The World Printers Forum has announced the annual Sustainability and Print Innovation Awards winners during Vienna’s World Printers Summit. This year’s awards celebrated outstanding achievements in three distinct categories, alongside a special accolade for the Young Leader of the Year, Wan-Ifra reported.
The awards highlight global excellence in print media innovation, sustainability initiatives, and leadership, recognizing those who drive progress and creativity in the industry.
Award categories and winners
Product for Young Readers
Winner: Nhan Dan Newspaper (Vietnam)
Nhan Dan Newspaper captivated young audiences with a special edition of its Panorama series. Combining striking print design with Augmented Reality (AR) elements, this unique edition generated a surge of excitement, as young readers eagerly sought copies both online and in print. Within just 15 days, an impressive 300,000 copies were printed, demonstrating the growing appeal of interactive, cross-media publications.
Product Innovation
Winner: Diari Ara (Spain)
Diari Ara’s innovative Omnichannel Strategy was lauded for its customer-centric approach. Offering flexible newspaper subscription packs (5, 15, 20, or 30 issues), customers can purchase packs in advance, with payments made upfront rather than at collection. This streamlined process simplifies purchasing while creating a seamless reader experience across multiple channels.
Going Green – Companies’ Path to Sustainability
Winners: FUNKE Mediengruppe and Axel Springer Print Service (Germany)
FUNKE Mediengruppe has been honored for its commitment to sustainability, recognized for thoroughly evaluating the carbon footprint of its flagship print product, Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung(WAZ). By analyzing the entire value chain—from recycled paper to delivery—FUNKE integrated key learnings into its procurement processes, achieving lasting emission reductions and setting new standards for sustainable media production. Meanwhile, Axel Springers Printing plants have focused on innovative and state-of-the-art management systems to constantly reduce their CO2 footprint and use an internal “Carbon Bank” on the group level to manage compensation for the remaining emissions. Both companies exemplify leadership in the move toward environmentally sustainable printing practices.
Young Leader of the Year
Winner: Dick Ranzijn (Rodi Group, Netherlands)
Dick Ranzijn, managing director of Rodi Group, was recognized for his dynamic leadership and forward-thinking approach within the print industry. Rodi Group, which publishes 28 local door-to-door newspapers, also operates a printing house and a distribution company. As an active Koenig & Bauer User Group and board member of the Dutch Print Employers’ Association (KVGO) member, Ranzijn exemplifies the next generation of industry leaders. His commitment to innovation and competitiveness continues to push the boundaries of the print industry.
