Crossprint generates 90% of its energy through solar power and its energy performance rating is "A". The recognition from Ricoh follows on from the company’s installation of a Ricoh Pro C751 digital printer, in February.

Tim Sell, Crossprint’s managing director said the company was expecting to receive the certificate the week after next. He said it would be a unique selling point that would attract new customers.

"All the jobs we do on that machine can now come with a certification saying they were carbon balanced. It means we can approach like-minded people with proof that we’re doing our bit for the environment," he said.  

The company paid £75,000 for its solar powered technology. Sell said selling solar power to the national grid was a welcome contribution to the company’s turnover.

"In the summer we can make up to £1,700 a month. It might get to the point where we make more money from solar energy than print," he joked.

The amount of money charged to companies using Ricoh’s carbon balanced certificate varies according to how much of their energy consumption is offset. Crossprint will pay £60 a year to be able to use the certificate.