Vega commercial manager Rob Nugent was in Heidelberg, Germany to receive the award and a cheque for €20,000 ($26,500) at the ceremony on 6 July.

According to Heidelberg, international submissions for the “sustainable innovative solution” award focused on saving energy and conserving resources.

“Vega Press impressed the panel of judges with its remarkable approach,” said a spokesperson for the German press maker.

Vega beat a field of 45 entrants with its energy-saving endeavours, which included coating the roof with a plastic reflective coating to reduce air conditioning costs over the summer.

Director Peter Gude said the printer had reduced electricity usage by 20% thanks to the roof coating in conjunction with implementing power conditioners on its fluorescent lighting and three-phase power outlets.

“We don’t do these things because of a carbon tax. We are environmentally conscious because we want to be good corporate citizens,” he said.

“The award is a follow up to the Premier’s Sustainability Award that we won in 2010 where we were recognized as being most sustainable business in Victoria in all industries.

Gude said Heidelberg’s local team had encouraged Vega to put in an application, “so we did and we are very pleased with the result”.

Entries were spread across 19 countries from four continents, and were judged by an independent panel of judges.

Panel spokesman Dr Achim Schorb, from the Insititute for Energy and Environmental Research, said: “The proposals submitted for environmental activities in the industry were even better than last time around and were much more wide-ranging than in 2009.”

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter