Michigan Manufacturing Depends on Plastic
From Grand Rapids to Detroit, manufacturers rely on high-tech materials—especially plastic—to drive jobs, innovation, and progress.
Plastic’s Role in Michigan’s Economy
Household names, Michigan-made:
Together, plastic an plastic product makers in Michigan generate over $16 billion in sales and deliver billions in employee earnings invested back into local communities.
Plastic = Innovation
Plastic is a high-tech material shaped by chemistry, physics, and engineering. It powers the products that shape our daily lives—from healthcare to energy, transportation to safe drinking water.
Let’s keep that innovation in Michigan—not send it overseas.
Support plastics manufacturing and recycling in Michigan.
Made-in-Michigan Industries Rely on Plastic
Plastic isn’t just a supporting player—it’s essential to Michigan’s biggest industries.
Cars & Trucks
Michigan ranks #1 in U.S. automotive manufacturing, producing nearly 20% of all cars made in America. And plastic plays a major role in every vehicle.
- Plastic makes up 50% of a vehicle’s volume, reducing weight and boosting fuel efficiency.
- Lightweight plastics improve safety, performance, and emissions.
- The Big Three automakers depend on plastic for airbags, bumpers, fuel tanks, dashboards, and more.
Medical Devices
Michigan is a national leader in medical technology, employing over 13,000 workers in medical device manufacturing.
- High-tech plastics are critical for devices like surgical robots, implants, and PPE.
- Michigan’s 4th largest private employer, based in Kalamazoo, builds a global lineup of plastic-based healthcare tools.
- Medical plastics must meet exacting standards for cleanliness, durability, and biocompatibility.
Agribusiness
Michigan agriculture generates over $100 billion in economic activity annually. Plastic helps protect the products that sustain that growth.
- Innovative plastic packaging prevents spoilage and reduces food waste.
- Plastic’s durability and light weight help lower transportation emissions.
- A Fortune 500 distributor in Byron Center ships to all 50 states, often using plastic packaging to protect Michigan-grown produce.
Michigan’s Plastics Workforce: People Powering Progress
Michigan’s plastics industry runs on two things—innovation and people. Across the state, engineers, scientists, and skilled technicians are shaping how plastic is made, used, and remade.
Plastics are a vital part of Michigan’s broader manufacturing economy. The numbers speak for themselves:
More than 600,000 Michiganders work in manufacturing—14% of all state jobs—with tens of thousands in plastic-related roles.
These jobs offer solid pay (on average $10,000 more than other sectors in the state.
Manufacturing jobs in Michigan are growing at 2x the rate of overall state employment.
Did you know: Michigan has more engineers per capita than any other state. Many are helping transform plastic into products for national defense, healthcare, energy, and more.
Michigan Recycling Innovation= Jobs
U.S. plastic makers—including Michiganders—are investing billions in advanced recycling. These technologies turn used plastic back into valuable raw materials, helping recycle more of the ~90% of plastics not recycled today, creating jobs, and reducing landfill waste. But we need Congress to do its part to pave the way.
Send a letter to Washington urging support for plastic recycling innovation.