Effective January 1, 2026, the Plastics Industry Association and the Society of Plastics Engineers formally come together as a unified organization representing the entire plastics supply chain. The agreement brings SPE employees onto the PLASTICS staff, establishes a collaborative governance framework, and launches a six-month integration period to align operations and maximize member value.
As part of the agreement, SPE becomes a division of PLASTICS, SPE members will retain their membership and benefits, and Patrick Farrey has joined PLASTICS as Executive Vice President of SPE and Chief Integration Officer to lead the transition.
The Plastics Industry Fly-In is your chance to make sure policymaking reflects the real impact our industry has on communities, innovation, and the economy.
Join us in Washington, D.C., to help amplify the industry’s voice on Capitol Hill.
Why It Matters
Significant Impact: Share real-world stories about how plastics support jobs, strengthen local economies, and improve everyday life.
Essential Advocacy: This isn’t just a meeting — it’s your opportunity to advocate for the essential role plastics play across society.
Direct Education: Help policymakers understand the true business and regulatory implications before decisions are made.
Chief Economist Dr. Perc Pineda shares the latest data shaping the plastics industry in this month’s Perc Report.
Economic growth remains resilient. GDP rose at a 4.3% annual rate in Q3, exceeding expectations as consumer spending continued to support demand.
Interest rates edged lower. The Federal Reserve cut rates again in December, easing pressure on borrowing and investment.
Plastics manufacturing remains steady. The sector added jobs, production increased, and capacity utilization continued to improve.
👉 Read this month'sPerc Report. 📬 Sign up to receive the Perc Report each month.
🌟 FLiP Spotlight: Claude-Anne Duval
Claude-Anne Duval is an Innovation and Sustainability Engineer at Epsilyte, where she leads circularity-focused projects that increase post-consumer recycled (PCR) content and improve product formulations across three manufacturing sites.
She joined Epsilyte following the 2021 StyroChem acquisition, after five years as a Process Engineer at StyroChem Canada. A chemical engineering graduate of the University of Ottawa, Claude-Anne earned her P.Eng license in 2019 and credits early mentors for shaping her leadership mindset—especially the advice to “talk value, not price.”
At Epsilyte, her work supports essential EPS applications, including building insulation, construction, and foodservice packaging. She’s especially proud of products containing at least 50% certified recycled content and the company’s leadership in biodegradable EPS technologies.
Claude-Anne discoveredFLiPwhile registering for the National Plastics Conference and quickly got involved through meetings, clean-up efforts, and upcoming opportunities. Her perspective on the industry is summed up by one message she keeps close: “We love plastic. We hate plastic waste.”
To read Claude-Anne's full FLiP File story, click here.
To learn more about Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP), click here.
📆 Mark Your Calendar
🚀 FLiP Winter Development Session | January 22, 2026 | Virtual (12–1 PM ET) | Join the Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP) community for an inspiring keynote from Angela Raub, CEO and Executive Coach, on Failing Forward. Learn how to reframe setbacks as growth opportunities, strengthen resilience, and lead with confidence. Register today.
📍 PLASTICS New York Fly-In at the State Capitol | January 26–27, 2026 | Join PLASTICS in Albany for our New York Fly-In at the State Capitol. Participation is strongly encouraged. To learn more or confirm your interest, please RSVP to Danielle Fortunato.
📅 Plastic Sustainability Executive Forum | February 10–11, 2026 | Washington, DC| Winter Forum: Scaling Advanced Recycling through Policy. To request your invitation to attend, click here.
🗓️ NPE2027 Space Selection & Planning Event | March 2–6, 2026 |Orlando, FL | NPE2027 exhibitors will convene to select exhibit booth space, plan for exhibit success, and explore opportunities to maximize the NPE2027 investment. Learn more.
🏛️ PLASTICS Spring Meeting and Industry Fly-In | April 13–15, 2026 |Washington, DC | Join us for the annual PLASTICS Spring Meeting and Industry Fly-In. We'll come together to share our policy and advocacy initiatives while bringing the industry to Capitol Hill, to personally advocate on behalf of your company. Learn more.To register, click here.
⛳ FlexForum | May 4–6, 2026 |Fort Myers, FL | FlexForum is the event for anyone in the flexible film and packaging space. Covering business trends, regulatory issues, and more with the incredible networking opportunities, FlexForum is a can't miss in 2026! Learn more. To register, click here.
