Matt Seaholm has been named president of the US Plastics Industry Association (Plastics, Washington, D.C.; www.plasticsindustry.org). He succeeds Tony Radoszewski, who left in late March 2022 (see Plasteurope.com of 31.03.2022).

Seaholm has been the association’s management board member responsible for government affairs since spring 2020. In addition, fellow board member Glenn Anderson has been appointed COO of the association. He was previously tasked with industry relations.

However, some in the US are likely wondering why supervisory board chairman Tad McGwire decided to elevate Seaholm, who was previously executive director of the American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance (ARPBA, Washington, D.C.; www.bagalliance.org), “a self-funded division of the Plastics Industry Association”, according to the latter group’s website. The bag organisation’s behaviour has been partially blamed for the exodus of high-powered members from its parent, including Coca-Cola, General Motors, PepsiCo, SC Johnson, and petrochemical group Dow (see PIEWEb of 02.07.2020). Some departees indicated their displeasure when ARPBA lobbied against plastic bans in US states, a position many consider in opposition to public opinion (see Plasteurope.com of 24.02.2020).

The ARPBA’s slogan leaves little doubt about its position: “The Frontline Defense Against Plastic Bag Bans and Taxes Nationwide”.