Sustainability
From Cost Center to ESG Asset: How Reverse Logistics Became a Sustainability Imperative
June 3, 2026 · 4 min read
Reverse Logistics ConsultingTurn Returns
Turn Returns
Into Results.
We help e-commerce and retail businesses build smarter, more profitable returns operations, cutting costs, recovering inventory value, and building the ESG metrics your board is asking for.
20+ Years Combined Fortune 500 & Military Supply Chain Experience
Trusted by the Best Clients and Technology Partners
The Returns Problem
Most businesses have no dedicated strategy for reverse logistics.
Vertistics exists to change that, turning a leaking cost center into measurable recovery and competitive advantage.
$890B
Lost annually to product returns in the U.S.
20-30%
Average apparel e-commerce return rate
8-15%
Of total revenue lost to reverse logistics
Meet the Founder
Eddie Jones
Eddie holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Reverse Logistics Management from the only program of its kind in the U.S., and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He has spent over a decade applying that expertise inside Fortune 500 supply chains and military logistics operations.
He founded Vertistics to give e-commerce and retail brands access to the same strategic thinking large enterprises use to turn returns from a cost center into a competitive advantage.
What the Data Shows
The reverse flow is where value quietly disappears.
$644B
in returned merchandise ends up in landfill or liquidation each year.
, Optoro / NRF, 2024
19.3%
of all online sales are returned, nearly 1 in 5 orders.
, NRF, 2025
66%
of consumers check a return policy before purchase.
, Narvar, 2024
9%
of all returns are fraudulent, $76.5B in losses.
, NRF / Forbes, 2025
79%
of shoppers abandon a purchase over a poor return policy.
, DHL, 2026
35%
of retailers can actually track a return end-to-end.
, Incisiv, 2023
How We Work Together
View all engagement models →Four Ways to Engage
Project-Based
Consulting
A defined problem. A built solution. A clear output you own.
Ongoing Engagement
Advisory & Fractional Leadership
Strategic advisory when you need a sounding board. Fractional leadership when you need someone embedded and accountable.
Project or Advisory
Crisis Management
When a recall, surge, or disruption hits, we mobilize fast and bring order to the reverse flow under pressure.
Design-Build
Facility Design
End-to-end design of your returns facility, layouts, workflows, and build-ready plans you can hand to your contractor or 3PL.
Why Vertistics
Six reasons clients choose us.
Reverse logistics is a niche discipline. Most consultants treat it as an afterthought. Vertistics was built around it from day one.
Master of Reverse Logistics Management
Founder holds a Master of Reverse Logistics Management, earned from the only dedicated graduate program of its kind in the United States.
AI-Augmented Decision Making
Behavioral scoring for fraud, disposition modeling to maximize recovery, and predictive return-volume forecasts.
Measurable Cost Reduction
Every engagement is built around quantifiable outcomes and clear KPIs to track progress.
Sustainability, ESG & Value Recovery
Carbon-per-return, landfill diversion, Scope 3 reduction, and circularity, the metrics your board is asking for.
Compliance & Risk Expertise
Environmental regulations, product safety, and data security on returned electronics, fully covered.
Customized for Your Business
No off-the-shelf playbooks. Every strategy is built around your industry, product, and operational constraints.
Insights
All articles →Latest from the Vertistics Blog
Policy
Tariffs, De Minimis, and the Hidden Returns Crisis Hitting DTC Brands in 2026
April 3, 2026 · 5 min read
Technology
How AI Is Reshaping Reverse Logistics, and What It Means for Your Operation
April 3, 2026 · 6 min read
Ready to Transform Your Returns?
Turn your returns problem into a sustainability story you can report on.
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Vertistics and discover exactly how much value is waiting to be recovered in your reverse supply chain.
73%
Landfill diversion possible
40%
Scope 3 reduction potential
$890B
Lost to returns yearly