SPE reaffirmed its role as a leading technical voice during the second part of the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee session (INC‑5.2), held August 5–14, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland. Conor Carlin, Past President of SPE, delivered the organization’s official statement during the plenary session. He emphasized SPE’s neutrality and technical expertise as essential to crafting an effective and enforceable treaty. Read more.
Patrick Krieger, SVP Sustainability and Policy, Plastics Industry Association, provided in-depth overviews of INC-5.2 sessions in Geneva. For his analysis and other INC-5 reports, please go here.
Glenn Beall, one of the plastics industry’s most influential pioneers, passed away on Thursday, July 24th. Mr. Beall has spent over six decades elevating the practice of plastic product design and manufacturing. A lifelong member of SPE since 1960, Mr. Beall has held numerous leadership roles within the society. There will be a Celebration of Life for Glenn Beall on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Lake Forest Place, 1100 Pembridge Drive, Lake Forest, IL 60045.If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP Liz Ganitopoulos at Liz@PrivateMattersLLC.com.
SPE has named Omya as an SPE Preferred Partner, recognizing the company’s sustained contributions to innovation and leadership across the plastics industry. As a global producer of high-quality minerals and specialty additives, Omya’s materials are embedded in countless products that people use every day—from packaging and construction materials to personal care and food. Read more.
If your work in plastics intersects with PFAS or microplastics, SPE’s Responsible Plastics 2025 is where your next critical decisions begin. Taking place September 23-24, 2025, in Pittsburgh, PA, Responsible Plastics 2025 is for professionals looking for solutions to environmental challenges while promoting innovation, sustainability, and responsible practices across the plastics value chain. This conference includes two concurrent tracks focused on tackling the pressing challenges in the plastics industry: Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Plastics Industry and Solutions for the Microplastic Challenge. Don't miss out! Early bird registration ends August 17th. Details here.
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 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. Early bird registration is now available! 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.
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.
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, which is designed to support smarter decisions and better performance at every level. Request your guide today!
PlastChicks Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Kohei Shinohara, Senior Vice President at Sodick, live from the Innovation and Emerging Plastics Technologies Conference at PennState Behrend, June 11-12, 2025. They discussed injection molding machine design, medical and precision micro-molding, and more. You can listen to the PlastChicks™ podcast at 4spe.org/podcasts or on YouTube!
Are you solving critical challenges, developing breakthrough technologies, or advancing polymer science in meaningful ways? Then you need to submit your research and findings to showcase at ANTEC® 2026. This is your chance to present your work to a global audience of industry leaders, researchers, engineers, and key influencers. If you’re working on innovations in materials, polymer research, processing, or application breakthroughs, we want to hear from you! Abstract submission deadline is October 3, 2025. Go here for details.
The future of plastics use in packaging is being reshaped—by innovation, by regulation, and by urgent sustainability goals. If you're solving real-world packaging challenges through material science, sustainability and circular design, or policy implementation, then SPE's Plastics in Packaging 2026, taking place online November 17-19, is the ideal event to share your expertise. We are seeking speakers with deep technical knowledge and firsthand experience with plastics used for all aspects of packaging. Abstract submission deadline is September 30, 2025. Details here.
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. Find out more 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 focus on innovations in polyolefin 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 NewsStory 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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