After a six-year hiatus due to COVID, NPE2024: The Plastics Show will return May 6-10 at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando. When the triennial trade show and conference was last held in 2018, NPE2018: The Plastic Show attracted more than 55,000 attendees and 2,182 exhibitors covering 1.1 million net square feet of exhibit space at OCCC.

Related: NPE WRAPS UP ITS LARGEST SHOW IN HISTORY

Owned by the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), the trade show supports the entire plastics supply chain, including equipment suppliers, material suppliers, processors and recyclers, representing more than 1 million workers in the $548 billion U.S. industry.

Previously produced by an in-house team, PLASTICS inked a deal in 2022 with association event management company Smithbucklin and its company, 360 Live Media, to sell and market NPE2024: The Plastics Show through 2027.

This year’s show is on track to draw more than 2,000 exhibiting companies, covering more than 1 million sq. ft. of exhibit space. Despite skipping a show cycle in 2021, event organizers told us that as of April 16 they are on pace to hit 2018 attendance levels.

Here’s a preview of 10 things to do at the upcoming event:

1. Explore the Sustainability Hub showcasing the industry's commitment to the circular economy. NPE’s goal is to divert 100% of the plastic waste generated during the event from landfills by utilizing the onsite outdoor NPE recycling center the OCCC. 

2. Visit the live recycling and sustainability demos across 10,500 sq. ft. of space.

3. Attend 30 education sessions in the Recycling & Sustainability Zone in partnership with RE|FOCUS.

4. Check out the largest gathering of bioplastics companies in the U.S., with more than 30 suppliers. PLASTICS will release its 2024 Bioplastics Market Watch Report on May 8 during NPE.

5. Learn from keynote speakers like FANUC America Corp. President and CEO Michael Cicco and BASF Corp. Chair and CEO Michael Heinz. Heinz will deliver a keynote address titled “Our Plastics Journey: The Road to a Sustainable Future,” in which he will address the industry’s challenges, emphasizing the importance of collaboration along the value chain and offering insights into the future. Find additional details in BASF’s news release at the following link: BASF at NPE 2024: A key pitstop along the plastics journey 

6. Join networking events like the NPE Opening Party, Women in Plastics Breakfast and FliP & SIP Reception.

7. Attend industry briefings covering trends and technologies in automotive, construction, consumer goods and more.

8. Experience live demonstrations of  OPC UA for machine-to-machine data exchange.

9. Visit the Podcast Point to listen to podcasts like PMM, Sustainable Packaging and PlastChicks.

10. Attend expanded exhibitor press conferences with 180+ new products debuting at NPE2024.