Citing a “significant attack” on plastics, one-time partners the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Arlington, VA) and The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI; Washington DC) announced the formation of Plastics Ambassador Program collaboration, which will encourage industry employees to share plastic’s value through local, state, and national activities. SPI and ACC said the increased volume and intensity of attacks on plastics by state, local, and federal governments, as well as consumer groups, and successes in other recent collaborations, including recycling initiatives, prompted the decision to work together.
In a joint press release, ACC and SPI said that over the next 12 months they will conduct a pilot of the initiative, including training employees and encouraging them to promote plastic recycling through community events such as parent-teacher association meetings, city council meetings, or by sponsoring a PlastiVan school visit, using the promotional vehicle to educate people about plastic’s chemistry, history, processing, manufacturing, sustainability, and application.
SPI also announced the formation of a Bioplastics Council (www.bioplasticscouncil.org) intended 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.” Charter members of the new group are Arkema, BASF, Cereplast, DuPont, NatureWorks LLC, and Telles—the Metabolix/Archers Daniel Midland joint venture promoting polyhydroxyalkoanate (PHA) bioresins. SPI says new 2009 membership applications will be accepted beginning on Oct. 1, 2008.
In particular, SPI President Bill Carteaux said in a press release that the council’s primary mission is to educate the plastics industry, government, and value chain; articulate clear, consistent descriptions of the different bioplastics options; and provide strategic advice to the plastics industry, government, and the value chain; and promote harmonization of environmental policies. Inquiries about the council, including membership, should be addressed to Melissa Hockstad ([email protected]), VP of SPI’s Material Suppliers Council.
