The US plastics industry is taking its message straight to Capitol Hill this week.
This is as the Plastics Industry Association and the American Chemistry Council convene a joint Legislative Fly-In in Washington, bringing together manufacturers, recyclers, and suppliers for high-level talks with federal policymakers.
At the center of the lobbying push: a call to reinforce America’s manufacturing dominance, stabilize global trade rules, and unlock faster progress on recycling and circular manufacturing systems.
Industry leaders are pressing lawmakers and Administration officials for policies that expand domestic production capacity, bring predictability to trade policy, and modernize recycling infrastructure. Key priorities include clearer national standards for recycling and faster permitting for new facilities to accelerate investment in circular economy projects.
“The US plastics industry is foundational to our nation’s manufacturing base, supporting more than one million jobs,” said Matt Seaholm. “Policymakers need to hear directly from the people building, recycling, and innovating across this sector.”
Echoing that message, Ross Eisenberg said industry leaders are prepared to offer “practical solutions” to strengthen supply chains, expand recycling capacity, and create long-term investment certainty.
The advocacy effort comes as the sector highlights its scale and economic footprint—more than one million workers and a $551 billion industry—positioning plastics as a core pillar of US manufacturing and global competitiveness.
Representing the industry’s broader ecosystem, America’s Plastic Makers emphasized its role in advancing technologies for recycling and supporting essential manufacturing inputs used across the economy.
Founded in 1937, the Plastics Industry Association says it continues to push for policies that strengthen global competitiveness while accelerating circularity through innovation, education, and industry coordination.
