BPF President astonished that 66 days before the Olympics companies cannot publicise what they supplied

At the British Plastics Federation’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 23rd May, Philip Watkins, President of the British Plastics Federation expressed astonishment that due to LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympics Games)) onerous restrictions on publicity he could not, 66 days away from the Olympics opening ceremony list BPF members success in supplying products to the London Olympics.

Philip Watkins said “The Prime Minister says the Games will “generate at least £1bn for British business”.  But it’s not much good if we can’t talk about our successes.”

“LOCOG seems to have been given unprecedented powers by the last Government.   What the BPF have been pushing for since early April is for LOCOG to release immediately all suppliers and sub suppliers from their contract clauses preventing any publicity or communication.”

Briefed by the BPF, Lord Haskel asked in the House of Lords Olympics debate on Monday “Will the Government make good their rhetoric and take steps to allow British businesses to use the Olympics as a shop window for all the wonderful materials and products they have supplied?”

Baroness Gardener of Frognal replying on behalf of the Government offered no comfort that they could do so before the Olympics take place.  She agreed with
Lord Moynihan Chairman of the British Olympics Association that this may only be possible when LOCOG returns the rights to the British Olympics Association at the end of the year.

Philip Watkins commented “This is useless for our members.  The London Olympics will be past history by then.  The World would have moved on and our role in contributing to the Games design, innovation and sustainability will be forgotten.  An opportunity lost.  We will continue to press for the ban to be lifted.”

Driving down Plastics Industry’s Energy Use

In his speech Philip Watkins the BPF President spoke of “some substantial achievements in reducing energy usage in the Plastics Industry” through the BPF’s Climate Change Agreement with the Government.  The BPF’s CCA with 260 plastic industry sites is the 4th largest out of 54 sector agreements.

Mr Watkins said in 2011 CO2 savings under our CCA were 148,000 tonnes enough to fill Wembley Stadium 66 times.  From the CCA’s start in 2009 CO2 savings total 400,000 tonnes enough to fill Wembley Stadium 178 times.

Mr Watkins said “This is great news for the Environment and helps reduce energy costs in our companies.”        

ENDS

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Notes for editors:

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) is the UK trade association for the plastics industry – representing the whole supply chain including polymer producers, distributors, additives suppliers, machinery manufacturers, processors and recyclers.