North American Plastics Industry Study survey confidentiality pledge

Founded in 1995, the North American Plastics Industry Study is widely regarded as the most in-depth benchmarking survey available linking profitability and performance in the plastics industry. The study measures key performance indicators in areas such as strategy and marketing, financial performance, human resources, and operations. For hundreds of contributing participants each year, the study provides actionable insights regarding what drives success in the plastics industry.

We are pleased with the opportunity to work with you in the area of benchmarking the plastics industry. Since the world is becoming very competitive we need to provide you confidence that your proprietary information is protected from unauthorized disclosure. Therefore, we pledge the following confidentiality prior to any disclosure by you or by any individual or corporation controlled by, controlling or under common control with you, (hereinafter referred to as “Company”) to the hereinafter specified provisions concerning protection of your trade secrets and other confidential and proprietary information and data submitted to us related to our survey of the plastics industry in North America:

1. For a period of five (5) years from the date of this Agreement, we agree to protect and keep confidential: trade secrets; other confidential and proprietary information; and data disclosed by you. All such items that need to be kept confidential will be labeled proprietary or confidential and disclosed in writing or communicated as confidential if orally, verbally or visually disclosed. After five (5) years, we will destroy all individual data submitted. Only compiled data will be saved.
2. We agree not to directly use any of this confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets for our own benefit or for the benefit of any other person, firm or corporation.
3. To maintain confidentiality, we assign a company number to the data and maintain the company ownership information in a separate secure database after it comes from the website database. Our reporting software (Microsoft Binder) and our statistical database (Statistica) do not have company information included - just the company number.
4. Our website is a secure website allowing confidential information to be entered without fear of compromise.
5. All paper data received (via fax or mail) is destroyed six (6) months after publication of the report.
6. Only selected individuals within our Plastics Industry Team have access to the program necessary to review and analyze the data, all of whom will be directed and required to maintain the disclosed subject matter in confidence with the stated nondisclosure rules of this pledge.
7. You understand the data collected will be compiled in a report by quartile and shared with other participants. In no circumstances will any individual participant's information be identifiable in the compiled data. The compilation of data does NOT constitute direct use.

The above procedures and obligations are accepted upon the understanding that we would not be liable for the disclosure or use of the Company's proprietary or confidential information or trade secrets which are already in the public domain, or until such time that they are placed in the public domain by any party other than us.