Hub Labels wins awards at TLMI Annual Meeting

Maryland-based Hub Labels received the Calvin Frost Sustainability Leadership Award at the Elevation level during the 2026 TLMI Annual Meeting, held October 25-27 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The converter also earned three awards during the TLMI Printing Excellence Awards competition, announced during the last evening of the meeting.

Presented by TLMI, the Calvin Frost awards honor sustainability champion Frost and recognize companies demonstrating leadership in environmental responsibility. Elevation is the highest of the program’s three tiers, reserved for companies with fully developed sustainability strategies and measurable environmental and social impact.

Hub previously earned Elevation honors in 2020 and 2021, as well as TLMI’s Environmental Leadership Award in 2017, before the program was renamed in honor of Calvin Frost.

Hub’s award submission highlighted improvements achieved between 2024 and 2025: 69 perent less VOC emissions (458 lbs to 143 lbs), 57 percent less hazardous solvent waste, 11 percent less landfill waste (115,860 lbs), 40,654 lbs more material recycled and 64,700 kWh saved per year on compressed air.

Much of this progress was guided by Hub’s participation in the Maryland MEP Energy Management & Sustainability Assessment program, funded through Maryland Energy Administration programs. The assessment provided a five-year roadmap to help the company identify opportunities for greater energy efficiency and long-term sustainability.

Since completing the assessment, Hub has converted three printing presses to LED curing, upgraded its parking lot and exterior lighting to LED fixtures, installed smart thermostats and replaced the HVAC units serving its ink room. The company also implemented a smaller 30 HP air compressor for off-hours operation, allowing its larger 60 HP unit to shut down overnight and significantly reduce energy consumption.

Beyond environmental improvements, the Elevation award also recognizes social responsibility and employee engagement. Hub’s submission highlighted its employee wellness initiatives, Summer Fridays program, quarterly charitable activities, tree-planting efforts, Adopt-a-Highway participation and employee recycling education led by its waste management partner.

In addition to its sustainability recognition, Hub Labels earned three awards in TLMI’s 49th Annual Printing Excellence Awards competition, which celebrates technical achievement and craftsmanship in label printing.

Its WWII B-17 Bomber label won first place in the promotional and extended content category. This is a double-sided museum souvenir label featuring a full-color photograph on the front and detailed historical text on the back. Producing the design required precise control of fine highlight dots to maintain smooth sky gradients, along with accurate front-to-back registration.

Its Case 1 Rum 250th Edition label received first place in the wine and spirits category. This label features foil stamping and embossing, both precisely registered to fine typography and detailed artwork.

Hub's Bigfoot Bourbon Whiskey label won second place in the wine and spirits category. This label features a registered spot matte varnish that adds dimension and contrast to the finished design.

Thomas Dahbura, president at Hub Labels, said: 'Exciting couple of days capped off with some wins. These are always a testament to the team I’m humbled to lead that believes in print and our goal to leave the earth a better place than we found it. Proud to be bringing these home.'