIANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Returns Management & Reverse Logistics (CRAFAMAE), Retail & Omnichannel Store Returns (BORIS/BOPIS Returns) (TLAAALAB)
Keywords
Where Reverse Logistics Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alpharetta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Reverse Logistics Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Industry Association Membership: The RLA operated as a professional association serving the reverse logistics industry through community building, industry advocacy, and professional development for members including retailers, manufacturers, and service providers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Reverse Logistics Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Reverse Logistics Association operated as a professional industry association serving retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other organizations in the recycling, returns, recovery, repair, and resale sectors. It delivered its value through membership-based access to a professional community, industry advocacy and representation, research and education resources, networking events and conferences, and standards development for reverse logistics operations. The RLA brand was retired in 2023 when its community was integrated into the National Retail Federation's Center for Retail Sustainability.
Product overview
The Reverse Logistics Association (RLA) was a professional community and trade organization for companies in the recycling, returns, recovery, repair, and resale sectors. The RLA brand was officially retired in January 2026 when it was fully integrated into the National Retail Federation (NRF), following NRF's 2023 acquisition of the organization. The RLA community now operates under the NRF Center for Retail Sustainability. A separate new organization, the Reverse Logistics Network (RLN), launched in April 2026 to serve as a new independent professional home for the industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Reverse Logistics Association
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Reverse Logistics Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Reverse Logistics Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- National Retail Federation (NRF)flagshipThe Reverse Logistics Association (RLA) brand was officially retired as its community and offerings were integrated into the National Retail Federation (NRF). The acquisition brought the reverse logistics industry community under NRF's broader network, aiming to ensure the industry continues scaling its efficiencies and impact while being recognized for its contributions to the global economy.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Reverse Logistics Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Reverse Logistics Group: A Europe-headquartered reverse logistics services company operating in returns management, refurbishment, and recommerce — comparable to RLA's member base as an operating participant within the reverse logistics ecosystem RLA served.
Direct peers
- GS1: A global not-for-profit standards organization that develops and maintains supply chain and business communication standards — comparable to RLA's role in advancing standards and best practices within the reverse logistics industry.
- Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA): A trade association representing major U.S. retailers, providing advocacy, education, and convening services — closely comparable to RLA's trade-body function within the retail ecosystem.
- Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM): The successor organization to APICS, ASCM is a global professional association for supply chain professionals offering certifications, training, and research — comparable to RLA in serving a supply-chain-adjacent practitioner community.
- Reverse Logistics Network (RLN): Founded in April 2026 by former RLA executives (including Jeremy Vick), RLN is the direct successor organization to RLA, serving the same reverse logistics professional community with industry conferences and networking — making it the closest functional analogue.
- Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP): A long-standing professional association serving supply chain and logistics practitioners worldwide with education, research, and networking — directly comparable to RLA's role as an industry association for the reverse logistics sub-discipline.
Broad incumbents
- National Retail Federation (NRF): The world's largest retail trade association and the acquirer of RLA in 2023, now hosting the reverse logistics community under its Center for Retail Sustainability. NRF is comparable as the broader incumbent association within which RLA now resides.
Regional players
- Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT): An international professional body for logistics and transport practitioners, primarily serving members outside North America — comparable to RLA as a peer trade association serving logistics professionals globally, but with limited direct U.S. overlap.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Reverse Logistics Association social profiles
Digital presenceReverse Logistics Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Reverse Logistics Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Reverse Logistics Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Reverse Logistics Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Reverse Logistics Association
What does Reverse Logistics Association do?
The Reverse Logistics Association operated as a professional industry association serving retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other organizations in the recycling, returns, recovery, repair, and resale sectors. It delivered its value through membership-based access to a professional community, industry advocacy and representation, research and education resources, networking events and conferences, and standards development for reverse logistics operations. The RLA brand was retired in 2023 when its community was integrated into the National Retail Federation's Center for Retail Sustainability.
Is Reverse Logistics Association a public or private company?
Reverse Logistics Association is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Reverse Logistics Association founded?
Reverse Logistics Association was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Reverse Logistics Association based?
Reverse Logistics Association is headquartered in Alpharetta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Reverse Logistics Association make money?
One revenue line is on record: industry Association Membership.
Who are Reverse Logistics Association's main competitors?
Reverse Logistics Group is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are GS1, Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), Reverse Logistics Network (RLN) and Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). National Retail Federation (NRF) is listed as a broad incumbent. Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is listed as a regional player.
Does Reverse Logistics Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Reverse Logistics Association.
What industry is Reverse Logistics Association in?
Reverse Logistics Association's product category is Industry Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAIANAJ, Reverse Logistics Coordination (Non-Asset-Based Returns Management), with a secondary code of CRAFAMAE, Returns Management & Reverse Logistics.