Benefits of membership

What is the British Plastics Federation (BPF) ?

• The British Plastic Federation (BPF) is the voice of the £18 billion Plastics industry which employs over 200,000 people

• The BPF represents over 450 member companies, including raw material suppliers, processors and machinery suppliers

• The BPF promotes the interests of its members principally through its four Market Sector Groups and its many common interest Business Groups

• The BPF Central Expert Committees address industry wide concerns including Environment, Fire, Product Safety and Industrial Health & Safety

Why should you be a member of the BPF Windows Group (BPFWG) ?

As a company involved in the plastics windows industry, can you afford not to be a member of the trade federation that best represents your interests? The BPFWG is the only organisation dedicated to the improvement and growth of the plastics windows industry.  The activites include:

Influencing legalisation affecting plastic windows

The BPF lobbies Government and other external agencies both in the UK and in the EU to help you develop your market.  Issues dealt with include Building Regulations, the environment, product safety, Industrial Health & Safety and the role of standards.  The BPF, on your behalf, is a member of the European Plastics Converters Association (EuPC) and the European PVC Window and related Building Products Association (EPPA).

Influencing the development of technical standards

If you are not involved, you have no influence on the standards that specifiers and consumers will use and with which you will, therefore, be required to conform.

Influencing the development of best practice for you and your customers

The “Guidelines to Good Business Conduct”, produced by the BPFWG enables fabricators/installers to improve their performance, increase customer satisfaction and thereby improve margins throughout the supply chain. These are shortly to be developed to meet with the requirements of the Office of Fair Trading and it is intended to obtain their endorsement. To enjoy the benefits of that endorsement in increased sales and improved margins, it is necessary for you to be members and comply with these Guidelines.

Having the resources of the BPF behind you on major national issues

The BPF provides immediate and influential access to all media to promote a positive image for the industry and to combat scare-mongering and adverse publicity such as the recurring Greenpeace anti PVC campaign.

Members have access to the latest details on building conservation policies through close contact with English Heritage and other bodies. Leaflets are available to members on Replacement Windows and Planning Law.   In order to avoid heavy-handed European legislation, the PVC industry has made a Voluntary Commitment to recycle 25% of post-consumer PVC-U windows from 2003 and 50% from 2005. To influence that you need your voice to be heard. The BPFWG is responsible for this Commitment in the UK and is the place where your voice can be heard to best effect.

You need to be prepared for the future, today

Members are kept up to date on the latest and future developments in standards, marketing and technical issues. The BPFWG influences each relevant forum such as National, European and International Standards and is recognised by all the bodies within the fenestration industry including The British Standards Institution (BSI), the British Board of Agrément (BBA), the Building Research Establishment (BRE), National Quality Assurance (NQA), LHC Building Components (formerly the London Housing Consortium), the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF), the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), the Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB), the Steel Windows Association (SWA), the Association of Builder’s Hardware Manufacturers (ABHM), the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI). It is consulted on government legislation such as changes to the Building Regulations, environmental issues, etc.

The full-time Technical Executive is dedicated to promoting members interests in National, European and International arenas. Members are kept up-to-date with all activities through a monthly newsletter, LOOK OUT!

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