Unless otherwise stated, entries should be from the UK or Ireland only.
Entry Deadline 30th June 2023
Categories 2023
Apprentice or Trainee Award of the Year
The category is open to all companies in the UK an Ireland plastics industry - suppliers, processors, OEMs - who have apprentices or trainees and to academic establishments.
The judges will be looking for measurable results in areas such as academic achievements, skills development and overall performance in the workplace. An individual who goes above the call of duty, shows high levels of initiative and is pro active within their own environment.
Each person must be entered by his or her training establishment or company. Companies will need to demonstrate the strategy behind an apprenticeship and demonstrate career planning. A headshot of the individual will need to be uploaded with the entry. An online interview with the judges will be arranged during July/August.
£500 Prize Money for the Winner of the award kindly donated by the Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMMDA)

Best Business Initiative of the Year
This award is open to UK and Ireland processors (manufacturers of components or finished products using plastics materials) and suppliers which can demonstrate real business growth through a range of enterprising initiatives, while keeping in mind the sustainability and circular ambitions of the industry today.
For example, new business development, export growth, entering new markets, customer care initiatives, quality programmes, innovative marketing strategies, taking advantage of external help and advice, implementing management/planning software, improving supply chain management and so on.

Best Product Design of the Year
This award covers product designs for all markets, consumer and industrial . Entries are encouraged from product designers and design engineers at consultancies, processors, collaborators and end-use companies. An important aspect is how well the design incorporates the principles of design for sustainability. This category is open to UK and Ireland product designs which may include an international element.


Best Recycled Plastic Product of the Year
The aim of this category is to raise awareness and showcase the latest product innovations and designs for recycled plastics. The award further recognises the progression in the applications of recycled plastics, and presents a real opportunity for the industry to demonstrate their commitment to the environment and saving resources through the use of recycled materials.
Sustainability Initiative of the Year
This award recognises companies and initiatives making the sector more sustainable and have made a significant improvement in their sustainability commitment with successfully implemented sustainability initiatives. The judges are looking for examples of initiatives that reduce energy, increase recycling, demonstrate innovation, make positive environmental impacts and have led to real measurable benefits.

Best Technology Application of the Year
This award recognises companies from the UK and Ireland that have instigated, developed or applied innovative technologies that contribute to today’s sustainability goals. It is open to organisations or companies which can demonstrate how they have gained tangible benefits through genuine plastics materials or processing innovations. The judges will be looking for quantifiable benefits in areas such as production efficiency, quality standards, product performance or profitability
Best Training and Development Programme of the Year
This award is open to companies and organisations in the UK and Ireland which view the development of skills as an integral part of their own development. The judges will be looking for investment in training, examples of effectiveness, good appraisal and personal development programmes that help promote the goal of sustainable employability within the industry.
Materials Innovation Award
This award recognises innovation and forward-looking vision to company’s delivery of (new) services, processes or products to the market. The judges will be looking at the company’s ability to leverage innovative thinking into successful new products, processes or services able to meet (unmet) needs in the market, while engaging constructively with its customers and/or the community. Open to UK and Ireland.
This may refer to:
- the raw materials producer’s technical sophistication, i.e. development/implementation of sustainable new or leading-edge technologies;
- new or different ways of working;
- leadership in addressing technical and/or societal challenges regarding plastics production.
Aspects the judges will be looking at:
- creativity, for example in the development of novel products, services, use of resources;
- solution-oriented thinking when confronted with challenges (e.g .regulatory issues, force majeure);
- the relevance, benefits and impact of the innovation in the market;.
- end-of-life options.
This award is open to processors (manufacturers of finished components and products using plastics materials) and OEMs processing in-house which are able to demonstrate to the judges their overall excellence.
Plastics Industry Ambassador Award
This award will be presented to an inspirational individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the UK / Ireland plastics industry. This category is open to industry professionals and individuals dedicated to advancing the plastics industry. Please nominate individuals you feel would be worthy of such an honour.
Note: You are not able to nominate yourself.
Processor of the Year
This award is open to UK and Ireland processors (manufacturers of finished components and products using plastics materials) and OEMs processing in-house which are able to demonstrate to the judges their overall excellence. Entry into at least one other category is expected in addition to entering this overall category, as it would give the judges an opportunity to understand more about the company’s areas of excellence.
The judges will be looking for leading sustainable performances across a number of areas, which could include business enterprise and growth, technical innovation, people development, manufacturing efficiency, customer relations or addressing environmental concerns. In other words, the company needs to be an all-round world-class processor.


Rising Star
The Rising Star Award is intended to recognise an emerging leader in the UK and Ireland plastics industry whose record reflects ongoing and exceptional growth, increased levels of leadership, responsibility, and sphere of impact. While eligible nominees have not yet reached a senior- or chief-level position, their track-record reflects a strong career trajectory with the possibility of forward advancement and potential for appointment at the highest levels in the industry.
Self nominations are not permitted.
It is the responsibility of the nominator to summarise the nominee's achievements, growth and accomplishments in sufficient detail to document why this individual should be considered as a "rising star" in the plastics industry.
Nominations must contain sufficient information to inform the judges, without additional research .
Supplier Partnership - Ancillary Machinery
Supplier partnership categories enable businesses of any size, large or small, from the UK and Ireland to show how they can work effectively, productively and sustainably with a customer on a particular project in their part of the plastics industry. These particular awards recognise companies who supply goods and services to plastics processors and examine the work they do during and after the life of a project. This may include multiple partnerships and collaborations within a supply chain. If you are entering this category you should try and tell us as much about the partnerships and how this brought the project into being as you can.


Supplier Partnership - Prime Machinery
Supplier partnership categories enable businesses of any size, large or small, from the UK and Ireland to show how they can work effectively, productively and sustainably with a customer on a particular project in their part of the plastics industry. These particular awards recognise companies who supply goods and services to plastics processors and examine the work they do during and after the life of a project. This may include multiple partnerships and collaborations within a supply chain.
If you are entering this category you should try and tell us as much about the partnerships and how this brought the project into being as you can.


Supplier Partnership - Toolmaker
Supplier partnership categories enable businesses of any size, large or small, from the UK and Ireland to show how they can work effectively, productively and sustainably with a customer on a particular project in their part of the plastics industry. These particular awards recognise companies who supply goods and services to plastics processors and examine the work they do during and after the life of a project. This may include multiple partnerships and collaborations within a supply chain. If you are entering this category you should try and tell us as much about the partnerships and how this brought the project into being as you can.


Unsung Hero
Do you have a member of staff who works tirelessly for your organisation, who always goes the extra mile, but who doesn’t make a big song and dance about it? Is there someone in your company, whether they work on the shop floor, the boardroom, or anywhere in-between, who you think should get much wider recognition for what they do for the business?
If the answer to these questions is a resounding ‘yes’ then why not nominate them for the Plastics Industry ‘Unsung Hero’ award, to be handed out at the Plastics Industry Awards 2023. Sustainable Plastics magazine is asking companies in the UK plastics industry to put forward a member of staff who always goes out of their way for the business and who you believe deserves greater acknowledgment for their efforts.
Simply submit the name of the employee who you think should be recognised with the ‘Unsung Hero’ award, outlining what he or she does in your company and, in no more than 500 words, tell us why you think they should win. It doesn’t matter if they are young or old. It doesn’t matter if they have worked for your company for a couple of years or a couple of decades¹; the overriding factor will be the difference they make to your business.
Open to UK and Ireland.