What's Happening Around SPE
If your work in plastics intersects with PFAS or microplastics, SPE’s Responsible Plastics 2025, taking place in Pittsburgh, PA, September 23-24, 2025, is for professionals committed to developing solutions to environmental challenges while promoting innovation, sustainability, and responsible practices across the plastics value chain. The event agenda includes two concurrent tracks focused on tackling pressing challenges: Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Plastics Industry and Solutions for the Microplastic Challenge. Highlights include presentations by Max Pennington, CEO, CLEANR, Robert Sherman, Technical Director for Special Additives, Baerlocher, and many more. Details here.
Many in the plastics industry might not like what's coming out of the ongoing United Nations plastic treaty negotiations, but they can influence its future. "Getting involved now will be important," says Conor Carlin, a consultant who has spent years in the industry in a variety of jobs and is SPE’s most recent Past President. SPE has been granted official status as a nongovernmental observation group to the treaty talks, which are next slated for Geneva, Switzerland. This grants SPE representative access to the negotiation sessions as they take place. Note: this story is copyright Crain Communications, Inc. and used with permission. Read more.
As part of our commitment to recognize excellence in plastics engineering, science, technology, and management, we invite you to nominate an eligible candidate for SPE’s Fellow of the Society. Application deadline is October 1, 2025. Go to www.4spe.org/Fellows for nomination information.
SPE’s Honored Service Member (HSM) award celebrates individuals who have shown long-term, outstanding service to SPE and its mission to advance the growth and development of plastics professionals for the betterment of society and the planet. This honor recognizes those who have made a lasting impact on SPE and driven positive change in the industry. Applications are now open for the HSM award. Deadline to apply is October 1, 2025. Nomination information for HSM can be found at www.4spe.org/HSM.
SPE is excited to announce that ANTEC® 2026 will take place March 9-12, 2026, at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown. The Wyndham Grand is located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh—just steps from Acrisure Stadium, PPG Paints Arena, PNC Park, the Cultural District, and over 80 restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues. ANTEC® 2026 will deliver even more hands-on learning, powerful networking, and the kind of professional community that keeps driving the industry forward. Read more.
SPE members Norm Fowler, Former Xerox Executive and Past President of SPE, Matthew Naitove, Senior Editorial Advisor and Chief Editor, Plastics Technology, and Dr. Chul P. Park, Distinguished Professor at the University of Toronto, were amongst 18 plastics professionals recently inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame (PHoF). PHoF’s latest inductees will be honored at the Class of 2025 Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Düsseldorf, Germany. Established in 1975, the PHoF has grown to 253 members representing nine countries, including five Nobel Prize winners in chemistry. Read more.
In today’s fast-paced manufacturing environment, staying current isn’t just a benefit, it’s a necessity. If you or your team are feeling overwhelmed by constant changes in plastics processing, or struggling to keep up with evolving technologies, SPE, in conjunction with Routsis Training, is offering the Scientific Molding Pocket Guide — a must-have resource for manufacturers. Whether you’re a process engineer, mold or part designer, production manager, or floor technician, this pocket guide is designed to support smarter decisions and better performance at every level. Request your guide today!
Claire Costello, from the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, is the SPE Foundation’s latest grant recipient for her Girl Scout Gold Award project! Claire is teaming up with the Chicagoland nonprofit GiveNKind to reduce waste by partnering with local businesses to repurpose materials for nonprofits in need. She’s also organizing fun presentations for younger Girl Scouts to educate them about recycling. The SPE Foundation Grant for Girl Scouts supports Gold & Silver Award projects that make a positive impact on community recycling, promote plastics sustainability, incorporate polymer science, or foster an interest in STEM for all students. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis here: SPE Foundation Girl Scout Award Grant - Submission Form | SPE.
For the past three years, Manner Polymers has generously contributed $10,000 annually to support the SPE Foundation's Positive Plastics Education™ program in McKinney, Texas! Their incredible total of $30,000 has allowed us to support SPE After-School STEM Clubs, bring PlastiVan® to every sixth grader at 4 middle schools in the McKinney ISD, and deliver plastics education training for teachers. Manner Polymers is helping us provide valuable STEM education in plastics to curious young minds in Texas, especially those new to the industry. Want to learn more about sponsoring programs that inspire future plastics professionals? Let's connect at foundation@4spe.org!
The Thermoplastic Elastomers Conference 2025, taking place online Oct. 27-28, 2025 and presented by the SPE Thermoplastics Elastomers Technical Interest Group, is focused on the latest advancements and trends in the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) industry. The conference agenda will cover ethylene-based elastomers, thermoplastic vulcanizates, styrenic block copolymers, polyesters and polyether block amides, and other topics essential for professionals involved in material innovation, applications, and sustainability. See agenda here.
The SPE Southern Europe Regional Interest Group invites researchers, industry experts, and stakeholders to submit papers for the Innovations in Polyolefins Conference, taking place October 2026 in Tarragona, Spain. The conference will address challenges and opportunities for polyolefins within a sustainability-focused market. Papers can be focused on innovations in polyelefin production methods, sustainability in polyolefins, regulatory challenges and strategies, microplastics and environmental impact, alternatives to conventional polyolefins, future trends, advanced characterization techniques, and more. Submit your paper today!
SPE News Story Ideas?
Know a member who is doing outstanding things in plastics or in SPE? Are you part of a chapter that is making an impact or a difference in the industry? Let us know if you have any story ideas for SPE News! Feel free to contact Chris Barry at cbarry@4spe.org.
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