North American Plastics Alliance Expands Pellet Containment Program, Energy Recovery and Consumer Education

April 2, 2012

Contact:
Barry Eisenberg
202-974-5210
beisenberg@plasticsindustry.org

ORLANDO (April 2, 2012) – While attending NPE2012, the largest gathering of the plastics manufacturing  industry in North America, leaders of the three organizations that comprise the North American Plastics Alliance (NAPA) reported progress had been made on pellet containment, energy recovery and consumer education. The Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) and SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association (SPI) have all been working together on key industry priorities long before formalizing their alliance in July 2011.  The organizations also recently added recycling initiatives to their current energy recovery priorities.

• Pellet Containment: SPI launched Operation Clean Sweep in 1992 and now partners with ACC and CPIA to help every plastic resin handling operation implement good housekeeping and pellet containment practices that result in zero pellet loss as well as keep the environment clean and save resources. All NPE registrants are getting an OCS pledge form, and the three organizations are working together to promote participation throughout the NPE trade show. Since joining NAPA, CPIA introduced Operation Clean Sweep into Canada, and pellet containment efforts have increased six fold with new Canadian manufacturers participating in the program. The three organizations are also holding joint Webinars to promote the program throughout North America.
• Energy Recovery: Modeling after CPIA’s initial work in the field, ACC leads new industry initiatives that promote energy recovery and conversion of used plastics, which complement the industry’s recycling initiatives. SPI is working towards 100% diversion at its NPE trade show, including grinding some bottles on the show floor to demonstrate the plastics industry’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices. CPIA has made significant progress on post-use and expects doubling of the number of tons processed marking significant progress with municipalities across the country.
  
  
• Advocacy:  All three organizations work together to promote and protect North American manufacturing jobs by educating policy makers at all levels of government about the benefits of plastics. SPI is leading the allied industry coalition to protect funding for FDA’s Food Contact Notification program, which drives innovative new technologies, accelerates time to market and reduces regulatory burdens for North American manufacturers.
  
  
• Consumer Education: ACC’s Plastics Make It Possible campaign serves as the cornerstone for consumer outreach in North America. The three organizations share and repurpose materials since consumer education is a top priority for all stakeholders. SPI launched both a social media outreach campaign and a student scholarship program in 2011, and the programs are now being modeled by ACC and CPIA.

A Steering Team with member and staff representatives from each association directs the collaborative programs and initiatives of the North American Plastics Alliance. Comprised of both staff and members, the Steering Team includes:

Staff:

• Carol Hochu, President and CEO, Canadian Plastics Industry Association
• Bill Carteaux, President and CEO, SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association
• Steve Russell, Vice President of Plastics, American Chemistry Council

Members:

• Paul Cohen, President, W. Ralston (Canada) Inc.; Chair, CPIA Board of Directors
• Jay Cude, President and CEO, Coeur Inc.; Chairman, SPI Board of Directors
• Glenn Wright, Commercial Vice President of North America Plastics, The Dow Chemical Company; Chair, ACC Plastics Division Operating Committee

Quotes

“Many of our issues cross the Canada-U.S. border and our collaboration through NAPA has enabled all three organizations to focus our resources where they can make a difference for the North American manufacturing industry.” - Carol Hochu, President and CEO, CPIA

"NPE is the perfect venue to showcase our collective efforts to promote and protect plastics manufacturing in North America. Beginning with Operation Clean Sweep, energy recovery and consumer education, I am confident that together, SPI, ACC and CPIA will continue to expand well beyond the limits of what we would be able to accomplish individually." - Bill Carteaux, President and CEO, SPI

“We’ve had fantastic cooperation and input from everyone on consumer education. We each have a unique role in consumer outreach, and we are all far more effective working together to demonstrate the benefits of our products.” - Steve Russell, Vice President of Plastics, American Chemistry Council

Background

The Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) is the national voice of Canada’s plastics value chain, representing the interests of processors, recyclers, material suppliers, equipment manufacturers and brand owners. http://www.plastics.ca/

Founded in 1937, SPI is the plastics industry trade association representing the third largest manufacturing industry in the United States. SPI's member companies represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs nearly 900 thousand workers and provides $327 billion in annual shipments. SPI produces the triennial NPE trade show. http://www.plasticsindustry.org/

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to manufacturing innovative products that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $720 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is one of the nation’s largest exporters, accounting for ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation’s critical infrastructure. http://plastics.americanchemistry.com/

Contacts:

Barry Eisenberg, SPI, (202) 210-0416
beisenberg@plasticsindustry.org

Darlene Gray, CPIA, (905) 678-7748 ext. 239
dgray@plastics.ca

Jennifer Killinger, ACC, (202) 249-6619
Jennifer_Killinger@AmericanChemistry.com

Visit www.plasticsindustry.org/napa for downloadable logos of the organizations and photos of the association leaders.

Founded in 1937, SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association promotes growth in the $380 billion U.S. plastics industry. Representing nearly 900,000 American workers in the third largest U.S. manufacturing industry, SPI delivers advocacy, market research, industry promotion, and the fostering of business relationships and zero waste strategies. SPI also owns and produces the international NPE trade show. All profits from NPE are reinvested into SPI’s industry services. Find SPI online at www.plasticsindustry.org and www.inthehopper.org.

"From resin suppliers and equipment makers to processors and brand owners, SPI is proud to represent all facets of the U.S. plastics industry," said William R. Carteaux, president and CEO, SPI. Our most recent economic reports show that the plastics industry as a whole is resilient, and has come through the recession significantly better than other U.S. manufacturing sectors."