Industry demonstrates strength in large turnout for 77th BPF Annual Dinner

Plastics Industry representatives were out in full force at the British Plastics Federation's (BPF) Annual Dinner on Thursday 14th October in what has been reported as one of the biggest turnouts in recent years.

Despite a turbulent period for the plastics industry, a substantial number of member firms representing the whole supply chain were present at the event which had a staggering ‘30% increase on numbers from the previous year,’ said BPF President, Paul Jukes, speaking at the event.

In his speech, Jukes welcomed the governments’ bid to re-balance the Economy and increase manufacturing but said that ‘they must honour their promise genuinely to reduce regulation and review our rates of tax and ‘must be pressed to lend to our businesses’ – one of the key messages of the letter written by BPF’s Seven Association Alliance to the Chancellor ahead of the Governments Comprehensive Spending Review this week.

Jukes also called for the industry to continue it’s commitment to recycling ‘used plastics’ in order to meet the targets set in the Plastics 2020 Challenge to reduce plastics going to landfill and welcomed the BPF Recycling Council as the newest members of the BPF in their new identity as the BPF Recycling Group from 1st January 2011.

Jukes said, “35 Recyclers will be made welcome within the BPF and we much value the expertise they will bring and the increased influence the BPF will have with our membership embracing all plastics players from: polymer producers, processors, machinery manufacturers and now of course recyclers and many more.”

Brian Mann (pictured above on the left with BPF President, Paul Jukes) a past BPF president and Managing Director at McKechnie Plastics was the winner of the BPF Gold Medal for services to the British Plastics Federation and the Plastics Industry – an award launched at the BPF Annual Dinner.

BPF activities in the last twelve months reported in Juke’s speech include:

• Overseas trade – strong overseas British presence at various exhibitions led by the BPF with 115 companies to the ‘K’ exhibition in Germany this year. The BPF continues to build and develop strong relations with international business leaders.

“Europe is a large market for plastics but it is mature with little growth. For decades the BPF has concentrated efforts on developing business further afield and we welcome the new Government’s push to develop strong economic links with the Middle East, Brazil, China and India.”

• Energy – Huge energy reductions across 268 sites with approximately £7.7million saved as a result of the Climate Change Agreement signed by the BPF. However, more pressure to be applied to government to prevent predicted energy shortages.

“The BPF is still concerned about UK energy supplies meeting demand in 2015-17 as old nuclear and coal fired plants close and will continue to apply pressure on the Government to speed up their replacements and also for more gas storage and more energy from waste.”

• Olympics and Construction – Several member firms have won substantial Olympics 2012 contracts - plastics will be used throughout the stadium; these include PVC. For several years the BPF has ‘had to fight hard to overcome successfully anti PVC bias and show the strong environmental credentials of all our materials.’

“The BPF will meet with the RIBA President to ratify our formal co-operation and discuss the economic climate in construction. Our members in the building and construction sector are having a tough time at the moment and it’s essential to remind key specifiers of the advantages of our materials.”

• Recycling – The BPF responded to the Government’s Waste Strategy Review with partners Plastics Europe and the Packaging and Film Association (PAFA). 40% of plastic bottles are being recycled despite only 78% of local authorities collecting them.

• Litter – The message is clear: We don’t want Plastics landfilled and we don’t want it littered either. The BPF’s Operation Clean Sweep – plastics pellet loss prevention drive is still active, member firms are still welcome to sign up. BPF representatives have been taking part in various media interviews and events to highlight industry commitment to litter reduction and promote key messages.

“A highlight of the plastics industry social calendar, the BPF Annual Dinner is one of the biggest events in the industry and provides guests with the opportunity to network and strengthen existing professional relations. This year’s turnout is a clear signal to industry of the strength and unity that exists in the UK plastics sector,” said BPF Director-General, Peter Davis.


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Notes for editors:


British Plastics Federation (BPF) is the UK trade association for the plastics industry – representing the whole supply chain including polymer producers, distributors, additives suppliers, machinery manufacturers, processors and recyclers.