Plastics Association Will Launch re|Focus: Recycling Summit and Expo in Orlando
May 14, 2015
Spurred on by the tremendous response to the recycle program at this year’s NPE2015, SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association decided to launch a new show next year – re|Focus: Recycling Summit and Expo.
The goal of the show, according to organizers, is to assist brand owners, processors and the plastics supply chain to take their environmental goals from aspirational to operational.
At NPE2015, which was held in April at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, 82 exhibitors participated in the program to recycle processing scrap generated on the showfloor, twice as many as at NPE2012, causing a dramatic increase in the amount of material collected for recycling.
Commercial Plastics Recycling (CPR), the official recycling company for NPE2015, collected, sorted, and recycled 191 tons of processing scrap, which was 62 percent more than was collected at NPE2012 and 235 percent more than at NPE2009.
As the show has grown and the amount of scrap has increased, the recycling program has increased its capacity.
“We reached out to exhibitors well in advance of NPE2015 to find out their needs and get a clear idea of how we should prepare,” said Paul Benvenuti of CPR. “Another big help was having our containers and trucks on site during setup since machines were being operated and generating scrap well before the start of the show.”
Altogether, NPE2015 generated 518 tons of waste at the Orange County Convention Center, including both processing scrap and post-consumer waste.
Of the total, 452 tons, or 87percent, was recycled. CPR reclaimed the processing scrap at its recycling facility in Tampa, Fla., and through a contract carrier, the Orange County Convention Center arranged for recycling of post-consumer waste.
All of this was driven by NPE’s Recycling Committee, comprised of representatives from companies exhibiting at NPE2015, and SPI’s director of operations, Lori Campbell.
“SPI and the plastics industry’s commitment to reduce, reuse, or recycle was a significant focus of the show, and we believe our recycling efforts were a realization of that commitment,” said Bill Carteaux, SPI’s President and CEO. “As the leading trade event in plastics, we needed to model the appropriate behavior, and thanks to the efforts of our recycling program partners, we were able to do just that.”
The new event, re|Focus: Recycling Summit and Expo, will provide education and solutions on plastics reduction, reuse, and recycling as well as sustainable practices in plastics design and manufacturing.
re|Focus will be held April 25-27 in Orlando, and NPE2018 May 7-11, also in Orlando.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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