Email From, Reply-To and Return-Path

From and Reply-To are originator fields of the email.
Return-Path is created by the receiver NOT the sender. It is derived from the SMTP MAIL FROM command used to deliver the message. This address need not to have anything in common with the From address header within the message, and designates where the message should be sent to in the event of a delivery failure, i.e. exactly what you want the VERP address for.

According to RFC5321 section 4.4:

A message-originating SMTP system SHOULD NOT send a message that already contains a Return-path header field.

see also

• What is the behavior difference between return-path, reply-to and from?
• Does Gmail not allow sender to set a return path value to receive bounce messages?