CPI director general Dr Martin Oldman said that from 1 January members of the current associations would become direct company members of the CPI. The make-up of the new CPI had taken 20 months to come to fruition, he said, adding: We want to avoid any baggage being carried forward.

As the CPI develops, Oldman said it could invite other compatible trade associations to become associate or full members. These could include allied trade buyers and suppliers.

By no means will it be an exclusive church, and we will welcome one and all, Oldman said.

Its member associations currently include the Association of Manufacturers of Soft Tissue Papers, the British Recovered Paper Association, the Corrugated Packaging Association, and The Paper Federation of Great Britain.

A CPI Council will be established, comprising two members from each sector body. The council will establish policy, approve and monitor annual budgets, and approve and monitor annual activity plans.

Member associations will become constituent sector bodies within the CPI, and in turn they will also be in charge of their own annual budget and activity plan.

They will also be required to identify the needs of members not catered for within the CPIs own activity plan.

Story by Andy Scott