Press Release
Operational Environmental & Sustainability Gold Award 2026 recognizes Asahi’s contribution to more resource-efficient flexographic platemaking
Brussels, Belgium / Tokyo, Japan – 24 June 2026 – Asahi Photoproducts, a pioneer in flexographic photopolymer plate development, has received the FIA UK Operational Environmental & Sustainability Gold Award 2026 for AWP-LOOP™, Asahi’s water recycling system for flexographic plate processing, registered for the award as “Flexo Plate Waste Water Recycling System”.
The award was presented at the FIA UK Awards Dinner in Liverpool and accepted on behalf of Asahi Photoproducts by Karl Davison, Sales Manager UK. It recognizes Asahi’s continued commitment to developing more resource-efficient flexographic platemaking solutions and supports the company’s long-term vision of leading the road to a Solvent ZERO flexographic platemaking environment.
As part of the Asahi AWP™ Ecosystem, AWP-LOOP™ helps recover and reuse process water during flexographic plate processing. The technology uses Asahi Kasei’s Microza™ membrane filtration technology and can recycle 70–90% of wastewater generated during the platemaking process, helping printers reduce wastewater and detergent consumption while maintaining a reliable production process.
According to the award presentation, Asahi Photoproducts was recognized for demonstrating how wastewater recycling technology can help flexographic printers reduce resource consumption in plate processing while supporting reliable, production-ready workflows.
“We are honored to receive this Gold Award from FIA UK,” said Dr. Dieter Niederstadt, Technical Marketing Manager at Asahi Photoproducts. “For Asahi, sustainable innovation means developing technologies that can make a measurable difference in day-to-day flexographic production. AWP-LOOP™ supports printers in reducing resource consumption in plate processing while maintaining the stability, quality and productivity they need in industrial production environments.”
AWP-LOOP™ forms part of Asahi’s wider Solvent ZERO roadmap, which focuses on reducing solvent dependency and supporting the transition toward water-wash plate processing technologies. By combining plate, processor and water recycling technologies within the AWP™ Ecosystem, Asahi aims to help flexographic printers improve workflow efficiency, support cost savings and reduce the environmental impact associated with platemaking.
Karl Davison, Sales Manager UK at Asahi Photoproducts, who accepted the award on behalf of Asahi at the FIA UK Awards Dinner, added: “It was a great honor to receive this recognition on behalf of the Asahi team. The award highlights the relevance of practical technologies that help printers make their platemaking operations more efficient and resource-conscious.”
The FIA UK Awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the flexographic industry. With the Operational Environmental & Sustainability Gold Award 2026, Asahi Photoproducts has been recognized for a technology that reflects the growing importance of practical, production-ready solutions for more resource-efficient flexographic platemaking workflows.
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For further information about Asahi Photoproducts and its sustainable flexographic solutions, please contact hello@asahi-photoproducts.com or visit www.asahi-photoproducts.com.
About Asahi Photoproducts
Founded in 1973, Asahi Photoproducts is a subsidiary of the Asahi Kasei Corporation, established in Japan in 1922. Asahi Photoproducts is a pioneer in the development of photopolymer flexo printing plates, committed to advancing flexographic printing through high-quality solutions and cutting-edge technologies.
Our flexo plates are engineered to deliver outstanding print quality while reducing waste in production and enabling faster press speeds for higher overall efficiency. These advancements are driven by our long-term sustainability strategy, focused on reducing solvent use and promoting a complete switch to water-wash technology.
We believe that sustainable innovation is key to the future of print – and we support our customers in being trailblazers in achieving both environmental and production goals.
More information is available at www.asahi-photoproducts.com.
Contact
Dr. Dieter Niederstadt
Asahi Photoproducts Europe n.v./s.a.
dieter.niederstadt@asahi-photoproducts.com
+49(0)2301 946743
