Global Plastics Summit

February 25 – 27, 2025 · Thompson Houston, Houston, TX

Register Now

Embracing Agility Amid Dynamic Disruptions

At the Global Plastics Summit (GPS), attendees will hear from leading chemical companies and visionary organizations as they outline strategies to navigate market disruptions, adapt to industry transformations, and turn barriers into opportunities for success.

 

The plastics industry continues to be challenged by excess capacity, oversupply, and environmental pressures. These challenges have led to global margin pressure and price volatility. Historical reliance on robust Chinese demand growth is no longer a solution as Chinese market dynamics shift.

The upcoming United States presidential election may potentially increase uncertainty in international trade and heighten current global power dynamics, which are already conflict-ridden.

Unprecedented investment is required as the industry strives to meet aggressive recycling and net zero goals. Additionally, calls for more recycled content and reduction in plastic waste are intensifying an already challenging market. Stakeholders must redesign their business models to embrace a transforming industry and create value in a new plastics ecosystem.

Get ready for the Global Plastics Summit (GPS), featuring expert insight – from upstream business reviews to downstream technical applications and end-user trends. This year’s summit will include a full-day workshop to enhance your understanding of the plastics industry and the push to a circular economy, 1.5 days of market driven content, and a variety of networking opportunities as we focus on “Embracing Agility Amid Dynamic Disruptions.

Key topics to be covered include:

  • How will industry leaders sustain business operations in response to global disruptions?
  • What must be done to mitigate excess capacity through feedstock cost advantages and favorable freight rates?
  • Will escalating geopolitical tensions impact global resin trade?
  • How does the industry continue to adapt to a new industry model for plastics?
  • Can the industry leverage its history of innovation to create value in a world with new priorities?

 

Register Now

GPS 2025 Featured Speakers

Jonatas Melo

Jonatas Melo CEO & President Baystar

Jonatas Melo joined Baystar in 2024. Jonatas brings extensive leadership experience across commercial management, business strategy, product management, supply chain, and corporate finance to lead Baystar through a period of rapid growth, as the company introduces Borstar® technology to North America. Prior to joining Baystar, Jonatas spent 13 years with Borealis and Borouge in progressively senior roles in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe; most recently as Global Vice President of performance materials, where he led the consumer products and infrastructure industry clusters. Prior to joining Borealis Jonatas worked with ExxonMobil and Cosan in South America.

Jonatas holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; an MBA (honors) from IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland; and a Certificate in Global Management from INSEAD, Singapore.

Kate Bailey

Kate Bailey Chief Policy Officer Association of Plastic Recyclers

Kate Bailey is the Chief Policy Officer for the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), the only North American organization focused exclusively on improving the recycling of plastics. Kate leads APR’s advocacy at the state, national, and global levels to pass legislation to improve plastics recycling. She has 20 years of experience in recycling operations and policy development, and has passed several leading policies such as Colorado’s EPR for Packaging program in 2022. She is based in Colorado.

Oskar Karlsson

Oskar Karlsson Chief Procurement Officer and VP Sustainability Trioworld

Oskar Karlsson is the Chief Procurement Officer and VP Sustainability at Trioworld. With more than 15 years of experience from various raw material markets, such as pulp & paper, aluminum and polyethylene, Oskar brings value for the organization in the transformation to become sustainable.

In his current position, he is responsible for the group’s sourcing activities and sustainability journey as well as the product-line Personal Protective Equipment. Oskar is driven by customer’s current and future needs, his ambition is to contribute to Trioworld’s vision to constantly strive to be the first choice in sustainable polyethylene film solutions.

He has a M.Sc degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University Chalmers in Gothenburg and a MBA from Stockholm School of Economics.

Yonas Kebede

Yonas Kebede Director Polypropylene Sales & Marketing Heartland Polymers

Yonas Kebede brings more than 30 years’ experience in the petrochemical industry to his role as Director of Polypropylene Sales and Marketing for Heartland Polymers.  He started his career selling polyethylene and polypropylene in the Northeast for Quantum Chemical, a legacy LyondellBasell company.  In 2000, he joined Formosa Plastics in Livingston, New Jersey, spearheading their entry into the blow molding, sheet extrusion, and pressure pipe markets with the startup of the company’s new HDPE Phillips Loop Plant.  In 2019, Mr. Kebede joined Inter Pipeline, Heartland Polymers’ parent company, to build and lead the commercial team’s entry into the polypropylene market.  While he travels often to Calgary, Alberta, Canada where Inter Pipeline is headquartered, he works out of the Heartland Polymers’ Short Hills, New Jersey Sales Office and resides in Northern New Jersey with his wife and two children.  Mr. Kebede holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Michigan State University.

Joel Morales

Joel Morales Vice President, Polyolefins Americas Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Joel Morales is the Vice President of Polyolefins Americas at Chemical Market Analytics.

Joel joined the company in March 2013 to cover Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) in North America. He began his career in 1999 with polyolefins manufacturer Solvay Polymers, which later became Ineos, in technical services and product development before he moved into field sales. After five years at Solvay Polymers, Joel moved into resin distribution sales for both Muehlstein and then United Polychem as a Product Manager, where he managed and sold polyethylene and polypropylene resins into various customer segments. In his most recent role before joining Chemical Market Analytics (CMA), Joel was a purchasing manager for Silgan Plastics, a major blow-molding and injection molding plastics converter. He has brought a wealth of industry knowledge to Chemical Market Analytics through multiple stints along the plastics value chain.

Joel works closely within the Americas with resin producers, converters, and third parties covering the polyolefin markets. Joel speaks regularly around the world as a polyolefin market expert. He is the service leader of three market advisory subscription services: The Global Plastics and Polymers Report, the North American PE Report and the North American PP Report.

Joel graduated from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a minor in psychology.

—

—

 

Nick Vafiadis

Nick Vafiadis Vice President, Global Plastics & Polymers Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Nick Vafiadis is the Vice President of the Plastics & Polymers business at Chemical Market Analytics.

34 years, including critical roles in sales, sales management, product management, and business line management in the plastics, surfactants, and consulting industries.
Nick is a 30+ year chemical and plastics industry veteran and manages Chemical Market Analytics’ global plastics practice. Nick’s daily responsibilities include analysis, consulting, and reporting on the global polyolefins market and managing global operations associated with producing and developing various plastics reports. Concurrently, he contributes to single-client projects and studies related to the polyolefins industry. In his earlier assignments, he was responsible for consulting duties associated with the Chlor-alkali and vinyl product chain. He has contributed to the Monomers Market Report, the Chlor-Alkali Market Report, and the Global Plastics & Polymers Market Report.

He has been with Chemical Market Analytics and its predecessor companies since 2002. Before 2002, he spent twelve years with Vista Chemical Company, where he held assignments in marketing, product management, and sales management in the vinyl and surfactant business areas. Mr. Vafiadis holds a Management BBA from The University of Texas at Austin, United States.

Meet the Speakers

Gain exclusive insights and connect with the leading experts in the plastics industry—explore our growing lineup of distinguished speakers.

Agenda-At-A-Glance

Connect with Global Industry Leaders and Visionaries

Forge meaningful relationships with top experts, innovators, and decision-makers at the Global Plastics Summit. Explore opportunities to partner with future collaborators, source key suppliers, and engage with prospective customers in this dynamic networking environment.

View Attendee Snapshot

TALK TO AN EXPERT

Talk To An Expert

These offers include recommended content or information on upcoming events. I can unsubscribe at any time.*