New End Market Opportunities (NEMO)

Often people think of recycling as tossing their soda bottles in their blue bins and calling it a day. But recycling is more than a single action. It is a complex process that starts before the consumer even receives the product. It begins with material selection and product design, through responsible disposal where it enters into a network of parties who collect, transport, process, and ultimately reuse the material in new products.

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), representing the entire plastics supply chain, has the opportunity to play a unique role in facilitating and supporting this important and necessary procedure. One way that is done is through a type of collaborative project we call a New End Market Opportunity, or NEMO.

What characteristics define a NEMO?

• Focuses on improving reuse through recycling of a plastic product or products
• Works across the supply chain, including PLASTICS members, partnering trade associations and their members, academics and other contributing experts
• Addresses technical or logistical challenges via data generation/collection as well as proof-of-concept demonstration projects
• Results in publication of reports, case studies, best practices, etc. for use by the industry

If you have a difficult-to-recycle product or polymer that you think would benefit from cross-supply chain collaboration, please contact Patrick Krieger at pkrieger@plasticsindustry.org.