SPI-The Plastics Industry Trade Association has shed the last vestiges of the group's professional society roots by rebranding itself the Plastics Industry Association.

The new name and logo, unveiled Tuesday, comes roughly five years after the Society for the Plastics Industry shortened its name to just SPI. That name change has generated confusion given a related industry group—the Society of Plastics Engineers, or SPE—has similar initials, association President Bill Carteaux told CEO Update.

"SPE and SPI are constantly confused in the marketplace," Carteaux said.

The Plastics Industry Association plans to go by PLASTICS for short. The group will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year, but hasn't been a society for decades despite its formal name. The group started accepting corporate members early in its history, Carteaux said.

Still, the biggest reason for the name change is so the association can more clearly communicate what it represents.

"‘SPI' is known within our industry, but not beyond the industry," he said. "But to decisionmakers, SPI means absolutely nothing to most folks. As we are reaching out beyond the industry itself we felt we really needed to portray who we are."

The association has revamped its website to reflect the new name and logo: http://www.plasticsindustry.org

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