Fishersgate-based label manufacturer A4 Labels is celebrating national recognition after being named Environmental Company of the Year at the prestigious Printweek Awards 2026, one of the print industry’s most respected accolades.
The award recognises A4 Labels’ long-standing commitment to sustainability, which sits at the heart of the company’s operations — from the environmentally responsible materials it offers customers to the way the business is run day-to-day.
As part of its ongoing Eco-Pledge, A4 Labels proudly donates one per cent of all sales to environmental charity Seven Clean Seas, helping to fund the removal of plastic waste from the world’s oceans.
In addition to winning Environmental Company of the Year, the company was also named Highly Commended Runner-Up in the SME of the Year category, marking a significant milestone in the company’s continued growth.
Charlie Hawker, Managing Director of A4 Labels, said: “To be recognised by our own industry for the work we’re doing in sustainability means a great deal to everyone in the team. We’ve always believed that businesses have a responsibility to operate in a way that protects the environment, and this award validates years of conscious decisions around materials, processes and partnerships.
“From starting the business in a spare bedroom to winning a national industry award, it has been quite a journey. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come and of the passionate team behind the business who make improvements every day to reduce our impact on the planet.”
The judges praised A4 Labels for its innovative initiatives which go well beyond what they would expect any print business to do, demonstrating that environmental responsibility and commercial success can go hand in hand.
The recognition caps off a period of strong growth for the Sussex-based manufacturer, which continues to invest in innovative eco-materials, responsible production practices and partnerships that deliver measurable environmental impact.
From Kitchen Table to Global Growth
Founded in 2010 by Colin Hawker after spotting the potential of a single discarded sheet of labels, A4 Labels has grown from a Sussex side hustle into a globally recognised manufacturer. Now led by Colin’s son Charlie Hawker, still in his early twenties, the business supplies high-quality labels to household names including Lush, The Card Factory, Nando’s, Warner Brothers and Five Guys, as well as artisan producers across the UK.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, A4 Labels produced around four million sheets of labels each week for UK test-kit distribution. Under Charlie’s leadership, the company continues to bring modern creativity and strong community values to a sector often overlooked, donating 1 per cent of all sales to Seven Clean Seas as part of its long-term “Eco-Pledge”.
“The charity work was one of the first things I wanted to introduce in the transition period of Colin taking a step back from the company, alongside A4Rewards. This started with 1% of plastic sales going to The Ocean Cleanup Project and 1% of paper sales going to One Tree Planted. This was all part of ‘A4ProjectEco’ where we became FSC accredited and introduced new biodegradable materials. We planted well over 1000 trees across nearly 20 different countries and regions. This included a scheme called ‘Green Football Weekend’ where we partnered with as many Sussex football clubs as possible and planted a tree for every goal scored on the weekend in February 2024.” Charlie said.
“We are continuing to build on our environmental commitments through our sponsorship of Portslade Cricket Club, turning local sport into meaningful environmental action. After a fantastic first year in 2025, we renewed the partnership for 2026 and will continue with our pledge to remove 1kg of ocean plastic for every 20 runs scored during the season.”
“In 2025 alone, the initiative helped remove 409kg of plastic, clean 4,396 metres of coastline, and fund four clean-up crew members providing 62 hours of fair-wage employment. Since January 2025, we’ve now supported the removal of more than 2.25 tonnes of plastic in total.”
“It’s a brilliant way to engage the community, support grassroots sport and make a measurable difference to ocean health at the same time,” he added.