Press release submitted on behalf of the Plastics Industry Association
NPE2024: The Plastics Show, Orlando, Florida, the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, has released final recycling data from the recycling efforts carried out at the trade show. NPE, in collaboration with its recycling partners, Commercial Plastics Recycling, Inc., Conair, and WEIMA, achieved its goal of repurposing 100% of the plastics it collected at the show totaling 516,160 pounds of recycled plastic, cardboard and aluminum.
Additional NPE key recycling data includes:
• An additional 118,565 pounds of plastic was recycled this year– a 29% increase compared to NPE2018.
• 105 exhibitors participated in the recycling program at NPE2024– a 12.9% increase from NPE2018.
• NPE2024 marked the first year that the show recycled film and attendee badges.
• 11,713 pounds of HD/LDPE film were collected at NPE2024 and recycled offsite.
“Attaining our recycling goals at NPE2024 is an incredible achievement for PLASTICS and the industry at large,” said Patrick Krieger, PLASTICS’ Vice President of Sustainability. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our exhibitors and recycling partners. We want to thank everyone who participated in helping us ensure no plastic material was wasted and establish a new standard for future plastic trade shows.”
Additionally, 3,700 pounds of difficult to recycle plastic from NPE2024 were donated to Helpertunity, a non-profit that empowers elderly and disabled individuals. The organization repurposed the plastic scrap for senior citizens’ art projects in local Orlando, FL, nursing homes. The art pieces were made up of different resins and mixed unrecyclable plastics, including water bottles, food remains, used coffee cups, and cardboard. Artists also used some of the scrap materials to make decorative lamps.
NPE2027 will return to Orlando from May 3-7, 2027. For more information, visit npe.org.
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is the only organization that supports the entire plastics supply chain, including Equipment Suppliers, Material Suppliers, Processors, and Recyclers, representing over one million workers in our $548 billion U.S. industry. PLASTICS advances the priorities of our members who are dedicated to investing in technologies that improve capabilities and advances in recycling and sustainability and providing essential products that allow for the protection and safety of our lives. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members, and the seventh largest U.S. manufacturing industry, more globally competitive while supporting circularity through educational initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, convening opportunities and policy advocacy, including the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE2024: The Plastics Show.