The UK Plastics Industry: A Strategic Manufacturing Sector
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The Plastics Industry is a manufacturing sector of critical importance to the future of the UK economy. Plastics products are widely used in practically every business sector with key beneficial properties. It is a global leader and a key UK economic strength. The Plastics Industry enables other user industries and services such as retail, construction, healthcare and transport to function, develop profitably and innovate. With a combined turnover of over £19 billion, the UK remains one of the top 5 processors of plastics in the EU with some 4.8 million tonnes of materials processed every year. There are over 3,000 primary processors and 7,500 companies in the UK Plastics Industry employing over 180,000 people, equating to 7% of all employees in the UK manufacturing sector. However, despite its massive contribution as an 'enabling industry', the plastics sector is largely an invisible and underappreciated industry. The BPF works tirelessly to promote the strategic importance of the UK Plastics Industry and over the past few years, BPF Staff and Members have met with a number of significant politicians and leading business executives including; Chancellor of the Exchequer and Conservative MP for Tatton, George Osbourne, Shadow Minister for Competitiveness and Enterprise and MP for Hartlepool, Iain Wright, former Foreign Secretary the Rt.Hon Jack Straw MP, John Cridland, Director General of the CBI and many more. By utilising a document entitled ‘The UK Plastics Industry: A Strategic Manufacturing Sector – Key Strategic Themes 2013-15’, industry representatives are able to demonstrate to political stakeholders the importance of the Plastics Industry to the UK, to help shape their thinking on industrial policy and to spell out the support our industry needs to enable it to release its full potential. |
2015 Activities
BPF Members Meet Parliamentarians...
2013/2014 Activities
BPF Meets The Chancellor of the Exchequer
BPF Members Meet Parliamentarians...
BPF Meet Organisations, Parliamentarians and Other Interested Parties...
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Coutts Bank: Erica Goodyer Director, Relationship Management, Philip Watkins BPF President, Robert Norman Specialist Credit Manager and Mike Boswell BPF Vice President |
CBI: Philip Law BPF, John Cridland CBE Director-general CBI and Peter Davis BPF |
Peter Davis, Director General BPF and Nic Dakin MP |
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Peter Davis, Director General BPF and Russell Brown MP
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Philip Watkins, BPF President, Alastair Campbell, Former Director of Communications and Strategy for Prime Minister Tony Blair |
Mr Ho Duc Lam ,Madame Ho Thi Kim Thoa and BPF President , Philip Watlins |
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Peter Davis BPF, Iain Wright MP Shadow Minister for Competitiveness and Enterprise and Philip Law BPF |
Philip Law BPF, Paul Everitt, Chief Executive, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Peter Davis BPF |
Peter Davis BPF, Selçuk Aksoy, Chairmain, Turkish Plastics Industrialist Federation, Tim Marsden BPF |
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Philip Watkins (Gabriel Chemie, Managing Director and BPF President) and Malcolm Harbour CBE MEP |
Voice of the Industry
"This UK plastics industry is the beating heart of the UK manufacturing sector. On top of all this, the processes and products offered by the industry demonstrate not only an acute degree of environmental understanding and sensitivity but also massive achievements in the cause of sustainability." - Philip Watkins, Managing Director, Gabriel-Chemie (BPF President 2011-2013)
"This really is an excellent initiative. Exactly what the BPF should be doing" - David Williams, Deputy Master of the Horners and Chair of EuPC Packaging Division
“It makes one realise just what we rely on in our every-day lives thanks to plastics. The positive side of the industry is the impact on the economy which is enormous, I remember the old saying 'familiarity breeds contempt' which is so true in this case, we take so much for granted!!! Thank you very much” - Cllr Audrey Steel, Wychavon District Council
" With a background in engineering and education, I applaud all that the plastics industry has done in design, recycling and energy recovery. I particularly sympahise with your views on education for the next generation, as industry in general, and plastics in particular, get a poor press in the age of social media and the X Factor " - Cllr Dr Ken Pollock, Worcestershire County Council
