Kavalan has celebrated the winners of its inaugural Green Leader Awards with a Champagne reception on the second day of FESPA Berlin
Leading PVC-free wide-format materials brand Kavalan has celebrated outstanding print projects using its PVC-free materials with its inaugural Green Leader Awards. Announced during a Champagne reception during day two (Wednesday 7th May) of FESPA Berlin on Stand B81, Hall 25, Kavalan presented five awards recognising innovation across five distinct categories.
Entries were judged by a panel of sustainability and print industry experts: Marcus Timson, Co-founder of FuturePrint, driving sustainability in print through industry collaboration and the Sustainability Manifesto; Nick Widdowson, Founder of ShopperFIRST and board member of POPAI UK & Ireland, bringing deep expertise in shopper marketing and sustainability; and Steve Lister, a global sustainability consultant named one of RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Experts 2025, helping brands reduce their environmental impact.
The winners of the Kavalan Green Leader Awards were:
- The Powerhouse Award – Recognising a project that highlights the strength, durability, and weldability of Kavalan’s PVC-free materials. Awarded to Embrace Building Wrapsfor an outstanding, eye-catching building wrap project for IKEA, this project transformed a busy central London construction site into a striking branded landmark using a giant 2,400sq m building wrap for IKEA’s future Oxford Street store.
- The Wrap Star Award – For an outstanding, eye-catching building wrap project, this award was given to Embrace Building Wraps for The Sandhurst Block wrap. Designed as a high-impact, art-led transformation of a former army barracks into a vibrant symbol of future regeneration, the goal was to conceal ongoing construction, celebrate the local community and create a “secret garden” visual experience.
- The Green Spirit Award – For a project that integrates Kavalan materials while taking a broader sustainable approach, this award was given to Blue Rhine for their project creating hoarding and print displays for Emirates Golf Club.
- The Innovation Award – Celebrating a project that showcases exceptional creativity, impact, and use of Kavalan materials, this award was given to Groupe Mediagraphic for a project involving a monumental large-format photographic exhibition spanning across Paris during the Olympics.
- The Kavalan Champion Award – The only award chosen by Kavalan, this award honours a business that champions Kavalan materials and sustainability in wide-format print. The award was presented to CMYUK for their ongoing advocacy for PVC-free alternatives and passion for driving sustainable change within the print industry.
Innovation Award – Judges Comments
“Both the Olympics as an event and brand are unique in their vision and contribution to the world, and this campaign beautifully leveraged that spirit. Not only did it add visual value by dressing otherwise unattractive buildings, but it also aligned with the Olympic commitment to legacy and positive impact. Beyond its aesthetic achievement, the scale of the installation and expertise required were remarkable – reproducing images at such size while maintaining colour fidelity and durability during the hottest months of the year is no small feat.”
Powerhouse Award – Judges Comments
“This entry was clever, impactful, and so on-brand that it stood out as the clear winner for me. Bringing the iconic IKEA bag to life at an enormous scale, right in the heart of busy London, said everything, without a single word. The design was not only challenging to execute but also delivered a message that resonated perfectly with IKEA’s strong commitment to sustainability, all without having to spell it out. It was a bold, brilliant statement that captured attention and hearts alike.”
Nova Abbott, Head of Marketing at Kavalan, adds: “With the Kavalan brand launching at FESPA in 2017, it seemed fitting that we use the event as an opportunity to champion and recognise the incredible applications and projects brought to life using Kavalan’s PVC-free material. The awards are a great opportunity to highlight the fantastic projects being produced with Kavalan materials and to celebrate the strong partnerships we have built with our valuable distributors. Congratulations to all the winners!”
To learn more about the Kavalan range, visit www.goforkavalan.com.