PlasticsToday

PlasticsToday The premier digital community for the plastics industry. PlasticsToday is the premier digital community for the plastics industry.

Rooted in nearly 100 years of covering the plastics processing industry, PlasticsToday reports on relevant news, trends, and technologies impacting the half-trillion-dollar global plastics market. Our award-winning journalists cover the latest developments in plastics processing, with special emphasis on the automotive, medical, and packaging sectors, as well as sustainability. Through our website

, social media, newsletters, and live events, we connect plastics professionals with the news, insights, products, and services they need to improve productivity and profitability in plastics processing.

As the war with Iran enters its third month, its economic impact on the plastics industry is becoming increasingly evide...
05/07/2026

As the war with Iran enters its third month, its economic impact on the plastics industry is becoming increasingly evident. While the full scope of the conflict’s influence on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) remains uncertain, industry experts are highlighting key trends and strategies to navigate this challenging environment.

John Hart, managing director at PMCF Investment Banking, told PlasticsToday that public markets are already showing signs of disruption. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4wwp9WG

🚨 Breaking News! 🚨It’s a bittersweet moment for the plastics manufacturing media world as we celebrate the retirement of...
04/30/2026

🚨 Breaking News! 🚨

It’s a bittersweet moment for the plastics manufacturing media world as we celebrate the retirement of a true industry titan, Norbert Sparrow.

After a remarkable career spanning three decades, Norbert is officially hanging up his editor’s hat. Since taking the helm at PlasticsToday in 2015, he has been more than just an Editor-in-Chief: he’s been a sharp-witted storyteller and a steady hand guiding us all through the complexities of the manufacturing, medtech, and plastics sectors. Thank you for the unparalleled expertise you brought to every story.

Please join the PlasticsToday's team in wishing Norbert a happy and well-deserved retirement! ✨

Read his goodbye letter to PlasticsToday, here: https://bit.ly/4cWNlIJ

April 2026 is a stress test for any resin buyer, writes Michael Workman of ResinSmart in this week’s Resin Pricing Repor...
04/28/2026

April 2026 is a stress test for any resin buyer, writes Michael Workman of ResinSmart in this week’s Resin Pricing Report. Every major commodity and engineered resin is under simultaneous upward pricing pressure. Polyethylene is chasing a $0.15/lb April realization with a $0.20/lb May nomination already behind it. Polypropylene is heading for its fourth consecutive monthly increase. And so on, and so forth.

Increase fatigue is understandable. When every week brings another letter, the psychological load of responding to each one becomes unsustainable. So buyers triage, deprioritize, and eventually accept what they probably could have challenged. There’s a better way: https://bit.ly/3PaBuPj

You might have seen some reports recently about Magic Eraser sponges shedding microplastics. That’s hardly breaking news...
04/23/2026

You might have seen some reports recently about Magic Eraser sponges shedding microplastics. That’s hardly breaking news. Aside from the fact that this was reported more than a year ago, it’s also common sense. If you’ve ever used a Magic Eraser sponge, you know how quickly they get compacted, becoming smaller and ever smaller, writes John Spevacek in PlasticsToday. “They don’t magically disappear into nothingness — that plastic has to go somewhere and, not unexpectedly, becomes microplastics.”

But there is something mystifying about the material used to make these sponges: It’s melamine-formaldehyde plastic, which is also used to make those almost indestructible melamine plates. “Yet this same material is used to make these gentle cleaning sponges,” writes Spevacek. “That’s what I find so unexpected, even today. It’s not at all obvious to me, even in hindsight, that such a stiff material would make such a gentle cleaner.” Read more: https://bit.ly/4cL6OvW

McKinsey & Company’s latest report, No Ordinary Disruption: State of the Packaging and Paper Industry, explores how gene...
04/21/2026

McKinsey & Company’s latest report, No Ordinary Disruption: State of the Packaging and Paper Industry, explores how generative AI, innovation, and strategic ex*****on are transforming the packaging sector.

As companies navigate slower growth, cost pressures, and evolving consumer priorities, the report emphasizes that high demand alone won’t sustain future performance. Insights from McKinsey’s David Feber and Daniel Nordigården highlight the critical role of technology and strategy in reshaping industry dynamics. The future of packaging demands adaptability and forward-thinking solutions.

Visit the link for our coverage: https://www.plasticstoday.com/packaging/generative-ai-and-strategic-ex*****on-drive-packaging-growth

04/21/2026

At the recent event in Anaheim, CA, we spoke with plastics professionals to uncover the challenges that keep them awake at night. Many pointed to regulatory and geopolitical concerns as significant hurdles, highlighting the complexities of staying competitive in a rapidly shifting industry.

Natalie Dragunat, global marketing manager at Syensqo, emphasized that the constantly evolving regulatory and geopolitical environment in the medical sector presents persistent challenges, often leaving professionals grappling with uncertainty and sleepless nights.

In his most recent Talent Talk column in PlasticsToday, executive recruitment specialist Paul Sturgeon shares the result...
04/20/2026

In his most recent Talent Talk column in PlasticsToday, executive recruitment specialist Paul Sturgeon shares the results of the Career Advancement in Manufacturing Survey conducted by Xometry and Women in Manufacturing Association. You might find them surprising.

First and foremost, 90% of workers believe manufacturing has a bright future and 81% of them feel valued by their employers. Both of those figures are significantly higher than the working population in general, where readings often are closer to 50% who are dissatisfied, writes Sturgeon.

Interestingly, women are even happier than their male counterparts to have chosen a career in manufacturing.

In his article, Sturgeon explains why manufacturing employees are happy with their jobs but also how the manufacturing sector should address the “discovery gap” in management. About 82% of management employees either fell into manufacturing or were actively recruited. They were equally satisfied with their jobs, but it will be an ongoing challenge for the industry to recruit from outside of manufacturing for management positions, notes Sturgeon. https://bit.ly/42j2cYV

In a survey of member companies conducted by the British Plastics Federation, approximately 58% of respondents said the ...
04/13/2026

In a survey of member companies conducted by the British Plastics Federation, approximately 58% of respondents said the Iran war is having either a “severe” or “significant” impact on their operations. An overwhelming 98% of companies said they have experienced increases in raw material or operational costs. More than 63% of businesses said they have seen orders delayed or canceled. Moreover, 68% of respondents said they expected the situation to deteriorate over the next three months. https://bit.ly/4cGWvtR

One of the great accomplishments of 3D printing is its capability to produce patient-specific medical devices and exact ...
04/06/2026

One of the great accomplishments of 3D printing is its capability to produce patient-specific medical devices and exact replicas of a patient’s anatomy for pre-surgical planning. This technology is about to advance even further with the addition of AI, according to Jack Heslin, publisher of 3D Future Edge. https://bit.ly/41htUoA

April feedstock contracts have come in significantly higher across virtually every major plastic input this month, write...
04/06/2026

April feedstock contracts have come in significantly higher across virtually every major plastic input this month, writes Michael Workman in this week’s Resin Price Report at PlasticsToday. The result is the most broadly synchronized upward pressure across resin categories that many buyers have seen in several years. Every major commodity and engineering resin — PE, PP, PS, ABS, PC, PVC, PA6, PA66, PET — is heading into Q2 under active producer increase pressure. This next quarter may seem daunting in plastic resin, but it is not unmanageable. It will, however, be a time that will reward preparation in a way the last two years largely did not. In this week’s column, Workman shares what that preparation should look like: https://bit.ly/3PKB3eJ

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