The plastics industry recognizes the importance of sustainability and is dedicated to responsible environmental stewardship. Manufacturers are continuously working to increase recycling rates, reduce emissions from production and transport, and enable circular economies where plastics are reused instead of discarded. These efforts are essential for the industry’s license to operate and grow.
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) supports members across all industry sectors in their sustainability efforts. We bring together over 850 members across the plastics value chain. As the voice of the plastics industry, we take an innovative, collaborative approach to important environmental issues. This involves extensive advocacy, standards development, resource sharing, and stimulating new ideas.
Drive Sustainability Forward
Support the Circular Economy
Collaborate on Solutions
Join a Network of 850+ Members
Bioplastics are a sustainable material composed of renewable, plant-based resources and/or plastics that fully biodegrade after use. They offer environmental advantages over conventional plastics for certain applications, such as packaging, agriculture, medical devices, and automotive parts.
Bioplastics provide sustainability benefits including:
PLASTICS works with members, policy makers, and the value chain to advocate for bioplastics and communicate types. We also recognize product and process innovations through our annual Innovation in Bioplastics Award.
Leverage Renewable Resources
Promote Sustainability
Lower Carbon Footprint
Celebrate Innovation
The Flexible Film Recycling Alliance (FFRA) promotes the responsible recycling of flexible plastic films, including bags, pouches, wraps, and other flexible packaging.
FFRA brings together the entire value chain to improve flexible film recycling rates and infrastructure. Initiatives span:
Boost Flexible Film Recycling
Educate Consumers
Engage Policymakers
Find New End Markets
Through the New End Market Opportunities (NEMO) program, PLASTICS promotes plastics circularity by addressing the technical or logistical challenges that exist for difficult-to-recycle plastic products. NEMO projects include members from throughout a material’s supply chain to leverage their expertise and to understand their specific needs. These multi-stakeholder initiatives:
Recent projects have funded collection studies and new process equipment to expand the recycling of plastics from end-of-life vehicles and durable goods, flexible films, as well as improving regional sorting capabilities.
Boost Plastic Recycling Rates
Align the Entire Supply Chain
Demonstrate Processing Methods
Identify End Markets
The Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA) is a coalition that unites the entire polystyrene (PS) and expandable polystyrene (EPS) value chain to promote circularity for polystyrene products across North America.
PSRA is committed to improving recycling access and rates for all polystyrene formats and is focused on improving collection infrastructure, increasing drop-off programs, and developing robust end markets. Initiatives include:
Boost Polystyrene Recycling
Develop New End Markets
Unite Entire Supply Chain
Educate Consumers and Policymakers
Operation Clean Sweep supports companies in their journeys to work to achieve zero plastic resin loss from manufacturing, transport, and recycling operations. This international program is led by PLASTICS and the American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division.
More than 60 countries now have companies across the plastics value chain that pledged to prevent pellet, flake, and powder loss. This protects waterways and the marine environment along with human health. Through voluntary industry stewardship, Operation Clean Sweep accelerates the transition to a circular plastics economy.
Boost Polystyrene Recycling
Develop New End Markets
Unite Entire Supply Chain
Educate Consumers and Policymakers
Recycling plays a critical role in creating a more circular economy and growing the recycling infrastructure and finding new end markets for recycled products are key initiatives of the plastics industry. To support this, PLASTICS has convened a recycling committee, made up of equipment manufacturers, brand owners and packaging designers, resin and recycling processors, as well as material suppliers.
Together, the Committee focuses collaborative efforts on:
As the voice spanning the whole supply chain, PLASTICS takes a leadership role on recycling issues.
Lead the Charge in Recycling
Advocate for Better Infrastructure
Demonstrate New Recycling Methods
Drive Education & Collaboration
