Building a Stronger Economy
Supporting jobs, manufacturing, innovation and the industries people rely on every day.
GROWTH
Performance Plastics Power Industry, Jobs and Innovation
Performance plastics are more than materials. They are part of a manufacturing ecosystem that supports skilled jobs, strengthens supply chains and helps industries develop products that are lighter, longer lasting, safer and more efficient.
From aerospace, transportation and medical technology to semiconductor manufacturing, food processing, energy and industrial equipment, performance plastics help manufacturers solve demanding engineering challenges while supporting businesses and communities throughout the supply chain.
Understanding the economic and industrial value of these materials is an important part of creating thoughtful public policy.
$200+ BILLION
The global engineering plastics market is projected to surpass $200 billion within the next decade. Source.
9+ MILLION METRIC TONS
More than 9 million metric tons of engineering plastics were estimated to be consumed in North America in 2025. Source.
$6+ BILLION
The U.S. high-performance plastics market alone was estimated at more than $6 billion in 2025. Source.
$6.0 BILLION IN PAYROLL
Wages flowing into households and communities through the core material-manufacturing and distribution supply chain. NAICS Codes: 326121, 326113, 326130
Manufacturing That Moves the Economy
Performance plastics are part of the broader plastics manufacturing industry, one of the world’s largest manufacturing sectors.
Plastics manufacturing has an economic presence across the globe.
Behind those numbers are engineers, machinists, fabricators, material scientists, manufacturers, distributors, technicians, logistics professionals, sales teams and thousands of other skilled professionals.
Performance plastics contribute to this ecosystem by supplying specialized materials and components used throughout advanced manufacturing.
More Than a Material. A Supply Chain
A performance plastic component may begin as a polymer, but its economic impact extends far beyond the material itself.
A strong performance plastics supply chain supports:
Material Manufacturers
Developing polymers and engineered materials with specialized properties.
Distributors
Maintaining inventory, providing technical knowledge and helping manufacturers access the right materials.
Fabricators & Machinists
Transforming sheet, rod, tube and other shapes into precision components.
Engineers & Designers
Selecting materials and developing solutions for demanding applications.
OEMs & Manufacturers
Integrating performance plastic components into equipment and finished products.
Transportation & Logistics
Moving materials and components throughout domestic and international supply chains.
Recycling & Recovery
Creating opportunities to recover manufacturing scrap and keep valuable materials in productive use.
The result is a highly interconnected industry supporting manufacturing activity far beyond the companies that produce plastic materials themselves.
Supporting the Industries That Keep the World Moving
Performance plastics often work behind the scenes in critical applications. They can be found in:
• Aerospace and aviation
• Automotive and transportation
• Semiconductor manufacturing
• Medical and life sciences
• Food and beverage processing
• Electrical and electronics
• Energy
• Material handling
• Industrial equipment
• Robotics and automation
• Construction
• Agriculture
These materials are selected because engineers need specific combinations of properties such as chemical resistance, wear resistance, low friction, electrical insulation, impact resistance, temperature performance, dimensional stability or reduced weight.
When the right material helps equipment operate longer, reduces maintenance, improves efficiency or enables a new technology, its value extends well beyond the component itself.
Creating Skilled Career Opportunities
Performance plastics support career paths throughout modern manufacturing.
Opportunities exist in areas including:
• CNC machining and fabrication
• Manufacturing and operations
• Engineering
• Material science
• Quality and inspection
• Automation
• Technical sales
• Supply chain and logistics
• Sustainability
• Marketing
• Business development
• Management and leadership
Together, these careers help maintain the technical expertise and manufacturing capabilities needed to support industries throughout North America.
Why Public Policy Matters
Public policy can directly influence manufacturing investment, employment, material selection, innovation and supply-chain competitiveness.
Policies addressing plastics should recognize an important distinction:
Not all plastics serve the same purpose.
Performance plastics are engineered for applications where materials may remain in service for years or even decades. They are fundamentally different from many of the disposable products that dominate public conversations about plastics.
Effective policy should consider the intended application, product life, performance requirements, environmental impacts, available alternatives and full lifecycle of a material rather than treating every plastic product the same way.
Advocating for Performance Plastics
With our partnership with The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD) we are working to ensure policymakers better understand performance plastics and the businesses and people behind the industry.
Through its Government Relations Committee, IAPD monitors issues that could affect member companies and works to address plastics deselection, anti-plastics campaigns and legislation that may unintentionally affect performance plastic materials and applications.
The committee supports grassroots involvement among IAPD member companies and assists members with outreach to local, state and federal legislators.
These efforts help policymakers understand that the performance plastics industry:
• Creates and supports skilled jobs
• Strengthens domestic manufacturing
• Supports critical industries and infrastructure
• Enables engineering innovation
• Provides alternatives to traditional materials
• Contributes to more efficient and durable product designs
• Continues working toward responsible material use, recovery and sustainability
IAPD also works with government relations professionals in Washington, D.C., to communicate industry perspectives to lawmakers and help ensure performance plastics are represented in policy discussions.
Bringing Industry Expertise to Policymakers
Good policy begins with good information.
Performance plastics are highly technical materials, and decisions about their use cannot always be made effectively through broad assumptions about plastics as a single category.
Industry professionals can help policymakers understand:
How Performance Plastics Are Different
The difference between short-lived disposable products and engineered materials designed for demanding, long-term applications.
Where They Are Essential
Applications in healthcare, transportation, electronics, manufacturing, food production, aerospace, energy and other critical industries.
How Material Selection Works
Why engineers evaluate performance, durability, safety, cost, manufacturability and environmental considerations before selecting a material.
How Policy Affects Manufacturing
The potential consequences regulations can have on manufacturers, distributors, employees, customers and domestic supply chains.
How the Industry Is Improving
Efforts involving material efficiency, recycling, manufacturing scrap recovery, lightweighting, longer product life and other sustainability initiatives.