Plastics Industry Association
Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1937 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., serving as the unified voice of the U.S. plastics supply chain — processors, equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, and recyclers — through membership dues, the NPE trade show, advocacy, and sustainability programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1937
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Plastics Industry Association does
Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1937 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. It serves as the unified industry voice for the full U.S. plastics supply chain, with members spanning four primary segments: processors/manufacturers (injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming, extrusion), equipment manufacturers and moldmakers, material suppliers (resins, fillers, bioplastics, recycled materials), and recyclers. The association generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues (subscription/recurring) and event revenue (professional services), with the latter anchored by NPE: The Plastics Show, the largest plastics trade show in the Americas held on a triennial cycle.
PLASTICS builds no proprietary product technology; instead, its core offerings are programs and services. Flagship assets include NPE (the triennial trade show — NPE2027 scheduled for May 3-7, 2027, in Orlando, FL, expected to host 2,200+ exhibitors and 51,000 participants from 130+ countries), the National Plastics Conference, Operation Clean Sweep (a plastic resin stewardship program co-administered with the American Chemistry Council, covering 6,000+ companies and 65%+ of U.S. resin capacity), Plastic Sustainability Innovation Awards, the FLiP (Future Leaders in Plastics) networking program, and the Flexible Film Recycling Alliance. The association also publishes the PLASTICS Pulse newsletter, produces Size & Impact reports, and develops codes and standards including machinery safety standards. Marketing and distribution are executed through LinkedIn, multi-platform social media, email, content marketing, the website-based member portal, and large-scale industry events.
The business model is membership-based with tiered, quote-based annual fees that are not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led, combining direct outreach, industry events (NPE, National Plastics Conference, executive forums), and advocacy-driven engagement to acquire and retain members across the supply chain. The organization is led by President & CEO Matt Seaholm, with a leadership team that includes CFO Wayne Popham, Chief Economist Perc Pineda (PhD), Chief of Staff & VP of Industry Engagement Ashley Hood-Morley, and SVP of Sustainability & Policy Patrick Krieger. The association is actively engaged in federal and state-level regulatory advocacy on tariffs, chemical recycling, packaging regulation, and USMCA-related issues.
Plastics Industry Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Plastics Industry Association
- Legal name
- Plastics Industry Association Non-Profit Association 501(c)(6)
- Website
- https://plasticsindustry.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1937
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1937 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., serving as the unified voice of the U.S. plastics supply chain — processors, equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, and recyclers — through membership dues, the NPE trade show, advocacy, and sustainability programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Plastics Industry Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Trade Association & Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326), Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261)
- SIC
- Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Post-Consumer Plastics Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF) (IMANAMAA), Plastics Sorting & Reprocessing (PET, HDPE, Film) (BPALADAE)
Keywords
Where Plastics Industry Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Plastics Industry Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: PLASTICS generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees from companies across the plastics supply chain including processors, equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, and recyclers.
- Event Revenue: The association organizes and hosts major industry events including NPE (The Plastics Show), National Plastics Conference, and various summits, generating revenue through exhibitor fees, registration, and sponsorship.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Membership tiers based on company type and size |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Plastics Industry Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PLASTICS is a non-profit trade association that delivers membership-based industry advocacy, economic intelligence, and convening services to the U.S. plastics supply chain. Its core deliverables include representation in trade, sustainability, and regulatory policy; flagship events such as the NPE trade show and National Plastics Conference; stewardship and recycling programs like Operation Clean Sweep; data and statistical services such as PLASTICS Equipment Statistics (CES); and networking/leadership programs including FLiP. Members are processors, equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, and recyclers.
Product overview
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) operates as a trade association organized as a Non-Profit Association 501(c)(6), serving as the voice of the plastics industry in Washington, D.C. The organization offers a portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified software product. Key offerings include NPE (The Plastics Show), a triennial trade show and the largest plastics event in the Americas; the National Plastics Conference with three educational tracks (Make It Agile, Make It Heard, Make It Transformative); Operation Clean Sweep, a plastic resin stewardship program co-administered with the American Chemistry Council; and the Plastic Sustainability Innovation Awards recognizing circular design and material innovations. Additional programs include FLiP (Future Leaders in Plastics) networking, the Flexible Film Recycling Alliance, Plastic Sustainability Executive Forum, Recycling Week, and the Innovation in Bioplastics Award. The association also publishes the PLASTICS Pulse Newsletter and advocates for industry positions through Codes & Standards development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NPE: The Plastics Show: The triennial plastics trade show organized by PLASTICS. NPE2027 is scheduled for May 3-7, 2027, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
- FLiP – Future Leaders in Plastics
- Operation Clean Sweep
- Plastic Sustainability Innovation Awards
- Innovation in Bioplastics Award
- Recycling Is Real
- Positives of Plastic
- PLASTICS Recycling Week
Products and services
- NPE (The Plastics Show) Triennial plastics trade show and the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, bringing together processors, equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, and recyclers with global industry buyers.
- National Plastics Conference Annual industry conference with tracks focused on business agility, regulatory navigation, and emerging manufacturing technologies, serving plastics industry executives and professionals.
- Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) Plastic resin stewardship program co-administered with the American Chemistry Council to prevent pellet, flake, and powder loss, with more than 6,000 participating companies worldwide and OCS members representing over 65% of U.S. plastic resin production capacity.
- Flexible Film Recycling Alliance (FFRA) Alliance focused on building infrastructure for flexible plastic film recycling through collection models, consumer education, verification, and scalable pathways.
- Polystyrene Recycling Alliance Alliance supporting polystyrene recycling, including initiatives such as the Nashville foam recycling program using Foam Cycle densifier technology.
- FLiP – Future Leaders in Plastics Networking and professional development program for emerging leaders in the plastics industry, cultivating next-generation leadership across the supply chain.
- Plastic Sustainability Innovation Awards Annual awards program recognizing innovation across the plastics value chain in five categories: Leadership, Design, Material, End-of-Life, and Social Impact.
- Innovation in Bioplastics Award Annual award honoring outstanding advancements in bioplastics spanning materials, products, or manufacturing processes.
- Plastics Hall of Fame Hall of fame recognizing outstanding individuals in the plastics industry for significant contributions.
- PLASTICS Equipment Statistics (CES) Data and statistics collection program for plastics processing equipment manufacturers, administered through the Committee on Equipment Statistics (C-E-S).
- Codes & Standards Technical codes and standards development service for the plastics industry, including machinery safety standards.
- Plastic Sustainability Executive Forum Executive-level forum co-hosted with Husky Technologies, focused on microplastics and material stewardship for senior leaders from packaging, materials, manufacturing, brand, and regulatory teams.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1 million U.S. jobs supported by the plastics industry
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Plastics Industry Association
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Plastics Industry Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Plastics Industry Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.
- PLAST MilanminorInternational collaboration at PLAST Milan trade show, connecting with NPE exhibitors and European industry leaders to promote the global plastics industry and NPE2027.
- Vinyl Sustainability CouncilmajorCollaborates on 2026 Vinyl Week presentations, working together to advance vinyl sustainability initiatives and engage industry stakeholders on best practices and emerging solutions.
- Husky TechnologiescoreCo-hosts the Plastic Sustainability Executive Forum, a small executive-level forum focused on candid discussion around microplastics and material stewardship. The forum brings together senior leaders from packaging, materials, manufacturing, brand, and regulatory teams for peer-level exchange on emerging trends and challenges.
- House Recycling CaucusmajorParticipated in congressional briefing on PET recycling and circular economy alongside NAPCOR, working to expand access to recycling across the country through policy engagement.
- National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR)majorPartnered on Capitol Hill lunch briefing on PET recycling and the circular economy, highlighting opportunities to strengthen PET recycling infrastructure through collaboration with The Recycling Partnership and Indorama Ventures.
- American Chemistry CouncilcoreCo-administers Operation Clean Sweep (OCS), a plastic resin stewardship program focused on preventing pellet, flake, and powder loss. The partnership has over 6,000 participating companies worldwide, 300+ external inspections conducted, and OCS members representing over 65% of U.S. plastic resin production capacity with more than 35,000 workers trained on zero resin loss strategies.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Plastics Industry Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- American Chemistry Council: Trade association representing the U.S. chemical industry, including plastic resin producers. Directly comparable because it co-administers Operation Clean Sweep with PLASTICS, serves overlapping chemical and resin manufacturer members, and shares policy advocacy around chemical recycling and plastics regulation.
- Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR): Trade association focused on plastic recycling. Directly comparable because it serves the same plastics recycling segment of PLASTICS' member base, conducts advocacy and design-for-recyclability guidance, and partners with PLASTICS on recycling initiatives.
- Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE): Professional society for plastics engineers and scientists. Comparable because it serves the same plastics industry technical community, provides education and networking, and represents plastics professionals across processors, equipment manufacturers, and material suppliers.
- National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR): Trade association for the PET container industry. Directly comparable because it focuses on PET recycling and circular economy advocacy, partners with PLASTICS on Capitol Hill briefings, and represents a specific polymer segment within PLASTICS' broader member base.
- Vinyl Institute: Trade association for the U.S. vinyl industry. Comparable because it represents vinyl manufacturers and converters in policy advocacy, sustainability, and standards development, mirroring PLASTICS' role for the broader plastics industry and working with PLASTICS on Vinyl Week programming.
Emerging players
- Sustainable Packaging Coalition: Industry working group focused on sustainable packaging. Comparable because it addresses overlapping sustainability priorities (recyclability, recycled content, packaging design) that intersect with PLASTICS' sustainability programs and brand-owner member interests.
- BPI - Biodegradable Products Institute: Association for biodegradable and compostable plastics. Comparable because it addresses the bioplastics segment that PLASTICS supports through its Innovation in Bioplastics Award and bioplastics initiatives, representing an adjacent but overlapping member base.
Broad incumbents
- American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA): Trade association for the U.S. forest products industry. Comparable as a peer packaging-materials trade association that competes with plastics for share of packaging applications, with parallel advocacy, sustainability, and recycling programs.
- National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): Largest U.S. industrial trade association. Comparable as a peer manufacturing trade association that provides policy advocacy, economic data, and events for member companies, including plastics manufacturers who often hold dual memberships.
Regional players
- Flexible Packaging Association: Trade association for the U.S. flexible packaging industry. Comparable because it represents manufacturers of plastic-based flexible packaging, addressing overlapping member interests in packaging policy, recycling, and sustainability that PLASTICS also advocates on.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Plastics Industry Association social profiles
Digital presencePlastics Industry Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Plastics Industry Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Plastics Industry Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Plastics Industry Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Plastics Industry Association
What does Plastics Industry Association do?
PLASTICS is a non-profit trade association that delivers membership-based industry advocacy, economic intelligence, and convening services to the U.S. plastics supply chain. Its core deliverables include representation in trade, sustainability, and regulatory policy; flagship events such as the NPE trade show and National Plastics Conference; stewardship and recycling programs like Operation Clean Sweep; data and statistical services such as PLASTICS Equipment Statistics (CES); and networking/leadership programs including FLiP. Members are processors, equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, and recyclers.
Is Plastics Industry Association a public or private company?
Plastics Industry Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Plastics Industry Association founded?
Plastics Industry Association was founded in 1937. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Plastics Industry Association based?
Plastics Industry Association is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Plastics Industry Association make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are event Revenue.
Who are Plastics Industry Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are American Chemistry Council, Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) and Vinyl Institute. Emerging players are Sustainable Packaging Coalition and BPI - Biodegradable Products Institute. Broad incumbents are American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Flexible Packaging Association is listed as a regional player.
Does Plastics Industry Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Plastics Industry Association.
What industry is Plastics Industry Association in?
Plastics Industry Association's product category is Industry Trade Association & Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAKAA, Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply), with a secondary code of IMANAMAA, Post-Consumer Plastics Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF). Its NAICS code is 326 and its SIC code is 3089.