PRODUCT REGULATORY TASK GROUP

Position Statement on Sustainable Development¹

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) is the trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's 1,100 members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers, and raw material suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.1 million workers and provides more than $379 billion in annual shipments. The majority of our members qualify as small businesses.

The Plastics Industry creates products that foster a high standard of living for billions of people across the world. SPI supports processes that effectively balance environmental, social and economic needs and concerns of current and future generations. SPI thus urges the Plastics Industry to use the creativity and innovation that are its hallmarks to provide consumers with life-saving and life-enhancing products in a responsible, ethical, professional and economical manner.

SPI further supports the efficient use of energy and natural resources by the Plastics Industry and, where possible, the reuse of materials, while reducing waste and emission levels. The SPI also urges its member companies to look at the synergy of economic concerns and environmental pursuits to design systems and products that meet these multiple goals. In this way, the association maintains, the Plastics Industry can make even more positive contributions to the concept of "environmentally sound living." SPI also urges the protection of the environment through safe manufacturing operations.

In addition, SPI encourages conducting appropriate, scientific risk evaluations to promote health, safety and environmental protection. These evaluations must be an integral part of the complete life cycle, which consists of design, manufacture, marketing, distribution, use, and reuse, recycling and disposal of plastics products. The commitment to this process must be embraced at the highest levels of company leadership throughout the Industry.

To be consistent with the industry's efforts in this regard, SPI urges legislative bodies and regulatory agencies to use sound science in the development of laws and regulations on environmental, safety and health issues and encourages decision-making on the basis of complete and accurate information.

November 13, 2002

¹ In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission) defined "Sustainable Development" (SD) as a process that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Since then, the SD concept became a main stream in the 21st century: In 1992, 150 heads of state and government signed "Agenda 21" to promote fundamental political, social, economic and industrial change towards SD. In 1993, the Dow Jones Sustainability Growth Index (DJSGI) was established and in 1995, industry formed the "World Business Council for Sustainable Development" to support "Agenda 21".

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