The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) announced December 17 a new partnership that will increase the value of both associations to their respective members and increase awareness that plastic materials and products are contributing to a more sustainable future. Through the partnership, members of both organizations will enjoy certain reciprocal benefits, and, to some extent, the associations agreed to use each other's communication channels.
"Our partnership with ACC's Plastics Division will provide value to our members by enhancing access to market data and information on the sustainability of plastics, and by creating a framework to better leverage the expertise and the communications networks that exist within this industry," says Willem De Vos, SPE's chief executive officer. "In an increasingly challenging economic environment, the supporting bodies of our industry can only gain by doing things together and taking advantage of each other's resources to support our industry, our companies and our members in a professional manner."
"Plastics engineers are working every day to bring innovative materials and applications to life," says Steve Russell, ACC's vice president of plastics. "Through this new partnership we hope to support their work through access to more comprehensive information about the sustainability of plastics across a variety of applications."
The ACC's Plastics Division represents leading companies dedicated to providing innovative solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow through plastics. Among other initiatives, the Plastics Division is leading efforts to "reduce, reuse, recycle and recover" through outreach, education and access to advances in recycling technology.
Founded in 1942, the SPE has become the recognized medium of communication among scientists, engineers, and technical personnel engaged in the development, conversion, and application of plastics. For more information, please visit www.4spe.org.
