SPE’s commitment to DEI principals led to the formation of an Advisory Board to support DEI within the Society and the plastics industry.
DEI is not an entirely new concept to SPE. DEI programs and initiatives were established early on by the SPE Foundation.
SPE’s series of four DEI events kicks off with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Manufacturing taking place during Advanced Manufacturing East from December 6-7, 2021 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.
One of SPE Foundation’s community partners, Ecotek Science Lab, which has over 15-years experience working with under-resourced communities, helped to educate the Foundation about the lack of persistent and effective STEM outreach and education in certain geographical areas.
As a founding member of the Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment, SPE has collaborated on creating tools, guidelines and business practices to remove the barriers to inclusion which caused many women (and some others) to leave the field.