Taking the regional synergy effect to its max, North America’s three major plastics industry trade associations have touted plans to formalise their existing collaboration. Joining hands, the plastics division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC, Washington DC / USA; www.americanchemistry.com), the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA, Mississauga, Ontario / Canada; www.plastics.ca) and SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Organisation (Washington DC / USA; www.plasticsindustry.org) have set up a virtual structure called the North American Plastics Alliance (NAPA) by means of which they will collaborate on key industry priorities.

Initially, NAPA will focus on collaborating in the field of pellet containment, launching “Operation Clean Sweep” to minimise pellet spills. Other foci include the promotion and facilitation of energy recovery as well as plastic conversion and recycling. In addition, the three groups will coordinate advocacy activities, too.

NAPA will be led by a steering team comprised of SPI president and CEO Bill Carteaux, ACC vice president Plastics Steve Russell and Greg Wilkinson, the interim president and CEO of CPIA. Explaining the rationale behind the new umbrella organisation, Wilkinson said: “Many of our issues cross the Canada-US border and working together with other national organisations will help us focus our resources where they can make a difference for the industry.”