Kavalan celebrates sustainable, PVC-free wide-format print projects during a ceremony on their stand
Kavalan has revealed the winners of its 2026 Green Leader Awards during a presentation on day two of the FESPA Global Print Expo in Barcelona. Held on Stand A135 in Hall 3 on Wednesday 20 May, the event marks the second year of the awards programme, which was launched in 2025 to recognise large-format print service providers utilising PVC-free materials to deliver high-quality, sustainable graphics.
An expanded international judging panel evaluated this year’s entries, with returning sustainability experts Marcus Timson, Steve Lister, and Nick Widdowson joined by Lucy Swanston and Jack Gocher. The panel assessed entries based on material innovation, environmental advantages, visual impact, and durability in challenging display environments.
The winners across the six distinct 2026 categories are:
- The Powerhouse Award: Awarded to UK-based print specialist 2601 for a project at the Royal United Hospital Bath Children’s Department. Utilising Kavalan Gecko wall covering material supplied by distributor CMYUK, the project transformed a clinical space into an immersive, low-anxiety environment whilst meeting strict healthcare performance criteria.
- The Wrap Star Award: Presented to Groupe MediaGraphic in France for a large-scale out-of-home building wrap at the La Gacilly Photo Festival. Printed on Kavalan Sunlight Weldable 330 DG banner material, the project was praised by judge Jack Gocher for maintaining exceptional print clarity and visual impact under close public inspection without relying on traditional PVC materials.
- The Green Spirit Award: Won by Neon-Lichtdesign Rigotti AG in Switzerland for an open-air gallery installation at the landmark VIADUKT Zurich. Using Kavalan Spiderweb L!ner supplied by Frischknecht, the printed scaffolding materials were subsequently upcycled into handcrafted bags, creating a closed-loop end-of-life solution that eliminated waste.
- The Innovation Award: Secured by Blue Rhine in the UAE for its 3DB Golf Day Project. The team created a fully branded, PVC-free outdoor golf course environment using Kavalan Sunlight 280GB and Spiderweb mesh, prioritising post-event component reuse and waste minimisation.
- The Judge’s Choice Award: A new category for 2026 designed to recognise a standout submission. This went to Niggemeyer Pro Imaging in Germany for its climate change educational exhibition at Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The outdoor installation used Kavalan Butterfly and Spiderweb media supplied by com2C to withstand demanding outdoor conditions.
- The Kavalan Champion Award: Selected directly by the manufacturer to honour long-term industry advocacy, this was presented to German media supplier com2C for its corporate commitment to advancing PVC-free alternatives across the European wider-format print sector.
Nova Abbott, Head of Marketing at Kavalan, said, “The Kavalan Green Leader Awards celebrate the creativity and impact of large-format print projects produced using PVC-free materials, proving that sustainability doesn’t have to come at the expense of quality or performance. The awards also recognise the businesses helping lead the industry towards a more sustainable future and inspire others to do the same.”
The ongoing growth of the awards highlights a broader shift within the large-format print sector, as brands and print buyers increasingly demand detailed environmental data alongside high physical performance for short-term and long-term external marketing campaigns.