L&L Global Award winners announced

The winners of the 2026 Labels & Labeling Global Awards have been announced, recognizing achievements in innovation, sustainability, business development and industry leadership.

The awards were presented during a ceremony at Loupe Americas 2026, with winners selected across five categories: Converter of the Year, Innovation, Sustainability, split into two sub-categories for converter and supplier and the newly introduced Future Leader award.

Converter of the Year

Steinhauser was named Converter of the Year ahead of fellow finalists Catapult Print and Hub Labels.

The judges praised the Kentucky-based converter’s ability to adapt across successive generations while also highlighting president Tara Halpin’s leadership, the culture she has developed within the business and the company’s longstanding participation in industry associations.

‘If you look at what the company started as compared with what it is doing today, Steinhauser has reinvented itself around three times across three very different label platforms,’ said Glendenning. ‘It has gone from offset cut-and-stack labels into blow mold, shrink sleeves and pressure-sensitive labels. The story is fantastic.’

Shawn Oetjen, director of operational excellence at Meyers and a member of the FTA executive board, added: ‘It is not just the company; it is the culture Tara has created there. You do not see that very often.’

Catapult Print was recognized for its technology-led production model, and an honorable mention goes to Hub Labels after it impressed the judges for its development and involvement in both TLMI and FTA.

Innovation

AVT received the Innovation award for its Helios varnish inspection module. The technology enables converters to inspect clear varnish during high-speed production, addressing an application that can be difficult for operators and conventional inspection systems to identify reliably.

AVT was selected ahead of Cerm’s Lexis AI assistant and Esko’s CDI Quartz ecosystem.

‘When you are running a press at high speeds, it is difficult to see that varnish,’ said Oetjen. ‘I have experienced reruns because it was missed, so from a converting standpoint, this is impactful.’

Andrew Thomas-Emans, strategic director of Loupe Global and chair of the judging panel, said AVT’s entry addressed a genuine production problem and was already supported by installations in the field.

The judges also praised Cerm for presenting a practical use of artificial intelligence, using its Lexis AI assistant to interpret unstructured customer emails and convert job information into structured data. Esko’s CDI Quartz ecosystem was also recognized for delivering consistent UV LED exposure across the flexographic plate surface.

Sustainability: converter category

Brook + Whittle won the Sustainability award for the converter category for its GreenLabel BlockOut recyclable light-blocking shrink sleeve.

The technology is designed to deliver the light-blocking performance required for sensitive products while supporting the container's recyclability. Judges felt it could have a significant impact by placing necessary practical elements within the label rather than compromising the recycling of the main packaging component.

‘Brook + Whittle’s solution allows the container to remain more recyclable,’ said Glendenning. ‘The container typically represents far more material than the label, so this addresses an important issue within the overall recycling system.’

Oetjen added: ‘If I look at the total impact on packaging, Brook + Whittle’s development has the potential to make a substantially larger contribution to sustainability as a whole.’

Desmedt Labels received special recognition for its integrated sustainability reporting and reduction framework. The judges underlined the converter’s work to embed sustainability measurement throughout its operations and to prepare for growing reporting requirements under European legislation.

Thomas-Emans described Desmedt Labels’ work as ‘a pioneering effort’, adding: ‘The company is getting ahead of the curve and working out how these reporting systems will need to operate.’

Holostik was also shortlisted for Paperogram, its paper-based holographic product.

Sustainability: supplier category

Siegwerk received the sustainability award for the Supplier category for the high-barrier mono-layer polypropylene pouch it developed with Enplater.
The panel said the development addresses one of the central challenges facing flexible packaging, delivering the required barrier and sealing properties without laminating multiple dissimilar materials together.

Siegwerk’s coatings allow those to be incorporated into a mono-material structure, improving its compatibility with recycling systems.

Glendenning said: ‘The challenge with flexible packaging has historically been that functionality is created by laminating different plastics and foils together, rendering the finished structure difficult to recycle. Mono-material structures and coatings are where flexible packaging needs to go.’

The panel also highlighted the technology’s potential relevance to narrow- and mid-web converters entering the flexible packaging market, particularly if functional coatings can be applied in-line and on demand.

Oetjen added: ‘This has the potential to make a massive impact. It is a game changer for the recyclability of flexible packaging.’

Siegwerk was selected ahead of Actega’s ACTExact black algae ink and DuPont Cyrel’s ReNew plate series.

Future Leader

Rachel Jackson, vice president of operations at Columbine Label, received the inaugural Future Leader award.

The judges highlighted Jackson’s contribution to the family-owned converter, as well as her involvement in the wider industry. Jackson co-chairs TLMI’s Membership Committee and has been involved in the association’s Label Leaders of Tomorrow program.

Mark Glendenning, owner and CEO of Inland and chair of TLMI, said: ‘Rachel has high expectations as a future TLMI leader. She has stepped into the co-chair position on our Membership Committee and has done a really nice job. She has been a very active participant in Label Leaders of Tomorrow and is an excellent choice.’

The panel also recognized Jackson as part of the next generation of leadership at Columbine Label, where she works alongside her father, Greg Jackson.

Glendenning added: ‘It is a good story about a second-generation leader in a family-owned business. With so much private equity activity taking place in our industry, it is nice to recognize an independent company.’

Judging panel

The winners were selected by a panel comprising Andrew Thomas-Emans, strategic director of Loupe; Mark Glendenning, president and CEO at Inland; Dana Kilárska, CEO of Purgina and president of Finat; Shawn Oetjen, director of operational excellence at Meyers; and Chelsea McDougall, managing editor of Labels & Labeling.

McDougall said: 'The selection process for this year’s Labels & Labeling Global Awards was especially challenging. We received a high volume of entries that set an exceptionally high bar for innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence across the label and package printing value chain. The winners represent the best of the best in their field, and the recognitions are well deserved.'

Thomas-Emans commented: 'It was a real pleasure to chair this judging panel. As well as representing TLMI, Finat and FTA, Mark, Dana and Sean all brought to bear their extensive real-world experience as label and package print converters, which is invaluable in choosing winning technologies that move the industry forward in the real world. 

'The breadth of entries, from breakthrough inspection technologies to recyclable materials and standout converter performance, shows an industry innovating at pace and scale, highlighting a deep commitment to excellence. Many congratulations to all winners and finalists.'