BURNABY,B.C.—Hemlock Printers received a 2008 Heidelberg Eco Printing Award for most sustainable print shop at a ceremony in Heidelberg, Germany, last week.

Dick Kouwenhven, owner of Hemlock, was on hand to pick up the award, which came with a prize of €30,000.  The award recognizes printers in the sheetfed offset sector, and honours shops that focus on sustainable energy and resources, climate protection, and eco-friendly business practices.

Hemlock also says it is the first shop in Canada to receive carbon neutral status. To achieve this, Hemlock worked closely with Offsetters, a Canadian carbon offset provider, to assess its carbon footprint, and developed strategies to further reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, Hemlock has set a target of 33% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2020.