Extrusion International 4-2025-USA

28 Extrusion International 4/2025 28 INDUSTRY NEWS Call for 2025 Vinyl Week Presentations Announced The Plastics Industry Associa- tion (PLASTICS) and the Vinyl Sus- tainability Council (VSC) have an- nounced a call for presentations for 2025 Vinyl Week, the vinyl industry’s premier event for processors, suppli - ers, and sustainability leaders. Vinyl Week brings together two flagship industry events – the PLASTICS Vinyl Compounders Conference and the Vinyl Institute Sustainability Summit – into one dynamic, collaborative forum. “Vinyl Week continues to spot- light the innovation, creativity, and leadership that define the plastics industry,” said Ashley Hood-Morley, PLASTICS’ Senior Vice President of Industry Engagement. “We’re call- ing on bold, forward-thinking pro - fessionals to submit proposals that spark conversation, share fresh ideas, and help shape the future of our industry.” “We're proud to once again part- ner with PLASTICS to bring Vinyl Week to life,” said Jay Thomas, Executive Director of the Vinyl Sus- tainability Council. “This event has become a cornerstone for collabo- ration and progress in our industry, and we look forward to building on this momentum in 2025.” 2025 Vinyl Week will be held De- cember 9-12, 2025, at the Intercon - tinental New Orleans, in New Or - leans, LA. PLASTICS and VSC welcome pre- sentations that align with Vinyl Week’s commitment to innovation, market insight, and sustainability and address a range of topics of in- terest to leaders in the vinyl indus- try, including but not limited to the categories below: • Sustainable design and incor- porating sustainability into product design and production • Next generation vinyl through biobased feedstocks, renewable polymers, and net-zero PVC resin • Technologies and programs to advance post-consumer PVC recy- cling • Global plasticizer and PVC mar- ket trends and opportunities • Technology trends related to the flexible vinyl marketplace https://vinylweek.org/ Flexible Film Recycling Alliance – Plastic Film Recycling Directory Surpasses 100,000 Unique Users Nationwide The Flexible Film Recycling Al- liance (FFRA), an initiative of the Plastics Industry Association (PLAS- TICS), announced a major mile - stone: its Plastic Film Recycling Directory has surpassed 112,000 unique users since its launch in mid- January. The interactive tool helps U.S. residents find nearby drop-off locations for recycling plastic film, contributing to a more circular economy. With more than 20,000 drop-off locations listed across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, the directory is quickly becoming one of the most widely used consumer resources for plastic film recycling. In addi - tion to retail locations, the tool also features service areas for Hefty® ReNew and Ridwell, expanding ac - cess to curbside and subscription- based recycling options. The next phase of development will include the addition of municipal depots, further enhancing accessibility. California and New York current- ly lead the nation in directory us- age, highlighting strong consumer demand for accessible recycling resources in some of the country’s most populous states. “We’re thrilled to see such a strong response to the Plastic Film Recycling Directory,” said Patrick Krieger, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Policy at PLAS- TICS. “In just a few months, more than 100,000 people have used this resource – With an average engage- ment time of around one minute, it’s clear users are actively learning where to recycle plastic film, as well as what and how to recycle. As we continue to expand the directory and add new features, we hope to empower even more individuals to recycle responsibly. Together, we can all work to increase recycling rates.” The Plastic Film Recycling Direc- tory is part of FFRA’s broader com- mitment to improving access, trans - parency, and collaboration in plastic film recycling. Since its launch, FFRA has continued to work with over 60 retail partners and other recycling providers to maintain and grow this robust collection network. Ad- ditionally, FFRA is developing a third-party verification process to validate the volume of materials col- lected and recycled, helping to build greater consumer trust in the recy- cling system. Retailers, recycling depots, and service providers interested in join- ing the directory can contact: Kurt Kurzawa kkurzawa@plasticsindustry.org www.PlasticFilmRecycling.org Patrick Krieger