Business

British Plastics Federation (BPF) director general Peter Davis encouraged members, including packaging companies, to "look at export opportunities" at the federation's annual general meeting in London yesterday (17 July).

BPF Public and industrial affairs director Philip Law said that there's "a lot to be gained by looking outside of the UK for business opportunities".

 "It's not just a question of exports, it's a question of technical exchanges, licensing technology, manufacturing on green field sites," Law said.

In January 2007 the federation took members to Arabplast in Dubai, and then in October members were taken to Kunststoffe in Düsseldorf, Germany and finally Plast Eurasia in Turkey in December.

Such events give companies the opportunity to "cast their net globally" and also raise the profile of the UK plastic industry internationally, Law added.

Rising energy prices in the UK were also under discussion at the event.

The federation is still awaiting European approval for a BPF climate change agreement to secure 80% discounts for eligible companies, but delegates were told it expects it to be attained in autumn.