The BPF Horners Awards
The prestigious BPF Horners Awards are hosted every year by the Worshipful Company of Horners and British Plastics Federation. The awards promote excellence and innovation in the plastics and polymer industries and include what is thought to be the oldest design award for plastics in the world, the BPF Horners Award for Plastics Innovation and Design, which was created in 1946. The first competition was subsequently then held in 1947.
This Award is believed to be the longest established design award for plastics in the world. It is a cornerstone of the industry as the activities associated with the award support design and education in the plastics industry.
The awards are now bigger and better than ever before. In 2002, a second award, for products formed through blow-moulding, was introduced (the Bottlemakers Award), followed more recently by the David Williams Award for Social Contribution through Plastics.
Why Enter?
Winners of the awards receive:
 An invitation to the prestigious Horners Annual Banquet at Mansion House where you will be commended for your innovation |
| An official certificate and engraved horonary trophy |
| A digital winners badge to display on your website as you wish |
| A dedicated BPF press release highlighting your innovation, company, and achievement |
| Potential to feature in the BPF list of 'Top Innovations' 2025 |
| Your company and product will be promoted across the BPF and Horners social media |
Awards You Can Win:
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Innovation and Design Award Any innovation which contains/relates to a polymer (for example: plastic products, processes, machinery, concepts...etc.) Deadline for entries: 30 June 2026 |
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Bottlemakers Award for Plastic Packaging Deadline for entries: 30 June 2026 |
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David Williams Award Deadline for entries: 30 June 2026 |
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BPF Horners Award for Plastics Innovation and Design
Established in 1946, this is reputed to be the oldest design award for plastics in the world.
ENTRY CRITERIA
• Any outstanding innovation in polymer-based product, process or machinery can be eligible for this award.
• The entry must have significant UK content in Design, Materials or Manufacture and a proven record of, or potential for, commercial success.
• The entry must demonstrate aspects relating to sustainability, such as being made from recycled and recyclable materials or addressing the reduction in carbon emissions during the production process.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
• All entries must be submitted using the form found here and must include:
• A concise description OF NO MORE THAN 250 words, together with a justification for consideration of the entry for the award. A link may also be added for the judges to view a website that may contain additional details.
• Entries should include a sample (where practical) and photographs/drawings where appropriate, sent to the BPF. Video entries are also recommended.
• Winners of the award, or their representatives, should be available to be presented at The Mansion House Banquet on October 2026.
Bottlemakers Award For Plastic Packaging
In 1467 The Worshipful Company of Horners’ merged with the Bottlemakers Company (who made bottles from leather) and in October 2002, at the Interplas Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham, they announced a new annual Award for Bottlemaking.
ENTRY CRITERIA
• Entries for this award must be a plastic bottle, jar or hollow container, with closure, made by any process, including extrusion blow, injection blow, injection stretch blow, injection moulding, rotational moulding or vacuum forming.
• The entry must have significant UK content in Design, Materials or Manufacture and a proven record of, or potential for,commercial success.
• The entry must demonstrate aspects relating to sustainability, such as being made from recycled and recyclable materials or addressing the reduction in carbon emissions during the production process.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
• All entries must be submitted using the form found here and must include:
• A concise description OF NO MORE THAN 250 words, together with a justification for consideration of the entry for the award. A link may also be added for the judges to view a website that may contain additional details.
• Entries should include a sample (where practical) and photographs/drawings where appropriate, sent to the BPF. Video entries are also recommended.
• Winners of the award, or their representatives, should be available to be presented at The Mansion House Banquet on the 3rd October 2025.
The David Williams Award is awarded to those who make a significant social contribution through plastics, for example, in healthcare, nutrition, sustainability, etc.. It was awarded for the first time in 2022 in honour of the late David Williams, a Horners past master (2011) and a leading light in the plastics industry.
ENTRY CRITERIA
• Entries for this award can be for a polymer-based product, process or service that makes a significant contribution to society.
• The entry must have significant UK content in Design, Materials or Manufacture and a proven record of, or potential for, commercial success.
• The entry must demonstrate aspects relating to sustainability, such as being made from recycled and recyclable materials or addressing the reduction in carbon emissions during the production process.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
• All entries must be submitted using the form found here and must include:
• A concise description OF NO MORE THAN 250 words, together with a justification for consideration of the entry for the award. A link may also be added for the judges to view a website that may contain additional details.
• Entries should include a sample (where practical) and photographs/drawings where appropriate, sent to the BPF. Video entries are also recommended.
• Winners of the award, or their representatives, should be available to be presented at The Mansion House Banquet on October 2026
More About The Worshipful Company Of Horners
The Worshipful Company of Horners is both an ancient guild/livery company and also a modern city institution. The first historic reference to the company was recorded in 1284, although the craft of the Horners’ dates for centuries earlier. The company’s original aim was to control the purchase and sale of raw horns within 24 miles of the City of London, alongside controlling the trade by limiting its membership, assuring quality, and controlling the admittance of apprentices.
As the craft of working with horn declined, in 1943 the trade guild had the vision to adopt horn’s modern equivalent, plastics. Today, the Worshipful Company of Horners maintains both its ancient links to the City of London and to the plastics industry as a whole via the British Plastics Federation. Its liverymen hail from many backgrounds, including the legal, financial and polymer sectors and, through its charity and awards, the Company supports STEM education, sustainability in the polymer industries and the disadvantaged in society.
Find out more about the Worshipful Company of Horners and how to join here.
More About The British Plastics Federation
The British Plastics Federation (BPF) is the UK trade association representing the plastics industry. It was founded in 1933 and has since become one of the leading organisations in the UK, providing access to a range of services and resources designed to help businesses succeed in the industry. These include technical and regulatory support, access to industry research and data, and networking opportunities around the entire industry.
With over 600 member companies, including plastics recyclers, polymer suppliers and distributors, additive suppliers, service providers, plastics processors, packaging manufacturers, equipment suppliers and more... the BPF represents over 80% of the UK plastics industry by turnover.
Find out more about the Worshipful Company of Horners and how to join here.
