This week shines a spotlight on how our industry supports a circular plastics economy — help us celebrate and promote Recycling Week!
The PLASTICS Recycling Committee has set daily themes to help organize and inspire content across the industry. Use them to spark your posts — from recycling innovations and success stories to practical tips for boosting recycling rates.
✅ Follow #PlasticRecyclingWeek ✅ Post, like, and share throughout the week
The Fed’s 25 basis-point rate cut — its second this year — lowers the target range to 3.75%–4.0% and offers welcome relief for manufacturers, says Perc Pineda, PhD, Chief Economist at PLASTICS.
Lower rates and new 100% expensing tax breaks could help jump-start investment and modernization in U.S. plastics manufacturing. But rising tariffs continue to push up input costs, creating a tug-of-war between growth and inflation.
The real impact will take time. Monetary and fiscal policies can take 6–9 months or longer to reach the factory floor — meaning patience will be essential for sustained growth.
“Lower taxes and cheaper borrowing can offset tariff pressures — but patience is key,” says Pineda.
As Director of Government Affairs at Novolex, Sam Schlaich helps shape policies that drive one of the manufacturing’s most innovative sectors. From Capitol Hill to the factory floor, he connects public policy with real-world progress in recycling and circularity.
“There’s no such thing as an average day,” Sam says. “One day I’m meeting with legislators, the next I’m in our plants—seeing our products made in real time never gets old.”
At Novolex, Sam advocates for solutions that move the industry forward—from operating one of the nation’s largest plastic bag recycling programs to driving collaboration through ARPBA and FFRA. It’s work that blends his background in public policy with his passion for sustainable manufacturing.
“This industry is full of great people who are proud of what they do,” he says. “That passion is contagious.”
Read more about how mentorship shaped Sam’s career, his take on inspiring the next generation of plastics leaders, and how he’s helping reshape the conversation around recycling. Click here.
To learn more about Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP), click here.
Discover how to turn setbacks into stepping stones for success. Angela—an executive coach and leadership strategist with 20+ years of experience guiding brands like The Home Depot, Dyson, and Chewy—will share strategies to help you reframe failure, strengthen resilience, and lead with confidence.
👉 In this free session, you’ll learn how to:
Reframe failures as opportunities for growth
Build adaptable, actionable plans that enable effective pivots
Apply resilience principles to drive continuous improvement
Lead teams with confidence toward shared goals
This session is open to all FLiP-eligible professionals (generally those under or around age 40).
To learn more about Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP), click here.
🙌 Welcome New Members
Headquartered in Borgoricco, Italy, Pegaso Industries is a global leader in auxiliary machinery for plastic processing. Established in 2019, the company is focused on innovation, energy efficiency, and sustainability — developing advanced systems for recycled plastics and industrial automation.
Pegaso Industries unites five Italian companies and five international subsidiaries under one industrial brand. Its portfolio includes Plastic Systems, PET Solutions, Blauwer, Ergomec, and Steel Systems, specializing in dehumidification, material handling, mixing, and thermodynamic systems. Pegaso Industries operates in over 100 countries with more than 500 employees.
Headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, CEMAKS is a global leader in custom thermoforming machines. With over 20 years of experience and clients in more than 20 countries, the company delivers innovation, precision, and performance across industries like food packaging, automotive, and electronics.
📅 Vinyl Week 2025 | December 9–12 | New Orleans, LA | 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.
🚀 FLiP Winter Development Session | January 22, 2026 | Virtual (12–1 PM ET) Join the Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP) community for an inspiring keynote from Angela Raub, CEO and Executive Coach, on Failing Forward. Learn how to reframe setbacks as growth opportunities, strengthen resilience, and lead with confidence. 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.
🏛️ 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.
⛳ 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! More details coming soon.
