Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. is the trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain in the US, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The US plastics industry employs 1.1 million workers and provides more than $379 billion in annual shipments (2006).

SPI produces the triennial global trade show NPE, one of the world's largest and most important plastics industry events.

SPI publishes significant statistical reports on the U.S. plastics industry, including:

* The Size and Impact of the Plastics Industry on the U.S Economy

* Global Business Trends, Partners, Hot Products and

* Committee on Equipment Statistics Annual and Quarterly Reports.

SPI also publishes plastics industry data sheets for every state in the USA.

SPI introduced its Resin Identification Code in 1988 at the urging of recyclers around the country. This system was introduced to make separation of the many similar-appearing plastic resin types easier for recycling centers across the country. There was no federal legislation or program to mandate these symbols, though many states have now adopted legislation that mandate its use.

Bioplastics Council

SPI announced the launch of a new special interest group, the Bioplastics Council, in order to provide a forum for resin and additive suppliers, as well as processors and equipment suppliers, to promote the development of bioplastics as an integral part of the plastics industry. The six founding member companies of the new group are Arkema, BASF Corporation, Cereplast Inc., DuPont, NatureWorks LLC and Telles (a Metabolix/ADM joint venture) .

References

External links

• Society of the Plastics Industry Official Web site
• SPI's triennial global trade show: NPE
• myPlasticsindustry.com
• Plastics Data Source