The Plastics Industry Association released the Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES) Fourth Quarter 2025 report, authored by Chief Economist Perc Pineda.
The numbers: Shipments of primary plastics machinery in North America reached $327 million, rising 7.8% from Q3 and 7.0% year over year—marking the third consecutive quarter of growth.
What’s driving the trend:Gains in single-screw extrusion and injection molding equipment offset a decline in twin-screw extrusion shipments.
What it means: Despite tariff-related pressures on equipment suppliers, shipments increased alongside broader economic growth in 2025.
Survey results also showed improving sentiment among equipment suppliers, with fewer expecting market conditions to deteriorate in the near term.
👉 To read the full CES Q4 2025 report, click here.
🏛️ PLASTICS Hosts California Legislative Fly-In
On March 10, PLASTICS hosted a Legislative Fly-In at the California State Capitol, bringing together industry leaders and policymakers to discuss plastics recycling and sustainable materials management.
Industry leaders highlighted how innovation and stronger recycling systems can help meet California’s environmental goals while keeping essential products affordable.
“California has long been a leader in environmental policy, and the plastics industry shares the goal of building stronger, more effective recycling systems,” said Ivy Brittain, Regional Director of State Government Affairs at PLASTICS.
Thank you to the PLASTICS members who joined us for the California Fly-In and helped represent the industry.
View the latest press releases in the PLASTICS newsroom.
🌎 Global Plastics Leaders Gather at ANTEC® 2026
More than 450 plastics professionals gathered in Pittsburgh for ANTEC® 2026 (March 9–12), hosted by the Society of Plastics Engineers.
Conference Highlights:
200+ speakers across eight technical tracks
Advances in polymer science and processing technologies
Sustainability and recycling innovations
Key sessions: Sustainable plastics for pharmaceuticals, packaging regulation and biopolymers, thermoset recycling, and AI’s growing role in materials engineering.
Why it matters: ANTEC continues to bring together researchers, manufacturers, and engineers to explore the technologies shaping the future of plastics.
The countdown is on: early‑bird pricing for FlexForum 2026 ends this Thursday. Now is the time to lock in your spot at the industry’s most essential event.
Join peers and industry leaders at FlexForum 2026 to explore what’s next in flexible plastics packaging and how to stay competitive.
Why it matters: Converters, processors, suppliers, and innovators come together to explore the technologies, market shifts, and business pressures shaping polyethylene films and flexible packaging.
What you’ll get:
• Insights on emerging technologies and market trends • Practical strategies to stay competitive • Connections across the full packaging value chain
Who should attend:
Film producers, converters, materials suppliers, sustainability leaders, and professionals working in flexible packaging.
U.S. payroll employment fell by 92,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate edged up to 4.4%, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
Employment in plastics and rubber products manufacturing declined by 4,200 jobs, reflecting broader volatility across sectors.
Go deeper: In a new analysis, PLASTICS Chief Economist Perc Pineda explains why February’s numbers likely reflect short-term disruptions rather than a broader economic slowdown.
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is proud to share a new video highlighting how recycling works in practice through a partnership between Envision Plastics in Chino, California, and PakTech in Eugene, Oregon.
Together, these companies demonstrate how post-consumer materials are collected, processed, and transformed into new products, keeping valuable resources in the circular economy.
Stories like this show how recycling systems across the United States are working every day to recover materials and support American manufacturing.
▶️ Watch the videoto see how recycling works across America — and share it with your network.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Mesutronic, is a leading manufacturer of metal detection, metal separation, and X‑ray inspection systems designed to protect production processes and ensure product quality across a wide range of industries.
With more than 30 years of experience, Mesutronic provides advanced inspection solutions for the plastics, food, pharmaceutical, hygiene, textile, wood, and mining sectors.
Headquartered in Pertuis, France, Pellenc ST designs, manufactures, and delivers intelligent optical sorting and inspection systems for the recycling and waste‑management industries. The company provides advanced, connected sorting solutions
that enable the efficient recovery of plastics, metals, paper, and other materials across a wide range of recycling applications.
Pellenc ST’s technology combines near‑infrared and visible spectrometry, X‑ray detection, and artificial intelligence to help operators improve sorting accuracy, increase material recovery, and support the development of a circular economy. All equipment is designed, manufactured, and assembled in France, with a global presence supporting customers in more than 40 countries.
🗓️ 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.
🏛️ 2026 FDCPMC Spring Food Packaging Summit | June 1–3 | Arlington, VA | Save the date for the Spring Food Packaging Summit, hosted by PLASTICS. This summit will bring industry leaders together at the Hilton National Landing. More information to follow.
📅 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.
