---
title: "U.K. Plastics Groups Announce Merger"
id: "30983"
type: "post"
slug: "u-k-plastics-groups-announce-merger"
published_at: "2015-11-13T19:39:56+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-16T15:00:34+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/11/13/u-k-plastics-groups-announce-merger/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/11/13/u-k-plastics-groups-announce-merger.md"
excerpt: "Two U.K.-based plastics-industry trade groups with a focus on packaging concerns, the British Plastics Federation and the Packaging and Films Association, recently announced a plan to bring together their more than 70 corporate members under a new name."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Advocacy"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "Advocacy"
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "Business"
  - "industry merger"
  - "plastics"
  - "trade associations"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Executive Leadership"
---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
 » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/)
 » U.K. Plastics Groups Announce Merger

Two associations with a focus on plastics and packaging say they want to build a stronger voice for their industry in the political world, so they’re joining forces.

The combined group, the result of a discussion between the British Plastics Federation (BPF) and the Packaging and Films Association (PAFA), will have more than 70 corporate members, many of them manufacturers.

“This move will create a single, more powerful point of contact with governments across the U.K., will enable us to leverage the combined expertise of both organizations, and will ensure that the communication and services to members are further enhanced,” [PAFA CEO Barry Turner said in a news release (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bpf.co.uk/article/bpf-and-pafa-to-set-up-new-group-for-plastics-and-flexible-packa-958.aspx)
.

The merger, which will be finalized at the beginning of 2016, comes at a time when the British plastics industry hopes to expand its strategic efforts. At BPF’s annual dinner last month—which took place immediately before the merger was announced—[the trade group played up its plans (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bpf.co.uk/article/bpf-annual-dinner-attracts-record-numbers-959.aspx)
 to build a fresh strategy for plastics. Using a grant from the U.K.’s Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills, the association suggested strategies such as reaching out to the country’s design industry, improving collaboration across the supply chain, and raising the industry’s profile.

The merger is definitely one way to pull off that last one.

“The new group will combine the great traditions of both PAFA and the BPF to create a very powerful platform for this industry sector, massively increasing its comparable advantage,” BPF Director General Philip Law said in the news release.

PAFA’s Turner will be the leader of the merged trade group, which will operate under BPF’s infrastructure. A name for the new association has not yet been announced.

(iStock/Thinkstock)

[Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/)

Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now.

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/)

Tags: [#Advocacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/advocacy/)
 [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/)
 [#industry merger](https://associationsnow.com/tag/industry-merger/)
 [#plastics](https://associationsnow.com/tag/plastics/)
 [#trade associations](https://associationsnow.com/tag/trade-associations/)

**Stay Informed**

[Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/)
, *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day.

## You Might Like

- [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Powering Advocacy-Why PACs Matter for AssociationsNovember 20, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/11/20/associations-now-presents-powering-advocacy-why-pacs-matter-for-associations/)
- [PodcastNavigating Tax Reform: Advocacy for Associations and NonprofitsDecember 19, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/12/19/navigating-tax-reform-advocacy-for-associations-and-nonprofits/)
- [VideoASAE Legislative 2025 Fly-InApril 4, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/04/asae-legislative-2025-fly-in/)
- [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/)

## Comments

**Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/)

[Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2015%2F11%2F13%2Fu-k-plastics-groups-announce-merger%2F%23comments)
 to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/)
!