ROXY & Plastics Make it Possible® Team Up to Showcase How Plastics Contribute to Winter Sports Safety, Sustainability

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Before the snow melts, ROXY, a brand of Quiksilver Inc., and Plastics Make it Possible^®, an initiative sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council, have joined together to highlight ways that plastics are helping revolutionize winter sports such as snowboarding and skiing in both performance and sustainability.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111114/LA05519LOGO)

From snowboards to skis, boots to bindings, helmets to goggles and beyond, plastics play a vital role in many winter sports. Today forward-thinking companies such as ROXY are devoting resources to using recycled plastics in their products, as well as to other sustainable practices. Various companies use recycled plastics from beverage bottles, for example, to make a variety of high-performance winter sports gear such as fleece jackets, gloves, and even snowboards—thus recapturing the value of plastics, keeping valuable materials out of landfills and closing the recycling loop.

To highlight these efforts, Plastics Make it Possible^® and Roxy launched a contest today that snowboarding fans are bound to love. Through March 30, contestants can create and submit a graphic design for a snowboard to a voting gallery on the Plastics Make it Possible^® Facebook page. The two contestants with the most votes will see their visions come to life thanks to ROXY which will have its snowboard factory, known for its environmentally minded practices, create the one-of-a-kind snowboards.

"Roxy is dedicated to creating products that are environmentally and socially responsible," said Iris Yen, Vice President, Communications, Quiksilver Inc. "Working with Plastics Make it Possible^® to bring two snowboarders' creative designs to life allows us to showcase some of the positive effects of taking care of the resources that give us so much while teaching a very important lesson in a fun setting."

In addition to the contest, Plastics Make it Possible^® has created a new interactive feature on its website that demonstrates how plastics are integrated into snowboarding and many aspects of winter sports. The snowboarding infographic highlights how plastics help make snowboards lighter, stronger and more durable and flexible; keep athletes warm and dry on the slopes with insulated, water-resistant clothing; and perform critical safety functions in helmets, bindings, and other equipment.   

"Winter sports are fast-paced and high energy, so the gear needs to be tough and up to the task," said Steve Russell, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council. "When you look closely at a snowboarder – the helmet, the goggles, the clothing, the bindings, the board – it becomes clear how plastics have truly revolutionized the sport."

For more information on how plastics help make our lives more sustainable, more convenient, and more fun, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com.

About Plastics Make it Possible®

Plastics Make it Possible® highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems and help us design a safer, more promising future. This initiative is sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council. For more information, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com, check out our Facebook page and follow us @plasticpossible on twitter at www.twitter.com/plasticpossible.

http://www.americanchemistry.com

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care^®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $720 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is one of the nation's largest exporters, accounting for ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

Contact: Jennifer Killinger (202) 249-6619
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Plastics Make it Possible