This Week:

👥 FlexForum Conference

🧩 New Study Tracks Progress on Recycled Content Goals

🏆 2025 Plastic Sustainability Innovation Award Winners

🌍 Earth Day, Every Day

📣 ICYMI: Heather Neilan Spotlighted for Her Work 

📅 Mark your Calendar

🌟 FlexForum 2025: Energy, Innovation, and Impact

"It needs to be flexible. Pun intended" - Dan Felton, Flexible Packaging Association speaking about policy related to flexible materials.

FlexForum 2025, hosted last week in Orlando, brought together industry leaders, innovators, and sustainability champions to tackle the future of flexible packaging.

FlexForum painted a picture of an industry navigating complex global trade dynamics while simultaneously striving towards ambitious sustainability goals. The need for innovation, infrastructure development, and consistent policy frameworks were key themes that emerged throughout the sessions.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated and made FlexForum 2025 a standout experience - particularly the FlexForum Steering Committee. Your engagement and enthusiasm were key to its success.

📅 Save the Date!

FlexForum 2026 will be held May 4–6, 2026, in Fort Myers, Florida. We can’t wait to build on this year’s momentum! Join the list to get all of the details. 

🧩 New Study Reveals Progress and Challenges in Meeting Recycled Content Goals for Packaging

A just-released report—funded by PLASTICS’ Recycling is Real initiative—offers a deep dive into the progress, pressures, and gaps facing packaging companies trying to meet recycled content goals.

What it is:

The U.S. Packaging Recycled Content Goals Analysis, developed by AMERIPEN and Circular Matters, is the most comprehensive snapshot yet of how industry goals and state/federal policies align with the U.S. recycling system’s current and future capacity.

🟢 Why it matters:

• Progress: PCR use in plastic packaging doubled from 5.3% (2019) to 10.7% (2023)

• Barriers remain: Supply gaps, food-grade limitations, and collection shortfalls persist

• Policy pressure: 10+ states now mandate recycled content in packaging

From PLASTICS:

“This study reflects encouraging momentum while also pointing to key opportunities for system-wide improvement,” said Patrick Krieger, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Policy at PLASTICS. “With more companies committing to sustainable packaging and more states enacting mandates, we’re stepping up to meet demand. However, additional support—through stronger collection systems, clearer regulatory guidance, and greater investment in U.S. recycling infrastructure is essential to sustaining progress. Recycling is real and working—and our next challenge is aligning PCR goals with available supply and capacity.”

👉 Click here to read the full press release and download the report for free.

🏆Celebrating Innovation: 2025 Plastic Sustainability Innovation Award Winners

On Earth Day, PLASTICS announced the winners of its 2025 Plastic Sustainability Innovation Awards —recognizing outstanding innovations in plastics manufacturing that deliver environmental advantages in design, material, and end-of-life management.

Meet the 2025 Winners

• Leadership: Plastipak – for PPK Natura, a material made from captured waste carbon emissions.
• Design: PureCycle Technologies – for PureFive™, their innovative dissolution recycling process.
• Material: GreenMantra Technologies – for CERANOVUS®, a specialty additive made entirely from waste plastic via molecular recycling.
• End-of-Life: GreyParrot – for the GreyParrot Analyzer, an AI-driven waste analytics system.
• People’s Choice: SnapSlide – for the SnapSlide RX Vial, designed for easier use and made with 25% less plastic.

🌍 Why it matters:

These companies are redefining what’s possible in plastics innovation—leading the way to a more sustainable future.

📄 Click here to read the full press release on these winners.

🌍 Earth Day, Every Day

While Earth Day was celebrated last week, our work continues every day—across the plastics value chain, around the world.

From investments in advanced recycling to lighter, more efficient materials that cut emissions, PLASTICS members are driving real progress to keep plastics in the circular economy—and out of the environment.

“Sustainability isn’t a one-day effort, but a daily commitment across our industry,” said Patrick Krieger, PLASTICS’ SVP of Sustainability and Policy. “On Earth Day, we’re proud to spotlight the real solutions already at work—from the engineers designing products with longer life cycles and lower environmental impact to the people operating recycling facilities. The plastics industry is advancing technology, reducing waste, strengthening U.S. manufacturing, and supporting a more robust recycling infrastructure that sustains jobs across the country.”

Why it matters:
The industry is advancing technology, reducing landfill waste, supporting U.S. jobs, and strengthening our domestic recycling infrastructure.

👉 Click here to read the press release

📣 ICYMI: Heather Neilan Spotlighted for Her Work in Plastics Sustainability

“Meet 5 Women Working Sustainability Like It’s Their Job”—published by Women in Print for Earth Day—highlights professionals using their platforms to protect the planet every day, not just April 22.

🌟 Heather Neilan is one of five women recognized for leadership in environmental and sustainability efforts.

At PLASTICS, Heather champions bioplastics, supports cleaner manufacturing, and leads efforts that make real community impact—from policy to litter cleanups.

👉 Click here to read Heather’s full spotlight.

Mark Your Calendar

🧪 May 6 | Free Webinar for PLASTICS Members – Understanding the 19th Amendment to the Plastics Regulation (EU) 2025/351. Learn what’s changing, how it impacts re-processing and purity standards, and what it means for your business. Register Now.

🍬 June 2-4 | Join Us for the 2025 FDCPMC Spring Food Packaging Summit in Alexandria, VA to connect with industry leaders and stay ahead on key food packaging regulations.

June 10–11| Plastic Sustainability Executive Forum | Interested in attending? Request your invitation today! Theme: Sustainable Procurement – Balancing Responsibility, Risk & Resilience

September 22 - 25 - National Plastics Conference — the exclusive event built by industry, for industry — is back.

🌐 October 15–17 | OCS CON 2025 | Indianapolis, IN. Registration open for OCS Blue and OCS Logistics members only. Hosted by Operation Clean Sweep®, this event brings together the plastics value chain to advance efforts to eliminate plastic resin loss to the environment. Early bird registration opens to everyone June 13. Learn More.