Washington, D.C. / Danbury, Conn. — January 2, 2026—Two major plastics industry organizations have officially completed their integration, with the Society of Plastics Engineers now operating as a division within the Plastics Industry Association following final approval of terms originally negotiated last September.
The merger brings together the Washington-based Plastics Industry Association’s advocacy and business leadership with SPE’s technical and scientific expertise, combining organizations that collectively represent over 85,000 professionals across 84 countries and companies employing more than one million workers throughout the plastics supply chain.
Both organizations’ executive committees have endorsed the final integration plan following recommendations from a joint task force.
The approved framework transfers SPE’s Danbury, Connecticut staff to Plastics and establishes a six-month implementation period to complete the structural transition during 2026.
Matt Seaholm, President and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association, characterized the integration as transformative for the sector.
The combination of technical depth with industry advocacy positions the unified organization to better support members while advancing innovation and workforce development initiatives, he noted, calling the decision the product of extensive collaborative planning.
For SPE’s global membership base, the integration opens new pathways for professional development and industry engagement, according to Patrick Farrey, who now serves as Executive Vice President of SPE and Chief Integration Officer overseeing the transition process.
He emphasized that SPE’s technical programs and professional development offerings will gain broader reach through access to Plastics’ resources and international platform.
The integration maintains SPE’s distinct identity as a division with its own executive committee leadership structure modeled on the organization’s existing governance framework.
Current SPE members will continue their membership with unchanged benefits and professional standing within the new divisional structure.
Farrey’s appointment to the dual role ensures operational continuity as the organizations work through the integration timeline, with a focus on preserving established programs while creating new opportunities for stakeholder engagement across the combined entity.
The newly unified organization spans the full spectrum of the plastics industry, from raw material suppliers and equipment manufacturers to processors, recyclers and supporting service providers throughout the value chain.
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