Since mid-2019 we have been developing our range of large format products, with an eye to keeping them as eco-friendly as possible. And to that end this year we have designed, produced and installed our first eco-friendly large format Christmas trees for Specialized Cycles.

First up it must be noted that the plastic business card boxes we use are recyclable and made from reusable polypropylene. Secondly, the reason we use plastic business card boxes and not cardboard ones is because it is the only way we can guarantee the integrity of the contents. Cardboard boxes are just not up the handling they get either in the mail system or in the (sometimes not very careful!) hands of the couriers. So you have a small, sturdy plastic box left over. What can you do with it? We’ve come up with a few different uses that may give a new life to your old box.

Any business, no matter the size, has a responsibility to find the right packaging for its products. With a strong customer driven focus to move away from plastics, excess packaging and costly materials, eco-friendly packaging is rightly becoming the packaging of choice.

Leading the way on adopting eco-packaging are the small businesses and we are here to help make that process as easy as possible.

As the UK’s first ever online eco-printer we have been blazing a trail for environmentally friendly printing since 2006, offering a comprehensive range of products available on recycled papers and printed with vegetable oil based inks and eco-friendly toners. And whilst these days almost all inks are vegetable oil based and almost all paper pulp is sourced from sustainable crop grown forests we continue to promote and champion eco-friendly printing because doing no harm to our planet is what we believe in.

We here at A Local Printer are passionate about helping the environment and are proud to promote the use recycled paper across all our online printing services. However, we appreciate that not everyone is as aware of the benefits of environmentally friendly printing as we are; therefore we thought it would be a good idea to put together a brief Q & A. Hopefully, this will help all of our customers to make a more informed choice regarding their commercial printing or plain paper requirements.

So we're very good at collecting and recycling paper to make in to new paper - but where does the ink go? A good question and one we have an answer to if you read on

High-quality print with a lighter environmental footprint

Printing plays an important role in helping businesses communicate effectively—but it doesn’t have to come at the cost of unnecessary waste. By taking a smarter approach to how print is planned, produced, and delivered, it’s possible to achieve excellent results while reducing environmental impact.

Our Commitment to Carbon Offsetting: Two Years of Greener Printing

Over the last two years, we have undertaken a significant journey to minimise our environmental footprint and enhance the sustainability of our printing services. As a company dependent on materials, energy, and transportation, we see it as our duty to act responsibly—not only by optimising our operations but also by supporting initiatives that offset the carbon emissions we generate.

Start 2026 with a Commitment to the Environment

Today, both businesses and individuals are more conscious of their environmental footprint. Printing is frequently viewed as a resource-intensive activity, but with proper strategies, it can help address environmental issues instead of worsening them. Adopting eco-friendly printing methods allows you to not only minimise damage but also support a climate-positive future.

A Local Printer has been a member of Carbon Club since 2021 and has annually offset 50 tonnes of carbon. This is in addition to the carbon offsetting programme for our paper and our and in combination means that we are a fully carbon neutral company with some room to spare!

For many of our customers knowing that they have a carbon neutral product is now more important that having their printing on recycled papers, and for those who wish to use it we have a new eco logo that can be added to any of our printed products.

Carbon neutrality is the single biggest thing we can all achieve, with plenty of carbon offsetting programmes available to businesses and individuals alike. 

There are some simple steps that we can take to reduce the carbon we generate in our daily lives:-

1.  Turn down your thermostat and water by one degree

2. Turn off lights and appliances when they are not being used

3. Reduce your food waste

4. Ensure your home is well insulated

5. Always have a reusable bag with you when you shop

6. Organise a car pool for employees and/or friends

7.  Switch to LED light bulbs

8. Find a carbon reduction partner to work with