ACC's Plastics Division, CPIA, SPI form North American Plastics Alliance to enhance collaboration, focus on promoting plastics, energy recovery and recycling, pellet containment

Liling Tan

WASHINGTON, D.C., and TORONTO , July 7, 2011 (press release) – The three major trade associations for the plastics industry in the United States and Canada today announced plans to formalize existing collaboration on programs and initiatives that benefit the North American industry. The Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council, the Canadian Plastics Industry Association and SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association will continue working together on key industry priorities through a virtual structure called the North American Plastics Alliance (NAPA).

The three organizations that comprise the Alliance believe they can be more effective and efficient while providing increased value to their members by acting in a coordinated manner on select initiatives. The initial priorities for enhanced collaboration by the Alliance will be:

Pellet Containment: Extension of Operation Clean Sweep to broaden pellet containment efforts in the United States, Canada and elsewhere
Energy Recovery: Promotion and facilitation of energy recovery and conversion of used plastics to complement recycling
Plastics Favorability: Increasing the favorability of plastics with key stakeholders
Advocacy: targeted advocacy with policy makers to support the growth of the plastics industry

A Steering Team with member and staff representatives from each association will direct the collaborative programs and initiatives of the North American Plastics Alliance. The Steering Team is comprised of:

Staff:

Bill Carteaux, President and CEO, SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association
Steve Russell, Vice President of Plastics, American Chemistry Council
Greg Wilkinson, Interim President and CEO, Canadian Plastics Industry Association

Members:

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

Quotes:

“This new collaboration is a logical extension of the work we do on behalf of our members and will make CPIA’s voice on behalf of the Canadian plastics industry even stronger. Many of our issues cross the Canada-U.S. border and working together with other national organizations will help us focus our resources where they can make a difference for the industry. “
- Greg Wilkinson, Interim President and CEO, CPIA

"United under a formal structure, our three organizations can maximize our power to successfully serve North American plastics manufacturers and ensure that our industry moves forward with one voice and one vision. Beginning with Operation Clean Sweep, energy recovery and public enhancement of plastics' favorability, I am confident that together, SPI, ACC and CPIA can expand well beyond the limits of what we would be able to accomplish individually."
- Bill Carteaux, President and CEO, SPI

“Companies throughout the plastics value chain face common challenges, and by working together to demonstrate the collective value of our industry in terms of jobs, local economics and product innovation, we will be able to advocate and communicate much more effectively. We are already working closely with SPI and CPIA on a number of fronts; this North American Alliance is a way to deliver greater value to our stakeholders.”
- 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 1 million 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 make innovative products and services 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/

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