Nominations now open for Global Label Awards

Nominations are now open for the Labels & Labeling Global Label Awards, set to take place on the opening day of Loupe Americas 2026 (formerly Labelexpo).

The Labels & Labeling Global Awards will recognize winners across four categories: innovation, sustainability, Future Leader and Converter of the Year.

Starting at 4pm on Sept 15 at the Spotlight Stage at Loupe Americas, the ceremony will recognize the industry leaders with a special reception featuring food, drinks and a live DJ. The event is open to anyone attending Loupe Americas 2026.

This is the second year that Labels & Labeling has hosted the Global Label Awards, the first in Barcelona last year. 

Since then, the editorial team has decided to include a new award honoring ‘the young and young at heart.’ The Future Leader award will recognize outstanding early-career professionals who are shaping the future of the label and packaging industry.

‘The introduction of the Future Leader Award recognizes where our industry is headed,’ said Chelsea McDougall, editor of Labels & Labeling. ‘Innovation, adaptability and fresh thinking are coming from a new generation of talent, and it’s critical we recognize and elevate those individuals early in their careers.’

Other awards include: Innovation Award for companies that have developed a specific, groundbreaking innovation, either as a supplier or converter; Sustainability Award, for a sustainable product or process that promotes a circular economy; and Converter of the Year, for a label converting company that demonstrates leadership in operational excellence, business growth, technology and equipment investment, and makes an impact on the wider industry. 

The winners will be selected from the panel of judges, which includes representatives from the Labels & Labeling, Loupe, TLMI, Finat and FTA. 

The judges are: Andy Thomas-Emans, strategic director at Loupe and Labels & Labeling; Chelsea McDougall, editor of Labels & Labeling; Mark Glendenning, CEO of Inland Packaging and chairman of TLMI; Dana Kilarska, CEO of Purgina and incoming president of Finat and Shan Oetjen, director of operational excellence at Meyers, and an FTA executive board member.

The journalists at Labels & Labeling will first evaluate both the nominations received and select additional entries based on news coverage and industry impact reported by the magazine throughout the year. 

Tasha Ventimiglia, Group Director of Loupe Americas, said: ‘Loupe Americas 2026 is proud to support the second Labels & Labeling Global Label Awards. The awards celebrate the companies and individuals who are not only adapting to change but setting the benchmark for excellence across the global label and packaging community.’

Entries close on June 2. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination. 

Loupe Americas 2026 takes place at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center from Sep 15-17.