The Main Stage in Rotterdam
Winners will be honored during the Print Forward Session in Rotterdam. This high-profile event is attended by over 300 print and distribution specialists at the collaborative World Printers Summit & DistriPress Congress.
The VIP Experience
As a guest of honor, you will be invited to the VIP area of our exclusive World Printers Forum social event on Monday, 5th October. Held at the Rotterdam Zoo, you will have a "front and foremost" view of the stunning shark tank - the perfect backdrop for celebrating your achievement with industry leaders.
Annual Industry Coverage
Your winning project will be featured in our prestigious annual Print & Distribution Report, published in December and distributed to global decision-makers.
The WAN-IFRA Knowledge Hub & Social Reach
Post-event, we will conduct in-depth interviews with winners to be featured on the WAN-IFRA Knowledge Hub. We will also produce and showcase "soundbites" of these recordings across our social media channels, ensuring your innovation reaches a massive digital audience.
Print & Sustainability Awards
Elevate Your Impact
In an era of rapid transformation, the WAN-IFRA Print & Sustainability Awards celebrate the visionaries who are redefining the boundaries of the printed word. These awards are not just a competition; they are a global benchmark for excellence, designed to shine a spotlight on the projects that are driving our industry into a more resilient, creative, and sustainable future.
Inspire the industry
Don't let your best work go unnoticed
Submit your success story and inspire the global media industry.
Submission fee per entry:
€150 (WAN-IFRA Members and non-members)
(Includes structured evaluation, international judging and global benchmarking).
Gundula Ullah
FUNKE MEDIA - Head of Sustainability
From local leader to global benchmark
When Prothom Alo secured two WAN-IFRA 2025 Global Awards, they didn’t just win trophies - they put Bangladeshi journalism on the world map. Azwaj Khan shares how these accolades for Next Gen Reader Engagement and Print Advertising Creativity validated their fearless reporting and fueled a nationwide surge in brand pride. Winning at this level transforms your organization’s reputation, opens doors to global networks, and proves that your local impact deserves an international stage. Don’t let your best work go unnoticed - enter this year and let your success story inspire the world.
Who can enter?
We believe that innovation has no borders and no barriers. These awards are open to the entire media ecosystem. Whether you are a publisher, a printer, a logistics partner, a tech provider, or an advertiser, if you have been involved in a project that fits the remit of our five categories, we want to hear from you.
Award Categories:
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Print-Digital Fusion - Award
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Next Gen Reader Engagement - Award
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Sustainable Print Excellence - Award
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Supply Chain Innovator - Award
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Print Advertising Innovator - Award
There are no limitations: Participation is open to all companies worldwide - you do not need to be a WAN-IFRA member to enter.
Why take part?
Beyond the trophy, entering these awards offers unparalleled international recognition and prestige. It is an opportunity to benchmark your work against the world’s best, boosting your organization’s reputation and validating your team’s hard work on a global stage.
How will this be judged?
To ensure the highest standards of integrity and industry relevance, entries are evaluated by an expert panel of jurors representing every corner of the media ecosystem.
The jury is headed by Gundula Ullah (Chairwoman of the Jury). As the Head of Sustainability at Funke Media, Gundula is a leading voice in the transition toward greener media.
Gundula is deeply passionate about promoting success stories in print and is looking forward to sharing the most impactful entries with her fellow jury members to identify the projects truly shaping our industry's future.
The Winner’s Platform
Winning a Print & Sustainability Award provides a legacy that extends far beyond the ceremony. Our winners receive a comprehensive package of visibility and networking
Print-Digital
Fusion Award
Honouring projects that blend print with digital tools like AR, QR, apps, or cross-platform storytelling.
Print-Digital Fusion Award
Ideal for publishers, editorial teams, and tech partners.
This award invites organisations and creators who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in our industry. If your work demonstrates fresh thinking, measurable impact, or meaningful contribution to the future of publishing, this is your opportunity to showcase it on a global stage. Winning entries typically stand out for their bold ideas, real‑world results, and the way they move the industry forward. If your project reflects this kind of ambition, we encourage you to enter and share your story.
Next Gen Reader
Engagement Award
Celebrates print products that successfully reach Gen Z and younger audiences through bold formats, storytelling, and educational partnerships.
Next Gen Reader Engagement Award
Open to publishers, editors, and content creators focused on youth.
This category honours print pioneers who don’t just reach Gen Z and Alpha, but invite them into a community where they truly belong. We seek aspirational newsrooms that transform the physical page into a vital tool for civic identity, offering a clear value proposition of long-term sustainability and deep audience trust. To win, move beyond traditional "youth sections" toward bold storytelling, immersive formats, and educational partnerships that give young readers a voice in society. Define the global standard for the future of news.
Sustainable Print
Excellence Award
Recognises outstanding environmental efforts in print production - from materials to energy use and circular systems.
Sustainable Print Excellence Award
Recognises publishers, printers, suppliers, and eco-driven collaborations.
This award honours the visionaries redefining print through a commitment to belonging, ensuring our industry protects the planet we all share. We seek aspirational newsrooms and printers whose value proposition centres on a circular economy, proving that high-quality production and environmental stewardship are inseparable. To win, demonstrate a holistic approach to sustainability through innovative materials, renewable energy transitions, or carbon-neutral logistics that set a global benchmark for the industry. Lead the movement towards a greener, more responsible future for print.
Supply Chain
Innovator Award
Showcases innovation in the publishing supply chain - making it smarter, cleaner, and more efficient.
Supply Chain Innovator Award
Recognises logistics partners, suppliers, and tech-enabled publishers.
This award honours the pioneers re-engineering the publishing supply chain to foster a more integrated and resilient industry where every partner truly belongs. We seek aspirational organisations that transform logistics into a value proposition of intelligence and agility, proving that a smarter, cleaner workflow is the backbone of modern media. To win, demonstrate a clear commitment to efficiency through AI-driven distribution, waste reduction, or carbon-neutral logistics that set a global benchmark for the sector. Lead the evolution of a more sustainable and sophisticated publishing future.
Print Advertising
Creativity Award
Fresh perspectives and data from the frontlines of global print and distribution, including supply chain trends, procurement strategy, and print economics.
Print Advertising Creativity Award
Celebrating publishers, printers, and advertisers driving creative impact.
This award celebrates the visionaries who turn the printed page into a premium destination where brands and audiences truly belong. We seek aspirational campaigns that transform print into a high-value proposition of trust and impact, proving that creative excellence is the ultimate driver of modern print economics. To win, demonstrate how fresh perspectives, data-driven procurement strategies, or smarter distribution trends have been used to deliver clever, high-performing advertising that sets a global benchmark for the sector. Showcase the power of creativity in the global print supply chain.