In a letter addressed to its members, the PM praised 'the vital role that plastics play in just about every facet of our daily lives'.
He said the plastics industry is contributing enormously to its transition to a greener economy, through developing and supplying low carbon products.
He also paid tribute to 'the energy and enterprise of thousands of small and medium sized businesses in the plastics and other sectors' in helping the Government to rebalance the economy.
£18bn turnover
Speaking to FoodProductionDaily.com, Philip Law, public and industrial affairs director, BPF, said the industry employs 180,000 people with a turnover of about £18bn.
“PM David Cameron’s comments recognise the size and importance of the UK plastics industry,” he said.
“It would be difficult to envisage supermarket retailing on the scale it is today without the availability of plastics packaging in so many guises.”
Video tribute
The letter follows a video tribute to the BPF from Dr Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in June.
Peter Davis, director general, BPF, added Cameron's letter is a ‘top-level endorsement’ of the strategic importance of the UK plastics industry to the national economy and society and is a marker of the high profile the BPF has secured in Westminster.
The Federation will hold its 80th Anniversary Gala Dinner at the London Lancaster Hotel on October 11 with a Golden Era of Hollywood theme.