Issue No.  07   |   February 17, 2026

This Week:

🎤  Spring Meeting and Industry Fly-in Keynote Speaker

📊  U.S. Plastics Trade with El Salvador and Guatemala

🏆  2025 FLiP Members of the Year 

🎤 Spring Meeting and Industry Fly-in Keynote Speaker

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has announced Beth Sanner, former Intelligence Briefer to President Donald Trump and former Deputy Director of National Intelligence, as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Legislative Fly-In and Spring Meeting.

Sanner will provide a behind-the-scenes briefing on fast-moving national security developments and explain how global dynamics influence domestic policy, regulatory frameworks, and long-term business strategy.

Beth Sanner currently serves as Director of Geopolitics and Strategy at International Capital Strategies, advising corporate and investment clients on geopolitical and geofinancial risk.

👉 Register now. Seats fill quickly.

📊 U.S. Plastics Trade with El Salvador and Guatemala

The Plastics Industry Association's Chief Economist, Dr. Perc Pineda, has released a new economic analysis examining U.S. plastics trade with El Salvador and Guatemala and the implications of recent reciprocal tariffs on supply chains, manufacturing competitiveness, and regional trade relationships.

In the report, Dr. Pineda explores how targeted tariff measures, combined with narrowly defined exemptions for pharmaceutical and aircraft-related plastics, reflect a calibrated approach to balancing trade openness with supply-chain reliability.

👉 Read the full economic analysis and explore the implications for manufacturers and regional trade. Click here.

🏆 2025 FLiP Members of the Year 

The Plastics Industry Association and FLiP are proud to recognize the 2025 FLiP Members of the Year—an honor celebrating exceptional leadership, engagement, and dedication to the FLiP community.

This year, the award goes to two standout leaders who tied based on their impact and involvement:

• Stephen Goff, PolyQuest
• Stephen Scopelitis, Shawnee Chemical Company

From leadership activities to active participation across FLiP initiatives, “the Stephens” exemplify what it means to get involved, give back, and help advance the future of the plastics industry.

Congratulations to both on this well-earned recognition.

To learn more about Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP), click here. 

Learn more about the FLiP Mentorship Program—for yourself or a coworker—explore the program overview.

📆 Mark Your Calendar

🗓️  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.

🔬 ANTEC® 2026 | March 9–12 | Pittsburgh, PA |Join leaders in plastics technology, polymer research, and advanced processing to address real-world industry challenges. Register today. PLASTICS members save $200 on registration—use discount code ANTEC26-PLASTICS. 

🗓️  2026 FLiP Mentorship Program | Applications are due April 10, 2026. The program connects employees under 40 from PLASTICS member companies with experienced plastics industry professionals for meaningful, career-focused mentorship. Learn more.  Apply here. 

🏛️ 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. 

📅 Plastic Sustainability Executive Forum | July 14–15, 2026 | Toronto, CA | Summer Forum: Addressing a Growing Concern of Microplastics & Material Stewardship. To request your invitation to attend, click here.

🏆 Make It a Team Win!

Know someone on your team who should see this?

Feel free to forward this email to your coworkers!  Since your company is a member of the Plastics Industry Association, everyone on your team can create their own account and access member benefits.