Why it matters: Energy prices influence the cost of producing plastics — but crude oil is only one piece of the equation. Understanding how oil, natural gas, and supply chain conditions interact can help manufacturers better navigate market uncertainty.
In his latest analysis, Perc Pineda, PhD, Chief Economist at PLASTICS, explains why energy market changes affect different parts of the plastics industry in different ways.
➡️ Natural gas is a key driver. For U.S. resin producers, natural gas and natural gas liquids — especially ethane — often play a larger role in production costs than crude oil.
➡️ Impacts vary by sector. Resin manufacturers, processors, and plastic product producers experience energy changes differently based on their operations and supply chains.
➡️ Current conditions differ from 2021. While resin prices have increased, today’s market does not reflect the historic supply chain disruptions that drove extreme price increases during the pandemic recovery.
🎥 New | Perc VLOG Hear it directly from our expert! Watch this video as Perc, breaks down the changing dynamics of energy costs and how they uniquely impact different sectors of the plastics industry.
Share your expertise at 2026 Vinyl Week, taking place December 8–10 in Charlotte, North Carolina. PLASTICS and the Vinyl Sustainability Council are seeking presentations that explore the latest innovations, market trends, and sustainability initiatives shaping the future of the vinyl industry.
Proposal topics include:
Sustainability and responsible sourcing
Flexible vinyl market trends and applications
Next-generation materials and renewable feedstocks
PVC and plasticizer market outlooks
Technology driving innovation in flexible vinyl
Deadline: Submit your presentation proposal by August 14, 2026. Accepted speakers will be notified by September 11.
👉 Click here to learn more and to submit your proposal.
📚 August FLiP Book Club: Exploring Motivation
Join the August FLiP Book Club on Friday, August 7, from 2:00–3:00 PM ET for an engaging conversation about motivation, leadership, and professional growth.
This month, we’ll explore Drive: What Motivates Us and the Puzzle of Motivation through a TED Talk/video that we’ll watch together, followed by an open discussion with fellow FLiP participants.
Together, we’ll discuss: ➡️ What truly drives motivation and engagement ➡️ How motivation influences leadership and performance ➡️ Ways these ideas can support professional growth across the plastics industry
Whether you’ve participated in a FLiP event before or are joining for the first time, this is a great opportunity to connect with peers, share ideas, and learn from one another in a relaxed, collaborative setting.
Who should attend: FLiP-eligible professionals (generally under or around age 40) employed by companies with active Plastics Industry Association membership.
👉To learn more about Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP), click here.
🚀 Early Bird Pricing Ends August 3, 2026
Save $200 with Early Bird pricing for the National Plastics Conference, happening September 14–17 in Houston! This year’s theme, Make It Happen, brings the full plastics value chain together to turn industry challenges into practical solutions, stronger connections, and real progress.
At the National Plastics Conference, leaders don’t just talk about change — they drive it. Attendees can expect:
Insights that turn into action
Conversations that become business partnerships
Cross-sector collaboration across the plastics value chain
A focus on real-world solutions to shared industry challenges
Progress doesn’t happen on its own. It happens when the industry comes together to act.
👉 Register nowandsave $200 with the Early Bird rate.
📍 State Policy Update: Key Activity Across the U.S.
Recent activity across Western states is shaping policy conversations that could impact plastics manufacturing, materials use, and recycling efforts.
🎤 NPE2027 Call for Speakers | Proposals due August 14, 2026 | NPE2027 is now accepting speaker proposals for its education program. Industry leaders, innovators, and subject matter experts are invited to share insights and expertise with a global audience at NPE2027, taking place May 3–7, 2027, in Orlando, Florida. To submit a proposal or learn more, click here.
📅 National Plastics Conference| Sept. 14–17, 2026 | Houston, TX |The exclusive event built by industry, for industry returns. Register now for Early Bird Pricing.
📅 OCS CON2026| Oct. 14–16, 2026 | Houston, TX | 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.
📅 Injection Molding Innovation Summit| Oct. 22, 2026 | Cleveland, OH | Hosted by the Society of Plastics Engineers, the event will explore practical applications of AI, sustainability, materials, tooling, and other innovations shaping the future of injection molding. PLASTICS members can register at the SPE member rate using code IMIS-PLASTICS. Click here to register.
📅 Plastic Sustainability Executive Forum| Nov. 11–12, 2026 | Atlanta, GA | Fall Forum: Backing the Vision: Investment, Infrastructure, and the Economics of Advanced Recycling. To request your invitation to attend, click here.
📅 Vinyl Week 2026 | Dec. 8–11, 2026 | Charlotte, NC | This one-of-a-kind gathering brings together the Vinyl Compounders Conference and the Vinyl Sustainability Summit for four days of leadership, networking, and forward-looking insights. Learn more.
📅 NPE2027 – The Plastics Show | May 3–7, 2027 | Orlando, FL | The largest plastics trade show in the Americas, bringing together 51,000+ professionals from 130+ countries to explore innovations in automation, sustainability, and advanced materials. Featuring 2,200+ exhibitors and on-site ANTEC® technical sessions. Registration opens September 2026. Learn more.
