Trade Fair Debut and Annual Assembly for Women in Plastics Italy

GreenPlast 2025 marks the first trade fair participation for Women in Plastics Italy, the association founded in October 2024 with the aim of enhancing female talent and promoting an inclusive and sustainable culture within the plastics industry. This is not only a debut at a trade fair, but also a symbolic step that reflects the growth, determination, and shared energy of a network of professionals who believe in the mission of Wips-It: to promote a culture of inclusivity and social and environmental sustainability, to educate in order to improve the image of plastics through its most virtuous applications, and to foster connections and relationships that create professional exchange networks.

On 26 May, the day before the fair opened its doors, the association held its annual assembly – an important moment of discussion and associative life, during which the 2024 financial report was approved, and a review was carried out of the activities completed to date and those currently underway. In her speech, President Miriam Olivi provided an overview of the first seven months of the association’s activity. Wips-It already counts 130 members and is gaining increasing visibility both nationally and internationally.

Women in Plastics Italy has carried out numerous initiatives in recent months, which will continue into the future: training workshops, update meetings, and professional development programmes; networking events, trade fair participations, and informal gatherings to facilitate authentic connections among industry professionals; projects involving young people and universities to present a dynamic, innovative sector full of opportunities to the next generation; communication campaigns, via social media and the press, to highlight the stories and values of the community; and a strong focus on the younger generation, demonstrated through support for "Obiettivo EFFE", an initiative promoted by the University of Milano-Bicocca for female empowerment, including an experience in Algiers, where Wips-It was presented to the Italian Ambassador and dialogue began with students from the Université d'Alger Houari Boumediene on the topic of the gender gap. In the coming months, Wips-It will collaborate with the University of Genoa, fostering exchanges between PhD students and course participants in the plastics sector, and will continue to promote scholarships in partnership with Zonta International, supporting young women.

Vice-Presidents Erica Canaia and Clelia Petri outlined the projects undertaken by the working groups, which are the true driving force behind the association’s activism. Comprised of skilled and enterprising volunteers, these groups are a valuable resource for the organisation and growth of the association. The contribution of new energy will be crucial in the coming months to sustain and strengthen ongoing activities.

During the assembly, the board of directors was also updated with the addition of Martina Giatti. Luna Artico and Beatrice Monaci, due to recent professional changes and in accordance with the association’s rules, stepped down from the board, but will remain actively involved in the association, ensuring continuity of ongoing initiatives. A special recognition was also awarded to journalist Cecilia Cantadore, who was named an honorary lifetime member for sparking the “initial spark” that led to the creation of Women in Plastics Italy. Through a series of interviews, she gave voice to the stories of many women in the sector, helping to create a sense of community and awareness that resulted in the founding of the association.

Wips-It looks to the future with ambition and an international outlook. After participating on 13 May in Klagenfurt (Cirplex) at a European dialogue on sustainability, the association will attend major trade fairs and industry conferences. At the Plastics Summit Global Event (PSGE) in Lisbon on 6 October 2025, President Miriam Olivi will speak on the “Resilient Industry and Integrated Management” panel, and Wips-It will be among the event ambassadors. At K 2025 in Düsseldorf from 8-15 October, the most important global event for the plastics industry, President Olivi will participate in the Women in Plastics event on 12 October, previewing the contents of the Wips-It project during the June press pre-event.

“In these months we have laid solid foundations. We have built relationships, activated tools, and generated trust. We have found our balance through determination and awareness: always guided by the values and faces of Women in Plastics Italy. We are ready to project ourselves into an even more ambitious future, expanding participation, uniting our voices and our concrete actions. Proud of how well-known and recognised we have become today. Visionary – because the road towards a more equitable and representative sector is still long. Thanks to our members, their enthusiasm, and their active involvement, we know we have the right energy to continue together. This is only the best of beginnings,” commented President Miriam Olivi, expressing hope for the arrival of new members.