The scale of the returns economy

Every year, Americans return nearly a trillion dollars’ worth of products. But once those items leave our hands, most of us never think about where they go—or what happens next.

In Remade in America, hosted by Deborah Dull, Supply Chain Now takes listeners inside the little-known world of reverse logistics, where returned products are sorted, resold, recycled, repaired, or too often, discarded. What emerges is a complex and fragmented system struggling to capture more than $200 billion in lost value—along with critical materials that could power a more resilient, sustainable economy.

This special feature explores the people, processes, and infrastructure behind returns, revealing both the challenges and the massive untapped opportunity hidden in plain sight. From outdated systems and disconnected networks to innovative approaches reshaping how products are recovered and reused, Remade in America uncovers what’s really happening after “return” is clicked.

Along the way, Deborah asks a provocative question: Is “Made in America” still the right goal—or is the future about something more powerful?

What if the real opportunity isn’t just making more, but making better use of what we already have?

Through expert insights, real-world stories, and on-the-ground perspectives, Remade in America redefines how we think about returns, recovery, and the future of supply chains in a resource-constrained world.

This is a story about waste, value, resilience—and how reimagining reverse logistics could help reshape American industry for the next generation.

Additional Links & Resources:

1. Connect with Deborah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahdull/
2. Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
3. Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
4. Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
5. Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
6. WEBINAR- Supply Chain Planning Reimagined: Embedded AI that senses, explains, and optimizes: https://bit.ly/4pOGgyo
7. WEBINAR- ChatGPT Is Just the Beginning for Shipping: https://bit.ly/3YLFGq7

This episode is hosted by Deborah Dull and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, Ric Stringer, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/remade-america-1541