Celebrating the 2025 OCS Difference Maker Award Recipients

Pedro De Filippo Vannucci
Program Coordinator, Sustainability & Environment

At the second annual OCS CON, held in October 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana, more than 100 attendees from across the plastic industry gathered to collaborate on resin stewardship and award leaders advancing the goal of zero plastic resin loss.

In 2025, the OCS Difference Maker Award expanded to include three company-level awards and two individual awards recognizing resin leaders at both the corporate and facility levels.

The 2025 OCS Difference Maker Awardees are:

• – OCS Blue Member: Chevron Phillips Chemical – recognized for notable improvements in OCS metrics within their facilities.
• – OCS Logistics Member: Frontier Logistics – awarded for innovations in rail car washing.
• – OCS Base Tier: Geon Performance Solutions – recognized for efforts to maintain exceptional resin stewardship in their operations.
• – Corporate Leader: Inge Duran of Packwell – honored for her leadership and development of comprehensive resin loss procedures.
• – Facility-Level Leader: Mike Lever of Plastipak – recognized for continued initiative to enhance OCS measures through creative solutions.

Collectively, these honorees exemplify how the plastics industry is advancing responsible resin handling as a central priority, encouraging others to embrace proactive strategies for preventing resin loss.

Company Awards

OCS Blue Member Chevron Phillips Chemical was recognized for its leadership in implementing OCS principles across its operations. As an early participant in the OCS Blue Verification Program, CPChem piloted one of its facilities in 2022 and has since contributed to strengthening the program’s rigor through ongoing engagement and continuous improvement. Building on this commitment, CPChem developed initiatives such as the Heel Recovery Project, which has helped inform excellent practices for railcar washing and further demonstrate the company’s leadership in preventing resin loss.

“At CPChem, we believe plastic should never end up in the environment, and that belief drives our commitment to preventing resin loss. Across our company, dedicated individuals and ‘best‑practice teams’ champion the OCS mission, constantly innovating and fostering a culture of care and accountability. We are especially proud of our manufacturing teams, who bring this commitment to life every day, and we appreciate our partners across the plastics value chain who help us continuously enhance our practices through the OCS program.”

OCS Logistics Member Frontier Logistics was recognized for their leadership in preventing resin loss and their innovative use of air‑based railcar cleaning technology. Through weekly audits, continuous housekeeping, engineered containment controls, and rigorous documentation practices, Frontier has embedded OCS principles into everyday operations. Their work advancing air‑based railcar cleaning, shared in the OCS Railcar Washing Guide, reflects Frontier’s commitment to innovation.

“Being named an OCS Difference Maker for 2025 is a proud moment for the entire Frontier Logistics team. We prioritize Operation Clean Sweep because preventing resin loss protects the environment and strengthens the supply chain—it’s integral to who we are as a responsible logistics provider.  Winning the 2025 OCS Difference Maker Award has only fueled our passion to think differently, challenge long-held assumptions and technologies, and identify solutions that advance this industry-wide endeavor toward zero resin loss.”

OCS Base Tier member Geon’s Performance Solutions was honored for their strong operational discipline and their commitment to incorporating resin loss prevention into everyday practices across their operations. An OCS Member since 2018, Geon has demonstrated a sustained focus on responsible resin handling by integrating OCS principles into routine workflows and reinforcing a culture of accountability at the facility level. This recognition reflects Geon’s continued efforts to strengthen environmental stewardship and make resin loss prevention a consistent operational priority.

“Being recognized as an Operation Clean Sweep Difference Maker reinforces Geon’s commitment to responsible manufacturing and preventing pellet loss at its source. The program has strengthened our sustainability practices and deepened our culture of accountability across all sites. OCS remains a priority because safeguarding our environment is fundamental to how we operate and how we help shape thriving communities.”

Individual Awards

While the company awards recognize broad organizational achievements, the individual awards celebrate the leaders whose personal commitment and day-to-day‑ initiative drive this work forward.

“Since joining OCS in 2012, Packwell has championed zero environmental resin loss—both locally and nationally. The Difference Maker Award celebrates our entire team’s commitment to turning vision into action with real momentum. We’re honored by this recognition and energized to keep pushing forward.

Mike Lever, Raw Material Manager at Plastipak, was honored for his dedication to resin loss prevention and his continued initiative to enhance OCS measures at Plastipak. Lever’s meticulous approach and direct involvement in daily operations enabled him to properly address potential risk areas for resin loss. His proactive initiatives embody OCS core values by developing targeted preventative solutions that have elevated responsible resin handling approaches beyond his own facility.

“We enthusiastically took the opportunity to participate in the Operation Clean Sweep initiative and contribute to its success from all points of view and for me personally, from the “Boots on the Ground” perspective. This award is meaningful, because it represents Plastipak’s long standing, and future position of stewardship with our environment, and our community. We look forward to Plastipak having the opportunity to become Best in Class regarding our contribution to Operation Clean Sweep and resin pellet containment across all of our sites.”

2026 OCS Difference Maker Awards

As we celebrate the achievements of the 2025 OCS Difference Makers, don’t forget that the 2026 OCS Difference Maker Award Submissions are open. This is an opportunity to recognize peers who go above and beyond, whether it’s an individual leading by example or an organization that’s doing exceptional work. Please reach out to info@opcleansweep.org for more information on how to submit nominations!

The OCS Difference Maker Awards will be presented at OCS CON 2026 in Houston, TX from October 14-16. Award recipients will be formally recognized as part of the conference program. OCS CON 2026 offers attendees the opportunity to see industry leadership in resin loss prevention recognized firsthand. Register now to join us in Houston, celebrate industry leaders, and advance the industry’s responsible resin handling goals.