Issue No. 33    |    October 7, 2025

This Week:

🤝  Better Together: PLASTICS and SPE Join Forces

📘  Now Available: PLASTICS 2025 Annual Report

📊  Fresh Insights from the Perc Report

📢   Your Input Needed: USMCA Trade Agreement Under

          Review

🙌   Welcome New Member

🤝 Better Together: PLASTICS and SPE Join Forces

🎥 Watch Matt Seaholm’s video message to learn what this merger means for members and the plastics industry.

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) and the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) are joining forces to create a single, stronger organization representing the full plastics value chain—from molecule to marketplace. Starting January 2026, SPE will become a division of PLASTICS under an agreement approved by both Boards of Directors.

By combining SPE’s technical expertise with PLASTICS’ advocacy reach, this integration will deliver deeper education, expanded workforce development, and stronger industry connections for members.

Visit our landing page for FAQs, updates, and resources as the integration moves forward.

📘 Now Available: PLASTICS 2025 Annual Report

The PLASTICS 2025 Annual Report is here—highlighting a year of impact, innovation, and industry leadership.

From advocacy wins and sustainability milestones to economic research, workforce trends, and member engagement, this year’s report showcases how your investment in PLASTICS is protecting, promoting, and growing the plastics industry.

📈 Explore highlights including:

• Our largest-ever DC Fly-In and advocacy wins across 7 states

• 6.8+ million views for the Recycling is Real campaign

• Growing momentum for NPE2027

• Workforce tools, economic dashboards, and more

Download the 2025 Annual Report

To see how PLASTICS is protecting, promoting, and growing our industry, download the report here

📊 Fresh Insights from the Perc Report

Chief Economist Dr. Perc Pineda shares the latest data shaping the plastics industry:

• U.S. Industrial Production Index rose 0.1% in August after a 0.4% decline in July.

• Plastics demand is projected at 123.3 billion lbs. in 2025, up 4.6% year-over-year.

• Exports of plastics materials to Europe jumped 15% this quarter.

Read the full Perc Report for deeper economic data, demand forecasts, and industry trends.

📢 Your Input Needed: USMCA Trade Agreement Under Review

The U.S. free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada is being renegotiated, and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)  needs your input. Both countries are the largest export markets for the U.S. plastics industry.

We want your feedback to help ensure the agreement continues to benefit our industry, the U.S. economy, and the competitiveness of the North American region. Take the PLASTICS USMCA Consultation Survey by October 8, 2025. 

To access the survey, click here.

🙌   Welcome New Member

Headquartered in Norfolk, NE, EBM Manufacturing develops products for the feed, grain, and seed industries. The company has obtained several US patents, sold products worldwide, and designed and developed new equipment, such as the Gentle Roll™ Screener and the EBM Aspirator.

 EBM Manufacturing  also provides waterjet and plasma cutting services, custom sectional flighting, and metal forming. Other services include custom steel fabrication for agricultural/industrial projects. 

Visit website.

📆 Mark Your Calendar

🌐 October 15–17 | OCS CON 2025 | Indianapolis, IN | 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.  Register now.

📅 Save the Date: Bioplastics Week | October 20–25, 2025 | Celebrate 10 years of Bioplastics Week with us through our annual social media campaign spotlighting the latest innovations in bioplastics.  Watch for daily posts from PLASTICS on social media, and join the celebration by liking, commenting, and sharing!

♻️ Plastics Sustainability Executive Forum | November 3–4 | New York, NY |

Request an invitation to join senior sustainability professionals to explore real-world solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. This fall’s forum will focus on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Learn more.

📅 Vinyl Week 2025 | December 9–12 | New Orleans | 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. Register today.

🗓️  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.