BPF and SPRA host Parliamentary reception on plastics and rubber in the circular economy at Holyrood

Published: 25th November 2025

The British Plastics Federation (BPF), in conjunction with the Scottish Plastics & Rubber Association (SPRA), hosted a Parliamentary Reception at The Scottish Parliament building (Holyrood) in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.

The event, titled “Plastics and Rubber in the Circular Economy” was held in order to highlight the vital role of plastics and rubber in Scotland’s circular economy. It was kindly hosted by Kenneth Gibson MSP (MSP for Cunninghame North) and featured a keynote speech from Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy who provided speeches alongside Philip Law (Director General, BPF) and Isy Ferguson (President, SPRA).

BPF and SPRA Parliamentary Reception
L-R: Philip Law (Director General, BPF), Isy Ferguson (President, SPRA), Gillian Martin (Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy)

The event, attended by around 100 representatives from plastics and rubber companies from across BPF and SPRA membership, provided a valuable opportunity for the industry to engage with policymakers and raise key issues at the highest level in the Scottish Government.

As part of the event, the BPF and SPRA launched a new 12-page ‘Key Political Request’ document, setting out the sector’s main policy priorities.

About the event BPF Director General Philip Law commented:

“Our 12-page Key Political Request document that we created for the event was very well received by those in attendance. It clearly highlighted the three key asks we have as an industry:
– recognition of the critical role of plastics;
– building on the recycling infrastructure; and
– developing medium- to long-term competitiveness within the sector.”

He added:

“The plastics industry is a key part of the economy in Scotland. There are over 7,500 people directly employed in the sector, with a further 13,400 indirectly employed and reliant on the sector for income. The industry in Scotland turns over £1.9bn and is made up of 336 companies.”

Isy Ferguson, President of the SPRA, underlined the importance of plastics in delivering Scotland’s climate goals and the need for investment in skills and infrastructure in her speech when she stated:

“Scotland simply would not achieve its climate ambitions without plastics – the problem is not plastic, it is waste. With the right systems, plastic waste becomes the feedstock for the circular economy.

If Scotland wants a circular economy, it must build and educate for one through investment in recycling infrastructure, regional recovery based on national standards, policy based on industrial strategy and education that values resources rather than vilifies them.

Scotland has no dedicated polymer training facility and the lack of one is limiting company growth. Despite inward investment and world-leading innovation, the ageing workforce and subsequent skills gap impact the ability of the industry to maximise the opportunity we have.”

Host Kenneth Gibson MSP stressed the strategic importance of the sector to Scotland:

“The Scottish plastics industry is vital for national and economic security and I share the industry’s desire for innovation and growth. Plastics are used in every sector of the economy and are a lightweight, durable and valuable resource. I know the industry is keen to work with the Scottish Government on building the foundations for a truly circular economy”.

Kenneth Gibson MSP

The BPF and SPRA’s key asks were directly recognised in the keynote address from Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin who said:

“I want to acknowledge the specific priorities raised by the British Plastics Federation and the Scottish Plastics and Rubber Association and their calls for recognition of the strategic importance of plastics to the Scottish economy.

Modern life can’t function without plastics. In general, everything we touch, every room we are in, every vehicle we are in, many of the things we are wearing rely on plastic.

However it is essential that plastics should not be thought of as waste – but as a resource to be reused and recycled to help us deliver a truly circular economy.”

Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin

The reception concluded with a shared commitment from industry and policymakers to continue working together on skills, infrastructure and policy to support a thriving, competitive and increasingly circular plastics and rubber sector in Scotland.

Download the document "2025 Key Policy Requests for the Scottish Plastics Industry' HERE