Plastics Display at The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS)

Between the 22nd July - 2nd August 2013 the British Plastics Federation mounted a display on plastics and the plastics industry in the reception area of The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) located at 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1.

This was at the invitation of the Department and resulted from the BPF's document  "The UK Plastics Industry: A Strategic Manufacturing Sector".

The display was designed to promote the importance of the UK's plastics industry and the benefits of plastics products to government officials, visitors to the centre and the general public (of which tens of thousands passed by the building during the duration of the show).  

The exhibition was officially opened on the 22nd July by Michael Fallon MP (Minister of State for Business and Enterprise) 

Given the limited space, the need to present a coherent case and to meet the specific needs of civil servants we decided to focus on general industry messages which addressed topical themes of interest to Government.  The main messages were:

• Plastics is a key component of UK manufacturing's DNA
• The commercial plastics industry was created in the UK and we discovered major plastics materials such as the widely used Polyethylene (PE) at one end of the spectrum and specialist PEEK at the other
• UK business - manufacturing, distribution or services - just can't function without plastics
• Plastics is key to paving the way to a low carbon future through energy savings in the use of the products
• The resource efficiency of plastics and their eminent recyclability

BIS TV

Located on large screens positioned behind the main reception was a rolling display promoting some of the innovative plastic products that were featured in the display cabinets that form a key part of the exhibition. 

The UK Plastics Industry: Key Facts

The exhibition featured a display board demonstrating the sheer size and breadth of the UK Plastics Industry. Alongside this display board we located the document "The UK Plastics Industry: A Strategic Manufacturing Sector" which highlights the strategic importance of the plastics industry in national policy making and the wealth of investment opportunities it provides.

Some Facts About Plastics

Plastics Industry Timeline

In order to demonstrate the important role the plastics industry has played over the last 100+ years a "Plastics Timeline" was created which details the many contribution that plastics has made to society over the past century as well as a look into the role plastics will play over the next millennium.

The "Plastics Timeline" was an updated and edited version of the series of posters created by the BPF to celebrate its 80th Anniversary.

"You Can Do It With Plastics"

A central element of the display was two showcases which featured a series of products that illustrated the key properties of plastics and explored the design freedom and the beneficial impact plastics has on society. 

The display was commissioned by the BPF and curated by The Museum of Design in Plastics (MODIP) a research resource of the Arts University Bournemouth.

The items in the cabinets were chosen based around eight themes: flexibility, recycling, living hinges, sustainability, colour, enablement, buoyancy and insulation:

Flexibility
The flexibility of which plastics are capable has transformed the design of product containers and the delivery of liquids whether for practical use or consumption.

Recycling
Plastics can be recycled into new products saving on raw materials and diminishing the need for landfill. They can also be burnt to create energy. The neck-piece was 100% handmade from used plastic bags. The swimming trunks contain 80% recycled Nylon.

Living hinges
Plastics can create integrally moulded hinges linking two or more rigid parts in a single manufacturing process, thus reducing production costs. The colander shown has twelve living hinges.

Sustainability
Plastics take less energy to make and are lighter than most other materials. Thus they cut the cost of manufacture, transport and on-site labour costs. They are not subject to volatile price increases, thus in the case of pipes the threat of theft is eliminated and they do not corrode.

Colour
Plastics have had a major impact on the palette of design. Many plastics are colourless. Pigments are mixed with the raw material prior to moulding making the colour integral to the form.

Enablement
Plastics can be combined with other materials to create materials with properties that are more than the sum of their parts. For example, combined with D3O a material with intelligent molecules that flow with you as you move but lock on impact absorbing energy, they can protect against injury; combined with thermochromic pigments they can sense heat .

Buoyancy
Plastics can contain air by being expanded or blown up and thus assist buoyancy. The SwimFin® aims to position the child in a better swimming position in the water compared with more traditional buoyancy aids.

Insulation
The excellent resistance to heat and electrical current of many plastics has contributed to the safety with which electricity is used and thus how it has transformed our lives. It is the default material for insulating electric wires; for the fittings and casings of electrical products; and for the printing of electronic circuit boards.

Window Display

Due to the strategically important location of 1 Victoria Street (a stones throw from the House of Commons and Westminster Abbey) the foot traffic outside was huge with thousands of people passing each day.

Specially commissioned posters were positioned in the windows to promote the benefits of plastics to society.

The posters were as follows...

If you would like to download these posters please click here

Welcome Message from Vince Cable MP

A video message from Vince Cable (Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills) to the British Plastics Federation on the occasion of it's 80th Anniversary (1933-2013) was featured along with a congratulatory message written by Mr Cable congratulating the BPF on it's Anniversary and highlighting the key role played by the Federation in promoting the British plastics industry on a global stage. 

The exhibition will be open until Friday 2nd August.