Issue No. 21    |     July 15, 2025

This Week:

📈  New Infographic: Career Opportunities in Plastics

📢  Call for Abstracts: Vinyl Week 2025

📈  What’s Ahead for U.S. Plastics Manufacturing

💥  FLiP Development Session

🙌  Welcome New Member

📅  Mark Your Calendar

📈 New Infographic: Career Opportunities in Plastics

We’ve created a new Career Opportunities in Plastics infographic that highlights:

✅ Where the jobs are growing—from engineers to machine operators
✅ How plastics wages compare to national averages (hint: they’re higher)
✅ Key workforce trends across age, gender, and demand
✅ What’s next for hiring across production, manufacturing, and engineering

Whether you're exploring workforce trends, researching career paths, or thinking long-term policy, this snapshot gives you a picture of the road ahead.

To download this infographic, click here.

📢 Call for Abstracts: Vinyl Week 2025

PLASTICS is now accepting presentation proposals for Vinyl Week 2025, happening December 9–11 in New Orleans. This combined event—featuring the Vinyl Compounders Conference and the Vinyl Institute Sustainability Summit—brings together the full flexible vinyl value chain.

We’re looking for speakers to share fresh insights, practical strategies, and new innovations in the following areas:

• Technology & Innovation

• Sustainability

• Segment Trends

• Business Readiness

📅 Deadline to submit: August 15, 2025
Selected speakers will be notified by September 15.

To learn more or submit your proposal, click here.

📈 Resilient but Cautious: What’s Ahead for U.S. Plastics Manufacturing

Our latest quarterly report shows that while the U.S. plastics industry remained resilient in Q2, challenges like inflation and trade uncertainty continue to shape the outlook. The forecast for 2025–2026 points to mixed momentum—some sectors are cooling, others improving modestly.

This quarterly report, produced by PLASTICS Chief Economist, Dr. Perc Pineda, offers critical insights for planning and strategy across the plastics value chain.

To view the full report, click here.

💥 FLiP Development Session: Build an Unstoppable Mindset

Alden Mills knows what it takes to lead through challenge and change. As a best-selling author, former Navy SEAL, and leadership expert, he’s helped teams around the world build unstoppable momentum. On July 24 at 12 - 1 PM ET, he’s bringing that energy to the next FLiP virtual event—just for the plastics industry. 

This is your chance to sharpen your mindset, strengthen your leadership skills, and get inspired.

Session: The Unstoppable Mindset
Designed for early to mid-career professionals, this dynamic webinar will help attendees:

✔️ Build stronger habits and set meaningful goals
✔️ Stay focused and positive under pressure
✔️ Bounce back from setbacks with resilience
✔️ Create a personal system for accountability and growth

Who Should Attend:
FLiP-eligible professionals (typically under 40). Spots are limited, so register early—and feel free to share with your team.

To register, click here.

 🙌 Welcome New Member

Based in Seattle, Washington, CognitionWorks is a technology company that helps manufacturers keep valuable knowledge from being lost when experienced workers retire. Their main product, SprocketAI, uses smart AI tools to turn things like equipment manuals, handwritten notes, videos, and even shift meeting conversations into helpful answers that workers can access instantly. Whether someone is on the factory floor or troubleshooting a machine, they can ask SprocketAI a question and get clear, step-by-step guidance.

The platform also supports multiple languages, gives summaries of team meetings, and even turns recorded videos into easy-to-follow training instructions. SprocketAI connects with existing tools and software used by factories (like Oracle, SQL, and Epicor), allowing managers and workers to pull up charts and data with simple questions. With strong security and permission settings, it’s built for both small businesses and large corporations.

Visit website

📆 Mark Your Calendar

🚀July 24 | FLiP Development Session - 12-1 pm ET| Featuring Alden Mills—former Navy SEAL and leadership expert—who will share strategies to help rising professionals build an unstoppable mindset. Open to FLiP members and employees aged 40 and under at PLASTICS member companies. Register now.  To share this opportunity with coworkers by email, click here.

📢 July 30 | NPE2027 Exhibit Space Application Webinar - 1-2 pm ET | From key rule changes and deadlines to selecting your booth at the in-person Space Selection & Planning event, join us for an NPE webinar to explore the first steps for exhibiting at NPE2027.  To register, click here.  Can’t attend live? Register to receive the recording.

📋 August 12 | NPE2027: The Plastics Show | Exhibit space applications open. To be notified when applications go live, click here. 

♻️ August 13 & 20 | Recycling Open House | Happening virtually, trade associations and organizations will share how they’re tackling recycling challenges in the plastics industry. Registration now open.

📅 Save the Date. PLASTICS 2025 Size and Impact Report Executive Briefing
September 16 | 2–3 pm ET | Live Virtual Event. Be the first to explore the 2025 Size and Impact Report—your go-to source for data on plastics’ economic footprint, state-by-state employment, industry rankings, and a two-year forecast.

📣 September 22–25 | National Plastics Conference | Orlando, FL | The

exclusive event built by industry, for industry returns. Early Bird Rates 

available until August 8.

🌐 October 15–17 | OCS CON 2025 | Indianapolis, IN | Hosted by Operation Clean Sweep®, OCS CON brings the full plastic value chain together in efforts towards eliminating the loss of plastic to the environment.  Early Bird Registration now open. 

🗓️ March 2–6, 2026 | NPE2027 Space Selection & Planning Event | Orlando, FL | NPE2027 exhibitors will convene to select exhibit booth space, plan for exhibit success, and explore opportunities to maximize the NPE2027 investment.