Texas is once again in the national spotlight—this time for its strategic role in the future of plastics manufacturing and recycling. A new economic report from the American Chemistry Council (ACC) underscores how plastics are indispensable to nearly every sector of American manufacturing, from aerospace and automotive to healthcare and electronics. As the top chemical producing state and a leading exporter of plastic materials, Texas stands to benefit significantly from the report’s findings and the federal policy recommendations unveiled alongside it.
The ACC’s “Plastics in American Manufacturing Report” was released during testimony last week before the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment. The findings are compelling:
Plastics support nearly 5 million U.S. jobs and contribute over $391 billion in wages.
Roughly 27% of all U.S. manufacturing output comes from sectors that rely heavily on plastics.
The plastic resin industry boasts a $22 billion trade surplus, one of the few manufacturing sectors where the U.S. exports more than it imports.
670,000 Americans work in plastics manufacturing, earning nearly $50 billion in annual wages.
With robust plastics infrastructure along the Gulf Coast and a legacy of innovation and industrial leadership, Texas is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this momentum. Our state’s industries—particularly in energy, aerospace, and medical technology—are directly aligned with the sectors highlighted in the report as plastic-reliant and high-growth.
Along with the economic data, the report introduced a “3-Point Plan to Recycle More Plastics and Strengthen American Manufacturing”, presented by Ross Eisenberg, President of America’s Plastic Makers. The plan includes:
Recognizing advanced recycling as manufacturing, allowing plastic made this way to count toward recycled content goals.
Establishing federal recycling standards to harmonize and scale recycling efforts nationwide.
Asserting American leadership in shaping a global agreement on reducing plastic pollution.
“This is a win-win,” said Eisenberg in his testimony. “We can grow American manufacturing jobs, improve recycling systems, and strengthen our global leadership.”
For Texas, this means new opportunities to modernize our recycling infrastructure, support innovation in advanced recycling technologies, and bolster supply chains that feed into our state’s already thriving manufacturing base.
Texas is a global hub for plastics production. Our ports move billions in plastic resin exports annually, and our manufacturers produce the raw materials and finished goods that are used in everything from heart valves to hydrogen storage.
Federal support for advanced recycling and consistent recycling standards would:
Create new jobs in recycling and manufacturing;
Support sustainable economic growth;
Reinforce Texas’ leadership in industrial innovation; and
Help achieve environmental goals while expanding domestic production capacity.
With growing interest in products made from recycled plastic, the ACC’s report reinforces that policy and innovation must go hand-in-hand to ensure long-term competitiveness. Texas is ready to lead the way.
To learn more, view the full Plastics in American Manufacturing Report.