BPF Annual Review 2025: President's Report
Statement to Members from BPF President Martin Hitchin
Every recent President has commented on the vulnerability of the UK’s Plastics Industry to event risk. With the prevalence of war and tariffs I am no exception.
However, as President I am in a vantage point to witness many positive developments. The first is the sheer survival of the industry and its strength. This is manifested by the continuing growth of BPF membership. 41 new members were added in 2025, and we are pressing forward way past the 600 mark.
This industry is responsible for a high degree of innovation. I was delighted to present the BPF Horners Award to Cubis Systems for their PRO trough 35, an innovative cable protection system.
Plastics Innovation and Design 2025 Winner:
Cubis Systems: PROtrough 350: Reinventing Cable Protection with Polymer Innovation
The David William’s Award was won by Future Makers, a UK first in making furniture from Recycled Polypropylene carpets used in events.
David Williams Award 2025 Winner:
Future Makers: Carpet Creates: A Circular Collaboration between Future Makers, MJ’s Event Services and Blu Sky Technical Service
First Editions won the Bottlemakers Award with their Foamo Coffee Cup, an innovative packaging solution that caught the attention of the Horners committee for its creative approach to everyday packaging challenges.
Bottlemakers Award 2025 Winner:
First Editions Ltd: Foamo Coffee Cup- Redefining Reusable
We have now attracted 22 universities into BPF membership. We hope close links will be forged with BPF manufacturers who will be in a position to exploit innovation.
BPF had 22 Universities in Membership at the end of 2025 (with 25 by April 2026)
Membership growth is also helping us exercise greater political influence. 2025 saw 3 Parliamentary events, the major Westminster event, a breakfast to celebrate the role of Greater Manchester in the development of the plastics industry and the reception in conjunction with the Scottish Plastics & Rubber Association held at Holyrood in Edinburgh. I participated at the event in Manchester myself and the local MP who attended agreed to visit our plant, I strongly urge all members to get close to their local MP and play a part in educating the political community.
We also have a major opportunity to encourage the development of young leaders in our businesses. The BPF Pipes Group is showing the way by creating a forum for bright young people in its member firms to discuss the major issues affecting the industry. Please bring your young people to the BPF’s Annual Dinner, they would certainly be hugely impressed by the size of the industry presence. BPF also has a very active webinar and seminar programme which can help educate our future leaders and play an important part in their formation.
Through my role on the EuPC Board I have been struck by how well received the BPF views are listened to. Post-Brexit it is crucial that we maintain a strong involvement in EU organisations. EU Legislation will affect exporters to the EU and as the UK government becomes more aligned with the EU, it’s legislation could provide role models for our own rules. One view of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is that it could have catastrophic effects when implemented. I am glad to report that overall, the BPF continues to be very is well represented in Europe and looked up to.
The BPF brand has a high profile overseas and can provide considerable help to small firms in particular with access to overseas markets. I have been able to witness first-hand the support provided to members through overseas exhibitions. At the K-Fair in 2025 I saw the high degree of interaction between the staff manning the BPF stand and the surrounding members. I was certainly impressed with the energy applied by BPF staff to link up enquirers with potential suppliers.
The BPF at K2026 in Düsseldorf
BPF has extremely good links with UK government, ranging from weekly meetings to with DBT civil servants to its annual meeting with the Bank of England, where the BPF Council gave presentations sector by sector to Senior members of the bank. This year it was held on July 9th,at the Bank itself. The Bank’s officer who discusses our performance in the economy with us is Lai Wah Co who maintains a close interest in our activities throughout the year. We do owe her a great deal of thanks for her time.
Even in trying times the BPF receives generous financial support from the industry at large. The Annual Dinner in particular is supported by the sponsorship of 14 companies.
We do thank you all for your generosity.
Of course, we cannot operate by ourselves we need the assistance of many other Trade bodies both in the UK and Europe which together constitute a formidable alliance system, thanks to you all for your support. Finally, I would like to thank the BPF staff team for the remarkable work they do on behalf of us all. It’s an extremely difficult job and they certainly deserve our support.
Kind regards
| Martin Hitchin President British Plastics Federation |
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