Omar Khalid
SPI stands for the Society of the Plastics Industry, which was founded in 1937 and rebranded in 2010 as the Plastics Industry Association, or PLASTICS. The organisation represents individuals in the plastics industry and introduced the Resin Identification Code in 1988 to help recycling centres differentiate between plastic resin types. SPI also sets the SPI Finish Standard, which covers 12 grades of finish from SPI A1 to D3. This standard is used to define the finish of plastic injection-moulded parts and is widely used by mould-makers, industrial designers, and marketers worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Society of the Plastics Industry |
| Founded | 1937 |
| Rebranded | 2010 |
| Current Name | Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) |
| SPI Finish | SPI A1 to SPI D3 |
| SPI Code | Segments different plastics based on their materials and how they should be recycled |
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What You'll Learn
SPI is the Society of the Plastics Industry
SPI stands for the Society of the Plastics Industry, a professional society representing individuals in the plastics industry. Founded in 1937, SPI introduced the Resin Identification Code in 1988 to help recycling centres differentiate between the many similar-appearing plastic resin types. This system is now controlled by ASTM International.
SPI also created the SPI Finish, a standard for surface finishes for plastic injection moulds. It covers 12 SPI grades of polish finishes, from SPI A1 to SPI D3. The SPI Finish is used by mould makers, industrial designers, and marketers worldwide. It provides a fast and straightforward solution for mould polishing and sandblasting.
In 2010, the Society of the Plastics Industry changed its name to SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association. This association, also known as PLASTICS, represents the entire plastics industry supply chain in the U.S., including processors, recyclers, suppliers, equipment and machinery manufacturers, and brand owners. PLASTICS produces statistical reports on the U.S. plastics industry and its impact on the economy. It also publishes reports on shipments in plastics manufacturing machinery.
PLASTICS hosts the triennial global trade show NPE, one of the world's largest plastics industry events, to educate and spread information about new developments in the field. The association also sets safety standards for plastic manufacturing machinery, such as extrusion machines, blow moulding machines, and injection moulding machine systems. These standards aim to identify and address hazards to personnel working with or near this equipment.
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SPI Finish Standards refer to the cosmetic quality of plastics
The SPI Finish Standards are a quick and straightforward solution for mould polishing and sandblasting. They are most often used for plastic injection moulds, along with the VDI 3400 standard, which is mainly a reference for surface roughness. The SPI Finish Standards, on the other hand, are used for mould polish. While these standards are focused on different surface finishes, they still share some close finishes based on varied grades.
The SPI Finish Standards are qualitative, with inspectors making a judgement based on their intuition. This method is sufficient for aesthetic components, such as an interior trim panel in a vehicle. However, for functional components, a quantitative measurement may be required to determine whether the surface will perform its function. This could include average roughness measurements or 3D measurements.
The SPI Finish Card is a useful guide to the SPI Finish Standard. It is a plastic card that gives a real hand touch or visual polish finish of plastic parts. The card comes with 11 or 16 different plastic materials and colours, from commodity plastics (such as ABS and PP) to engineering plastics (such as HIPS and PA+GF30). The card is designed to be palm-sized for easy carrying and has two sides, with each side featuring six plaques displaying the 12 SPI finish grades from A1 to D3.
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SPI Finish Standards cover 12 grades of finish
SPI Finish Standards refer to the surface finish standard set by the American SPI (Society of the Plastics Industry). The SPI Finish Standards cover 12 SPI surface finish grades, from SPI A1 to SPI D3. The grades are categorized into four categories, ranging from shiny to dull. Each grade has different requirements for allowable deviation from perfect, with lower numbers allowing for less deviation and higher numbers allowing for more deviation.
The SPI Finish Standards are widely used as a reference for mould polishing and sandblasting. They are used by mould makers, industrial designers, and marketers worldwide. The standards specify the cosmetic quality of plastics and define the finish of plastic injection-moulded parts.
The 12 SPI finish grades can be achieved through different finishing methods, including Grit Diamond (High Gloss), Grit Paper (Semi-Gloss), and Grit Stone (Low Gloss). The Grit Diamond method is used for SPI A1, SPI A2, and SPI A3 finishes, resulting in a high-gloss appearance. The Grit Paper method is used for SPI B1, SPI B2, and SPI B3, creating a semi-gloss finish. The Grit Stone method is employed for SPI C1, SPI C2, and SPI C3, resulting in a low-gloss surface.
To aid in visualizing and selecting the desired SPI finish grade, Plastopia offers a plastic SPI Finish Card. This card is palm-sized (120×65×2 mm) and features 16+ different plastic materials and colours, ranging from commodity plastics to engineering plastics. The card provides a tactile and visual representation of the SPI finish grades, allowing users to make informed decisions about their plastic parts' finishing.
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SPI introduced the Resin Identification Code to aid plastic recycling
SPI stands for the Society of the Plastics Industry, which was founded in 1937. In 2010, the organization began doing business as SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, before changing its name to the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS).
As the Society of the Plastics Industry, the organization introduced the Resin Identification Code (RIC) in 1988 before turning control of the code over to ASTM International. The RIC is a technical standard with a set of symbols that appear on plastic products to identify the type of plastic resin used in the product. The SPI introduced the system in 1988 as the "Voluntary Plastic Container Coding System", with the purpose of "providing a consistent national system to facilitate the recycling of post-consumer plastics".
The different resin identification codes are part of the Unicode block called Miscellaneous Symbols and have the following codes: ♳ (U+2673), ♴ (U+2674), ♵ (U+2675), ♶ (U+2676), ♷ (U+2677), ♸ (U+2678), and ♹ (U+2679). ♺ (U+267A). The RIC consists of an equilateral triangle, a Resin Identification Number, and an Abbreviated Term for polymeric material. The numbers 1-7 indicate different types of plastic resins:
- Poly (ethylene terephthalate)
- High-density polyethylene
- Poly (vinyl chloride)
- Low-density polyethylene
- Polypropylene
- Polystyrene
- Other resins
The RIC is not a "recycle code", and its presence on a plastic product does not guarantee recyclability. However, it does aid recycling and has been used by consumers to recycle plastics more effectively. The use of the RIC has led to consumer confusion about which plastic products are recyclable, as only plastics with RICs "1" and "2" were initially accepted for recycling. However, the list of acceptable plastic items has since grown, and most plastic products can now be recycled regardless of their RIC.
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SPI Codes help users identify sustainable materials
SPI stands for the Society of the Plastics Industry, a professional body representing individuals in the plastics industry. In 1988, the SPI introduced the Resin Identification Code, a system designed to make it easier for plastic recycling centres to separate the many visually similar plastic resin types. These SPI codes segment the different plastics on the market based on their materials and how they should be recycled.
For example, Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET) is a common plastic material used for water bottles and jars for kitchen goods. When recycled, PETE is used to make textiles and fabrics such as tote bags and carpets. Polystyrene (Styrofoam), on the other hand, is not a plastic material that can be recycled efficiently. It requires a lot of energy to recycle, but when the process is undertaken, it can be used to create insulation and objects such as license plate frames and rulers.
SPI Code 7 materials are any plastics that don't fall into the previous six categories, such as polycarbonates and polylactides, which are difficult to recycle. These materials are most commonly seen as compact discs, storage containers, and baby bottles. However, some materials in this category are recyclable and can be used for plastic lumber.
The SPI Finish, or SPI Mold Finish, refers to the American surface finish standard set by the SPI. It covers 12 SPI grades of polish finishes, from SPI A1 to SPI D3. While it was originally an American standard, it is now used globally by mold makers, industrial designers, and marketers.
The SPI, or Sustainable Process Index, is also used to evaluate processes according to their environmental compatibility. Low SPI values indicate processes that are competitive under sustainable conditions and are environmentally compatible in the long term. This is based on an operationalized form of the principle of sustainability, using only early-stage planning data and data on natural concentrations of substances.
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Frequently asked questions
SPI stands for the Society of the Plastics Industry.
The SPI code is used to segment the different plastics on the market based on their materials and how they should be recycled.
SPI Finish Standards refer to the American surface finish standards set by SPI. They cover 12 SPI grades of polish finishes, from SPI A1 to SPI D3.
The different SPI finish grades are:
- Grit Diamond (High Gloss): SPI A1, SPI A2, and SPI A3
- Grit Paper (Semi-Gloss): SPI B1 to SPI B2, and SPI B3
- Grit Stone (Low Gloss): SPI C1 to SPI C2, and SPI C3
VDI 3400 is mainly a reference for surface roughness, while SPI Finish is mostly for mold polish. However, they are both widely used surface finishes for plastic injection molds and share some close finishes based on varied grades.
