UK trade associations the British Plastics Federation (BPF) and the Packaging and Films Association (PAFA) are joining together to form a new business group for the plastics and flexible packaging industry. More than 70 manufacturers of plastics and flexible packaging will make up the new group.

Existing members of PAFA will join BPF and with the current members of the BPF's Packaging Group to create a new group for plastics and flexible packaging within the federation's structure. Members of the BPF group are primarily manufacturers of rigid packaging.

BPF's Director General Philip Law said: “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.”

Barry Turner, the CEO of PAFA added: “This move will create a single, more powerful point of contact with governments across the UK, and will enable us to leverage the combined expertise of both organizations and ensure that the communication and services to members are further enhanced.”

The group, under the leadership of Barry Turner, will be fully operational starting January 1, 2016, and will operate within the BPF's legal structure.