📍 State Policy Update: Key Activity Across the U.S.
🤝 Welcome New Members
📅 Mark Your Calendar
🏠 Housing Market Still Searching for Stability
The U.S. housing market continues to face mixed signals as high mortgage rates, inflation concerns, and uneven economic growth weigh on construction activity and home sales. While housing starts and new home sales have shown periodic gains, momentum remains inconsistent across both single-family and multifamily markets.
Why it matters: Housing activity is a leading indicator of plastics demand, especially in construction-related products such as pipe, flooring, wire and cable, and building materials. Current forecasts suggest multifamily construction may offer stronger near-term opportunities for plastics manufacturers than single-family housing.
Mortgage rates remain above 6.0%, while ongoing inflation pressures and geopolitical tensions continue to create uncertainty for builders, buyers, and manufacturers alike.
At the request of members, PLASTICS is forming a working group to help develop a new Climate Change Policy Position that recognizes plastics as part of the solution to climate challenges.
The focus: • Practical solutions across the plastics supply chain • Data-driven sustainability approaches • Advocacy that positions plastics as a sustainable resource
Who should join: Members involved in sustainability, operations, compliance, public policy, or strategic planning.
👉 Get involved: Complete the sign-up form to participate.
Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Smithers Scientific Services, Inc. is a global provider of testing, consulting,
information, and certification services. With decades of experience supporting the plastics industry, the company offers material testing, failure analysis, product validation, and regulatory compliance support to help clients ensure product performance, quality, and reliability.
Through advanced laboratory capabilities and deep technical expertise, Smithers partners with organizations across the plastics value chain to solve complex material challenges and bring innovative products to market with confidence.
Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with primary manufacturing operations in
Ravenswood, West Virginia, Niche Polymers specializes in custom compounding and toll processing of thermoplastic engineered resins.
Founded in 2008, the company builds on more than 30 years of operational experience through its established facilities, delivering tailored material solutions to meet customer specific performance requirements.
With a strong focus on quality, consistency, and technical expertise, Niche Polymers supports customers across the plastics industry in developing and scaling high performance material applications. Their team has a strong NPE history, participating in both 2018 and 2024, with an expanding presence that has grown from 300 to 1,200 square feet.
📅 SPE Extrusion Optimization TopCon | June 16–18, 2026 | Montreal-Longueuil, QC | Hosted by the SPE: Inspiring Plastics Professionals Extrusion Division, this three-day event brings together extrusion professionals for education, networking, and practical discussions on troubleshooting, bioplastics, recycling, and process optimization. Learn more.
📅 Plastic Sustainability Executive Forum| July 14–15, 2026 | Toronto, Canada | Summer Forum: Addressing a Growing Concern of Microplastics & Material Stewardship. To request your invitation to attend, click here.
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.
📅 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.
📅 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.
