Judges of KAVALAN Green Leader Awards
Our judging panel
Marcus Timson, Co-Founder, FuturePrint; Steve Lister, Global Sustainability Consultant; and Nick Widdowson, Founder of ShopperFIRST and board member of POPAI UK & Ireland. Joining the judging panel for the 2026 awards are Lucy Swanston, Managing Director, Nutshell Creative, and Jack Gocher, Editor, Eye on Display.
Marcus Timson
Co-Founder of Future Print
Marcus entered the print sector in 2006 when he joined FESPA as Sales & Marketing Director, helping to grow the event business into a global platform. On leaving FESPA in 2011, Marcus co-founded FM Brooks, co-launching industry events InPrint and EcoPrint, with the latter focused on sustainability within print.
Marcus went on to co-found FM Future, launching FuturePrint, an online content platform and events organiser dedicated to developments in digital print technology, and is continuing to champion sustainability within print with FuturePrint’s new Sustainability Manifesto, working with a number of industry leaders to reduce the environmental impact of the print industry. 
“Having long championed the need for change when it comes to print’s impact on the environment, I am delighted to have been asked to judge Kavalan’s inaugural Green Leader Awards. I look forward to celebrating the positive impact Kavalan users and distributors are having by utilising PVC-free materials, without compromising on creativity or quality.”
Steve Lister
Global Sustainability Consultant
Steve has been driving sustainability initiatives for global brands and retailers for over two decades. Named as one of RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Experts in 2025, Steve works with clients to give them a deeper understanding of the impact of campaigns from design, materials, production and installation, to in-store marketing activations and end-of-life recycling.
In addition, Steve runs Make It Happen Sustainability Bootcamps, designed to equip companies and individuals with the tools to future proof their businesses and target green buyers; has been a judge for POPAI UK & Ireland’s SHOP! Global Awards for the past three years; and has delivered many engaging and inspiring keynotes, leveraging his extensive retail innovation experience.
“As a global retail sustainability and brand influencer, I have spent over 20 years driving sustainability with brands and retailers, advising on ways to reduce impact including through eco-friendly material alternatives. I am extremely pleased to be judging the Kavalan Green Leader Awards, and look forward to shining a spotlight on the companies striving to be more environmentally responsible by reducing the impact of their campaigns with Kavalan’s PVC-free materials.” 
Nick Widdowson
Founder of ShopperFIRST and director at POPAI UK & Ireland
Nick has built an extensive career in retail, category management, and shopper marketing, applying deep shopper insight to enhance store environments, pack design, and point-of-sale (POS) visibility. From his early retail experience at the Co-op and Superdrug to leading shopper research and innovation at Unilever, he has consistently championed data-driven decision-making.
As the founder of shopperFIRST, Nick continues to help businesses integrate sustainability into their shopper marketing strategies, ensuring that space planning, range assortment, and POS design are not only effective but also environmentally responsible. He also serves as a board member of POPAI UK & Ireland, further cementing his commitment to sustainable retail solutions.
"It’s a real privilege to be a judge for the inaugural Kavalan Green Leader Awards, recognising the innovative strides the wide-format print industry is making when it comes to sustainability. Having spent years driving more responsible POS solutions, it’s inspiring to see how brands and retailers are embedding sustainable practices into their campaigns and projects. The best solutions not only engage customers effectively but also minimise environmental impact, and I look forward to celebrating those who are leading the way."
Lucy Swanston
Managing Director of Nutshell Creative
Lucy Swanston is the Founder and Managing Director of Nutshell Creative Marketing, a full-service creative agency with more than 20 years’ experience delivering strategically led, creatively driven campaigns across traditional and digital media. Working with global brands, Lucy and her team specialise in helping organisations stand out, engage audiences, and deliver measurable impact.
As well as leading Nutshell, Lucy plays an active role in shaping the future of the print and marketing industries as Chair of the Strategic Mailing Partnership, Chair of the IPIA Marketing Committee, and a council member of both the IPIA and the DMA. She is also part of the collaborative team behind PrintGreen, an initiative focused on redefining the conversation around print sustainability through accurate, fact-based insights and practical tools. A passionate advocate for nurturing future talent. Lucy has judged the Printing Charity Rising Stars Awards for the past four years.
“I’m delighted to be part of the Kavalan Green Leader Awards judging panel. Sustainability should never be seen as a barrier to creativity, and the best work proves it can inspire bolder ideas and smarter design. These awards shine a light on what’s possible when responsibility and creativity work together, and will hopefully play a role in inspiring the next generation to think differently about sustainable print.”
Jack Gocher
Publisher of Eye on Display and Industry PR Specialist
Jack brings a unique dual perspective to the judging panel, bridging the gap between commercial print reality and political environmental activism. 2026 marks Jack’s 30th year in the wide-format print and signage sector. Over this period, he has worked with hardware, software, media and ink businesses to help them communicate their value. This has given him a keen understanding of the practical challenges they face in adopting greener workflows. Eye on Display was formed in 2022 to provide a digital news platform for the industry, with a strong focus on sustainability issues.
Outside of work, Jack is a serving Green Party campaigner and a local councillor. He is actively involved in advancing sustainability at a grassroots level, working on several local community projects that prioritise ecological responsibility and social impact. His background enables him to assess entries not only on their visual impact or technical merit, but also on their genuine contribution to a sustainable future.
“I would love to see the industry move towards a state where good sustainability choices are the norm. This can only happen if there are economically and practically viable solutions available to everyone. I see this as a key requirement at the local level in our communities as well as in the broader printing world. I find it inspiring to see brands like Kavalan championing these important values, and I am delighted to be judging the Green Leader Awards. I am looking forward to seeing how entrants deliver practical, PVC-free solutions that can inspire the next generation.”
All entries are reviewed by an independent panel of judges with expertise in:
  • Wide-format print and production
  • Sustainability and environmental impact
  • Creativity, design, and execution
Entries are assessed against clear criteria including problem-solving, outcomes, sustainability impact, and overall project value.
About Judging Criteria
Judging Criteria For All Categories
All Kavalan Green Leader Award entries are to be judged on the following criteria: 
  • Entry must be submitted before the entry deadline (23:59 (UTC+01:00) on Sunday 12th April 2026. 
  • Entered projects must be completed within the correct assessment period (1 March 2024 to 28 February 2026).
  • Entry must be in the format specified in the Entry Form for the relevant award category and accompanied by the applicable supporting visuals and explanations for that category.
  • The ‘problem vs solution’ of the overall project should be clearly explained.
  • Entry should detail the success of the overall project as measured against client or campaign objectives.
  • Entry should include a clear explanation of the reasons for choosing Kavalan materials for the project and of how Kavalan materials improved the project’s sustainability.
  • Entry should demonstrate the resulting reduction in environmental impacts such as reduced waste, energy savings, recyclability, carbon reduction, etc. 
  • Where appropriate, the entry should detail measurable outcomes such as cost efficiency, longevity, and reduced environmental footprint.
  • Where statistics and figures are included, their strength should be evaluated based on the quality, reliability and validity of the supporting evidence. 
  • The quality, level of detail and suitability of the explanation, visuals and supporting materials should be considered. Any specific aspects, such as a particular kind of finishing or installation, should be clearly visible in at least one of the supporting images.
  • Entry should clearly demonstrate the project’s value.
Judging Criteria Regarding Use Of Kavalan Materials
With the exception of the ‘Kavalan Champion’ award, which recognises a business, and the Green Spark Award, which recognises an individual/team, projects entered must have been printed on one of the following Kavalan materials:
 
  • Kavalan Sunlight (Sunlight 260, Sunlight 280GB, Sunlight 300, Sunlight 310 TAICHI, Sunlight Light Banner, Sunlight Weldable, Sunlight ZeRO and/or Sunlight Weldable Basic)
  • Kavalan Moonlight (Moonlight 200 and/or Moonlight River)
  • Kavalan Butterfly (Butterfly 360 Soft and/or Butterfly Weldable)
  • Kavalan Spiderweb (Spiderweb 300, Spiderweb Super and/or Spiderweb 300 Liner)
  • Kavalan Gecko (Gecko Stroma, Gecko 300, Gecko 320GB, Gecko DECO and/or Gecko FR-AD)