October is Manufacturing Month, a time to celebrate the 13 million Americans and $3 trillion in economic activity that make U.S. manufacturing the envy of the world.

Building on that success and expanding domestic manufacturing is a stated policy goal that stretches across the political spectrum.  And in the push to do more, there is one critical input we cannot overlook: plastic.

Plastic is the backbone of modern manufacturing, supporting everything from aerospace to healthcare to consumer products. Plastic’s versatility, cost-effectiveness, performance, and lightweight nature make it indispensable for modern manufacturing.

To meet growing demand sustainably, Congress should act to strengthen our recycling system.  Central to this is modernizing outdated recycling regulations to recognize innovative new technologies, and establishing national recycling standards to eliminate state-by-state confusion and boost supply of recycled materials.

If done correctly, more recycling can lead to better, more sustainable manufacturing with less waste–a win for our economy, our environment, and American workers.

It is time for Congress to lead with pro-innovation policies that help U.S. manufacturing and recycling thrive together.