Plastics man pleads case

Press, 8 April 1978, Page 19

Plastics man pleads case

PA Wellington It is imperative that the Government recognises the economic contribution of the plastics industry when New Zealand’s energy strategy is being drafted, says the president of the Plastics Institute (Mr Bob Poff ley).

He told the Lions Club of Birkenhead that contrary to general belief, plastics offered substantial energy savings.

“The difference in kilo-watt-hours consumed to make competitive materials of a given weight were: plastics I.4kW. paper 3.2, glass 3.6, steel 6.3 and aluminium 33.6.

“If our numerous conservationist groups were as responsible as they are voluble, they could easily check the' accuracy of these figures,” said Mr Poffley. “When the Government is finalising its far-reach-ing energy strategy they will undoubtedly take into account the fact that plastics are based directly on the petro-chemical industry, and that petroleum is a fast-diminishing resource, ’ he said. But it was imperative that the industry’s demands on the petrol-chem-ical feedstock were viewed in perspective.

“On a world basis, plastics packaging uses about 0.3 per cent of production. The entire industry uses 1.5 per cent.” Mr Poffley outlined work by the industry to use feedstock formerly

considered unsuitable for plastics, and the use of other fossil fuels.

“In the longer run the availability of light fractions for plastics production will depend on the success of tne very transport and energy policies now being plotted by the Ministry of Energy Resources.” he said.

“These policies will include the preferential utilisation of the cheaper fractions of crude oil less suitable as peiro-cnemical feedstocks, with perhaps greater use of diesel fractions for motor-vehicle fuel or the production of fuel gas from heavy fractions.”

Mr Poffley said the Government energy strategy must recognise the economic contribution of the plastics industry.

“In the last decade, the industry has grown from backyard status to a sophisticated. aggressive industry, from a minimal turnover to more than S2OOM from a minor importer of raw materials to an exporter of 525.3 M annually.

“As a country which depends on the export of primary products for our verv survival, plastics are critical. Plastic packaging has virtually eliminated mould from our cheese exports, while a lucrative market for lamb cuts has been developed in North America largely because of extended shelf-life derived from plastic packaging,” he said.