The only entry requirement for the HEI eco award is that a firm must have at least one printing press, but that may be of any brand and not just its own machines.

There are two categories to enter: most interesting single action and most sustainable enterprise.

Applications will be accepted from 1 June and will close on 31 July. The awards will be judged by an independent jury from ecological institutes.

The winners will share an award of €50,000 (£39,400), which will be presented at an event at the end of the year, and receive a HEI eco wooden trophy.

"I hope this is another call to environmental action driven by this little wooden cube," said Heidelberg's Jüergen Rautert.

The firm's other enviornmental initiatives at Drupa include using FSC paper for its demonstration jobs and running the equipment filling Halls 1 & 2 to the Print CO₂ standard, which it developed in co-operation with German print institute BVDM.

Products on its stand for which the firm claims strong environmental benefits can be easily identified by the presence of a life-sized fluffy toy stag next to them.