Plastics take centre stage at London exhibition

Michael Fallon MP, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise has officially opened the BPF’s ‘Plastics the Facts’ exhibition in the foyer at the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills central London headquarters.

The exhibition aims to communicate the 'real facts' about plastics to Ministers, civil servants and government officials housed in the office complex as well as the many civil servants from other government Departments and MPs who visit the building. 

The display mounted by the BPF shows how plastics are key to the success of a vast array of UK manufacturing and service sectors i.e. aerospace, construction, furniture, healthcare, packaging and retail and how the material is helping the emergence of a low carbon economy.

The BPF says the display establishes how the plastics industry is an essential part of the country's manufacturing DNA and how future business in the UK will be impossible without the contribution of plastics.

A central element of the display illustrates the key beneficial properties of plastics such as their lightweight, low conductivity, the energy savings achievable in use and their recyclability. The design freedom of plastics is profiled through two showcases of iconic products supplied by the Museum of Design in Plastics (MODIP) in Bournemouth, specially selected from its unique holdings of plastics historical artefacts.

Additionally, the exhibition features a message from Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, recognising the scale and importance of the £19 billion plastics industry to the UK economy.

With its proximity to Westminster Abbey, it is hoped thousands of tourists will pass by the exhibition this summer. The BPF says key messages about the role of plastics face out into Victoria Street from the BIS foyer widows to inform passers-by about, for example, the role of plastics packaging in reducing food waste.

As the Minister toured the exhibition, Mike Boswell and BPF's immediate Past President were able to discuss two key issues with him - the security of energy supply and the need for greater provision of dedicated training for the plastics processing sector.

The exhibition will be open until Friday 2nd August.