Industry leaders are in Washington this week, meeting directly with policymakers to advance priorities around manufacturing growth, trade, and recycling.
Focus areas:
U.S. manufacturing competitiveness
Predictable trade policy
Faster progress on recycling and circularity
Why it matters: Policy clarity and infrastructure investment are critical to scaling recycling and strengthening domestic production.
Bottom line: The industry is pushing for practical, pro-growth policies—and making sure its voice is heard where it counts.
A full view of the recycling system, from collection to manufacturing
Real facilities, real people, and real data
Clear content and downloadable resources
Big picture: Better access to straightforward, fact-based content helps strengthen understanding and trust in recycling.
📊 Plastics Quarterly Outlook: Early 2026 Trends
Big picture: The plastics industry enters 2026 with mixed performance and measured momentum.
What’s happening:
Materials and resins remain steady
Products expected to strengthen as the year progresses
Machinery soft; molds beginning to stabilize
Why it matters: Growth is uneven and gradual—with opportunities depending on where you operate across the value chain.
The economy: Steady but slower growth, shaped by inflation, tariffs, and global uncertainty.
Bottom line: Early signals point to progress—but timing and positioning will matter.
👉 Download the report to see what’s driving the outlook.
📊 Services Reshape Plastics Demand
Why it matters: Plastics demand is shifting—driven more by services than traditional manufacturing.
By the numbers: Services already account for 23.4% of plastics consumption—and growing.
What’s changing: Demand is expanding beyond factories—into healthcare, food services, and data infrastructure.
The takeaway: As spending shifts, plastics demand is becoming more consumer-driven—and more resilient—than expected.
👉 Read Perc's analysis to see what’s driving this shift.
🔔 FlexForum 2026 Is Almost Here May 4–6
FlexForum 2026 is right around the corner. Join industry leaders this May 4–6 to explore what’s next in flexible plastics packaging—and how to stay competitive in a shifting market.
The pace of change is accelerating. FlexForum brings together converters, suppliers, and innovators to break down the trends, technologies, and 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.
Headquartered in Hastings, Minnesota, Intek Plastics is a custom plastics manufacturer specializing in engineered plastic extrusion and injection molding solutions. Founded in 1961, the company supports a wide range of markets by producing complex plastic profiles,
precision‑molded components, and value‑added assemblies for OEM customers.
Intek Plastics offers end‑to‑end capabilities, including in‑house tooling, rapid prototyping, secondary operations, and just‑in‑time delivery. With a focus on innovation, quality, and operational excellence, the company serves industries such as fenestration, data centers, aerospace and defense, medical devices, and industrial manufacturing.
⛳ 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. Learn more. To register, click here.
📅 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. Super Early Member Rates available until April 17.
📅 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.
📅 Save the date. 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.
