Entries are now being accepted for the annual Label Industry Global Awards. Now in its 12th year, the awards acknowledge and celebrate the valuable achievements individuals and companies make to the wider label industry. Being held on September 29 as part of Labelexpo Europe in Brussels, there are four prestigious awards up for grabs over three categories.

The R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Avery Dennison, will be made to an industry luminary who has worked in the label sector for a minimum of 25 years and made a significant contribution to the sector. Recognizing the pioneering vision and values of Stan Avery, the recipient will join an illustrious list of names including: Suzanne Zaccone of GSI Technologies, Tomas Rink of Ritrama, RotoMetric’s Steve Lee, Helmut Schreiner, Nilpeter’s Lars Eriksen and FLEXcon’s Neil McDonough.

Two separate Awards for Innovation will be presented; one for companies with 300 or more employees and one for companies with less than 300 employees. Sponsored by Flint Group Narrow Web, entries need to be for a specific innovation introduced by a supplier/converter company during 2014 and can either be technology-related, such as a new press or material or be a business product, practice or process to improve sustainability or customer service. Avery Dennison secured the award last year for two innovative products it designed to help converters in tire manufacturing, while Stephanos Karydakis S.A. and Nuova Gidue were joint winners in the smaller company category.

The Award for Sustainability, sponsored by Xeikon will be presented to the company that best demonstrates how it has introduced a specific product or process and maintained the most sustainable and environmentally acceptable working practices into its purchasing and manufacturing operations in 2014. Bio4Life took the accolade in 2014 for its combining of a biodegradable face material with a biodegradable adhesive to provide an EN certified solution for fruit labeling.

Mike Fairley, chair of the judges, comments: “The Label Industry Global Awards shine a light on the outstanding work of label industry suppliers and converters, and the people working for them. Not only does being shortlisted and winning give entrants enormous exposure, it can boost confidence in their business and even aids wider industry best practice. There is no shortage of originality and brilliance in our sector and I deeply encourage those working with in our industry to think about and enter the great work, innovation and impact they’ve achieved in the past year.”

Any company can enter these awards, subject to meeting the entry criteria. Entry is free and submissions need to be received by Wednesday May 27, 2015. Short-listed finalists will be announced in June. Entries can be made online and full details are available at www.labelawards.com.