📍 State Policy Update: Key Activity Across the U.S.
📅 Mark Your Calendar
♻️ Bipartisan Recycling Legislation Advances
What happened:
On May 14, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment advanced H.R. 2145, the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act (RIAA) and H.R. 4109, the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act (RCAA).
During the markup, the bills were combined to align with the bipartisan Senate-passed S.351, the STEWARD Act.
Why it matters: The legislation aims to:
Expand recycling accessibility
Improve recycling data collection and reporting
Strengthen U.S. recycling infrastructure
Support a more circular manufacturing economy
What’s next:
The legislation now moves to full committee consideration.
What PLASTICS is saying:
“Today’s actions represent an important step toward improving recycling accessibility, enhancing data collection and reporting, and strengthening the effectiveness of the nation’s recycling system,” said Chris Rager, Vice President of Government Affairs at PLASTICS.
👉 To read Chris Rager’s full statement, click here.
📊 Plastics Machinery Shipments Start 2026 Soft
The Plastics Industry Association has released the Committee on Equipment Statistics (CES) report for Q1 2026, authored by Chief Economist Dr. Perc Pineda. The report tracks shipments of primary plastics machinery across North America.
Shipments totaled an estimated $273.5 million, a 16.4% decline from Q4 2025, but an 8.5% increase year over year.
Why it matters: The data reflects a mixed start to 2026—seasonal slowdown, tariff-related cost pressures, and softer expectations across the supply chain.
By the numbers:
$273.5M in Q1 shipments
-16.4% vs. Q4 2025
+8.5% year-over-year
$118.9M in calculated duties on machinery imports (more than triple Q1 2025 levels)
Supplier optimism: 29% expect improvement, down from 39%
The takeaway:
Year-over-year growth remains positive, but rising trade costs and easing sentiment point to a more cautious market environment.
Plastics product manufacturing continues to show mixed signals — with recent gains but an uneven recovery.
Output increased for the fifth consecutive month in March, though still slightly below year-ago levels. At the same time, broader manufacturing indicators are improving, with the ISM Manufacturing PMI holding in expansion territory for multiple months.
Plastics processing data also point to resilience, with activity staying above growth thresholds for four straight months and production reaching its highest level since 2021. New orders and future business expectations are also showing improvement.
However, the longer-term picture is still soft.
Higher interest rates continue to weigh on capital investment and on key plastics end markets such as construction, automotive, and consumer goods. Manufacturing activity remains below its long-term trend, and recent gains have yet to form a consistent upward trajectory.
Why it matters: Recent improvements suggest stabilization in parts of the manufacturing sector, but plastics production remains sensitive to financial conditions and broader economic demand.
In his latest analysis, Perc Pineda, PhD, unpacks what’s behind recent gains in plastics manufacturing — and what will determine whether the momentum continues.
FlexForum 2026 brought together industry leaders in Fort Myers, FL, for three days of conversations shaping the future of flexible packaging. From opening-day energy and a Welcome Reception to a CSR project supporting STEM kits for kids, attendees set the tone early with collaboration and purpose.
Across the program, sessions explored sustainability in flexible packaging, recycling realities, evolving polyolefins markets, trade policy, and how AI is reshaping flexible film operations. The closing day featured economic insights from Chief Economist Perc Pineda, PhD, highlighting the forces shaping the sector in 2026.
From technical deep dives to informal networking at the offsite reception, FlexForum delivered a clear message: the flexible packaging industry is navigating rapid change—and doing it together.
👉To stay in the loop on special offers and news for FlexForum 2027, visit FlexForum.org and fill out the interest form.
📍 State Policy Update: Key Activity Across the U.S.
Recent activity across Western states is shaping policy conversations that could impact plastics manufacturing, materials use, and recycling efforts.
The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Extrusion Division will host the Extrusion Optimization TopCon June 16–18, 2026, in Montreal-Longueuil, QC, bringing together industry leaders and academia to explore the real-world “boundary conditions” that drive extrusion performance — from melt temperature and pressure control to torque and output challenges.
Across three days, attendees will explore technical sessions covering single- and twin-screw optimization, CAE tools, advanced process monitoring, and sustainability-focused topics such as recycling, bioplastics, and biochar pathways. The event will conclude with a Day 3 troubleshooting panel centered on real-world extrusion process challenges and solutions.
👉Register by May 23 to secure the early-bird rate.
📆 Mark Your Calendar
📅 2026 FDCPMC Spring Food Packaging Summit | June 1–3 | Arlington, VA | Hosted by PLASTICS at the Hilton National Landing, this summit brings industry leaders together to discuss the key issues, trends, and innovations shaping food packaging. Learn more. To register, click here.
📅 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 Super 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.
