GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Plastic Industry Statistics

Most plastics firms recognize DEI's role in innovation, retention, and performance.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

23% of plastics companies participate in external DEI certification programs

Statistic 2

30% of plastics companies have integrated DEI goals into their corporate social responsibility frameworks

Statistic 3

Companies with higher racial and gender diversity are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors financially

Statistic 4

15% increase in productivity reported in companies that have implemented DEI initiatives

Statistic 5

51% of industry leaders believe that increasing diversity will lead to better customer insights and market reach

Statistic 6

62% of plastic industry employers state that diversity training has led to measurable improvements in workplace harmony

Statistic 7

28% of companies report that lack of diversity hinders innovation in product development

Statistic 8

63% of industry executives say that fostering inclusivity enhances team performance

Statistic 9

78% of employees in the plastic manufacturing industry believe diversity initiatives can improve innovation

Statistic 10

57% of surveyed plastic industry workers believe inclusion practices positively impact employee retention

Statistic 11

80% of emerging professionals in plastics consider workplace diversity as a key factor in employment decisions

Statistic 12

70% of industry leaders agree that diversity influences product innovation

Statistic 13

25% of plastic industry professionals think their workplace is proactive in addressing racial bias

Statistic 14

38% of employees in the plastics industry feel they have adequate opportunity for career development regardless of background

Statistic 15

58% of plastic industry employees believe more training on unconscious bias could improve workplace culture

Statistic 16

76% of industry executives agree that DEI initiatives boost employer brand reputation

Statistic 17

39% of manufacturing firms with DEI policies report increased attraction of diverse talent pools

Statistic 18

65% of industry leaders believe that increasing ethnic and cultural diversity should be a strategic priority

Statistic 19

Women hold 22% of executive roles in the global plastics sector

Statistic 20

Only 15% of plastic industry executives are from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups

Statistic 21

65% of minority employees in the plastics sector report experiencing workplace discrimination

Statistic 22

The plastic industry sector's overall diversity index is 0.48 on a scale from 0 to 1, indicating moderate diversity

Statistic 23

52% of female employees in plastics report feeling underrepresented in leadership roles

Statistic 24

Only 9% of plastics industry CEOs are women

Statistic 25

46% of minority workers in the plastic industry believe they have equal opportunity for promotion

Statistic 26

47% of female workers in plastics report being frequently excluded from decision-making processes

Statistic 27

48% of female employees in plastics report facing barriers to advancement unrelated to performance

Statistic 28

42% of plastic industry companies actively implement DEI training programs

Statistic 29

Companies with diverse leadership report a 20% increase in employee engagement scores

Statistic 30

68% of young professionals in plastics prioritize companies with strong DEI policies

Statistic 31

33% of plastics manufacturing firms have disclosed their diversity statistics publicly

Statistic 32

55% of minority employees in plastics are considering leaving their current employer due to lack of inclusion

Statistic 33

60% of plastic industry companies have established Employee Resource Groups specifically for underrepresented groups

Statistic 34

44% of plastic manufacturing firms report difficulties in attracting diverse talent

Statistic 35

61% of youth from minority backgrounds say they are more likely to consider careers in plastics if diversity is visibly promoted

Statistic 36

80% of companies acknowledge the need to improve racial diversity in their plastics sector workforce

Statistic 37

34% of industry HR managers state that pay equity remains a significant barrier to DEI progress

Statistic 38

22% of plastic manufacturing companies participate in mentorship programs aimed at underrepresented groups

Statistic 39

19% of respondents in the plastics sector feel that their organization effectively addresses gender bias

Statistic 40

49% of industry employees from minority backgrounds experience microaggressions at work

Statistic 41

55% of plastics industry firms see diversity as a pathway to global market expansion

Statistic 42

42% of employees in the plastics sector state that flexible working arrangements support inclusion

Statistic 43

29% of minority employees report limited access to mentorship opportunities

Statistic 44

54% of companies with strong DEI initiatives have seen reduced turnover among minority employees

Statistic 45

23% of plastic companies have conducted pay gap analyses to identify and address inequities

Statistic 46

70% of industry HR managers recognize the importance of inclusive hiring practices

Statistic 47

40% of employees from underrepresented groups in plastics feel the need for more support to succeed professionally

Statistic 48

59% of plastics companies prefer candidates from diverse backgrounds for leadership development programs

Statistic 49

21% of the plastics workforce is composed of individuals with disabilities

Statistic 50

35% of plastics companies have policies in place to promote gender equity

Statistic 51

29% of respondents believe their organizations lack sufficient data to measure DEI progress effectively

Statistic 52

81% of workers from minority backgrounds say their companies should do more to address racial inequities

Slide 1 of 52

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

78% of employees in the plastic manufacturing industry believe diversity initiatives can improve innovation
Women hold 22% of executive roles in the global plastics sector
Companies with higher racial and gender diversity are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors financially
57% of surveyed plastic industry workers believe inclusion practices positively impact employee retention
Only 15% of plastic industry executives are from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups
65% of minority employees in the plastics sector report experiencing workplace discrimination
42% of plastic industry companies actively implement DEI training programs
Companies with diverse leadership report a 20% increase in employee engagement scores
80% of emerging professionals in plastics consider workplace diversity as a key factor in employment decisions
The plastic industry sector's overall diversity index is 0.48 on a scale from 0 to 1, indicating moderate diversity
52% of female employees in plastics report feeling underrepresented in leadership roles
Only 9% of plastics industry CEOs are women
68% of young professionals in plastics prioritize companies with strong DEI policies

With 78% of plastic industry employees believing that embracing diversity can spark innovation, it’s clear that advancing equity and inclusion isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic necessity for shaping a more dynamic and competitive sector.

Company Policies, Reporting, and External Engagement

23% of plastics companies participate in external DEI certification programs
30% of plastics companies have integrated DEI goals into their corporate social responsibility frameworks

Company Policies, Reporting, and External Engagement Interpretation

While only 23% of plastics companies pursue external DEI certifications, the fact that 30% have embedded DEI goals into their CSR frameworks suggests a growing, albeit uneven, recognition that diversity isn't just good PR—it's good business.

Impact of Diversity on Industry Performance and Productivity

Companies with higher racial and gender diversity are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors financially
15% increase in productivity reported in companies that have implemented DEI initiatives
51% of industry leaders believe that increasing diversity will lead to better customer insights and market reach
62% of plastic industry employers state that diversity training has led to measurable improvements in workplace harmony
28% of companies report that lack of diversity hinders innovation in product development
63% of industry executives say that fostering inclusivity enhances team performance

Impact of Diversity on Industry Performance and Productivity Interpretation

In the plastic industry, embracing diversity isn't just a moral imperative—it's a proven economic advantage, with companies that prioritize inclusion reaping greater innovation, productivity, and market insight, leaving less diverse competitors in the recycling bin of missed opportunities.

Industry Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Diversity

78% of employees in the plastic manufacturing industry believe diversity initiatives can improve innovation
57% of surveyed plastic industry workers believe inclusion practices positively impact employee retention
80% of emerging professionals in plastics consider workplace diversity as a key factor in employment decisions
70% of industry leaders agree that diversity influences product innovation
25% of plastic industry professionals think their workplace is proactive in addressing racial bias
38% of employees in the plastics industry feel they have adequate opportunity for career development regardless of background
58% of plastic industry employees believe more training on unconscious bias could improve workplace culture
76% of industry executives agree that DEI initiatives boost employer brand reputation
39% of manufacturing firms with DEI policies report increased attraction of diverse talent pools
65% of industry leaders believe that increasing ethnic and cultural diversity should be a strategic priority

Industry Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Diversity Interpretation

Despite compelling evidence that diversity and inclusion drive innovation, retention, and reputation, the plastic industry's slow pace in proactive DEI initiatives reveals a gap between belief and action that could hinder its future competitiveness.

Representation of Women and Minorities in Leadership

Women hold 22% of executive roles in the global plastics sector
Only 15% of plastic industry executives are from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups
65% of minority employees in the plastics sector report experiencing workplace discrimination
The plastic industry sector's overall diversity index is 0.48 on a scale from 0 to 1, indicating moderate diversity
52% of female employees in plastics report feeling underrepresented in leadership roles
Only 9% of plastics industry CEOs are women
46% of minority workers in the plastic industry believe they have equal opportunity for promotion
47% of female workers in plastics report being frequently excluded from decision-making processes
48% of female employees in plastics report facing barriers to advancement unrelated to performance

Representation of Women and Minorities in Leadership Interpretation

Despite strides toward diversity, the plastic industry's chucking of the environmental and social mold reveals a stark reality: with only 9% of CEOs being women and nearly half of minority and female workers feeling excluded or discriminated against, the sector is clearly melting under the pressure to turn diversity percentages into authentic progress.

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

42% of plastic industry companies actively implement DEI training programs
Companies with diverse leadership report a 20% increase in employee engagement scores
68% of young professionals in plastics prioritize companies with strong DEI policies
33% of plastics manufacturing firms have disclosed their diversity statistics publicly
55% of minority employees in plastics are considering leaving their current employer due to lack of inclusion
60% of plastic industry companies have established Employee Resource Groups specifically for underrepresented groups
44% of plastic manufacturing firms report difficulties in attracting diverse talent
61% of youth from minority backgrounds say they are more likely to consider careers in plastics if diversity is visibly promoted
80% of companies acknowledge the need to improve racial diversity in their plastics sector workforce
34% of industry HR managers state that pay equity remains a significant barrier to DEI progress
22% of plastic manufacturing companies participate in mentorship programs aimed at underrepresented groups
19% of respondents in the plastics sector feel that their organization effectively addresses gender bias
49% of industry employees from minority backgrounds experience microaggressions at work
55% of plastics industry firms see diversity as a pathway to global market expansion
42% of employees in the plastics sector state that flexible working arrangements support inclusion
29% of minority employees report limited access to mentorship opportunities
54% of companies with strong DEI initiatives have seen reduced turnover among minority employees
23% of plastic companies have conducted pay gap analyses to identify and address inequities
70% of industry HR managers recognize the importance of inclusive hiring practices
40% of employees from underrepresented groups in plastics feel the need for more support to succeed professionally
59% of plastics companies prefer candidates from diverse backgrounds for leadership development programs
21% of the plastics workforce is composed of individuals with disabilities
35% of plastics companies have policies in place to promote gender equity
29% of respondents believe their organizations lack sufficient data to measure DEI progress effectively
81% of workers from minority backgrounds say their companies should do more to address racial inequities

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Interpretation

While nearly half of plastics firms embrace DEI initiatives, the sector still faces substantial challenges—ranging from talent retention and pay equity to genuine inclusion—highlighting that the industry's plastics attempt at diversity is still a work in progress, not just a melting pot.