At the British Plastics Federation's (BPF, London; www.bpf.co.uk) annual general meeting on 15 May 2019, Martin Althorpe (Epwin Group) was elected as the new president. He takes over from Bruce Margetts (Bericap), who was president for the past two years – see Plasteurope.com of 28.05.2018.

Althorpe has been involved in the BPF's “Windows Group” since it formed in 1981 and has been chairman of this group since 2007. He said he was honoured to be elected president of the UK plastics industry association and noted that the sector “has an impressive track record of producing innovations that have changed people’s lives for the better.”

“It is crucial now that as an industry we work together to ensure we reduce the environmental impact of plastic, adopting sustainable practices widely and effectively. By embracing this principle, our innovative industry will be able to demonstrate its critical role in helping to protect the environment we are all part of,” he added.