The Shropshire-based trade company, which specialises in thermal/souvenir tickets, said it wanted to be at the forefront of environmental awareness, having been the first UK printer to offer FSC thermal papers.

Nigel Souster, factory manager at the £8.1m-turnover company, said: "We are aware that we do have an impact on the environment, and we felt a moral obligation to reduce that impact."

The 50-staff company's other main product is direct mail and, by producing the product on FSC, PEFC or recycled papers, Souster said the company can balance the perception of direct mail as junk mail.

"More and more businesses are requiring their suppliers to hold these environmental credentials as part of their own environment policies," he said.

"With ISO 14001 in place and with large stocks of FSC, PEFC, recycled papers held onsite, we can offer unrivalled choice for our customers."

In the near future, Souster said certifications, such as ISO 14001, would become more of a prerequisite for companies wanting to stay ahead of the competition.

He said: "More and more companies are gaining ISO 14001 certification themselves. When they then approach their suppliers, they need to know the products they are purchasing are being produced by companies with a like-minded approach to the environment."

The company's plans for 2010 include improving its environmental performance further, which will see a £200,000 refurbishment of its Muller Martini A52 press.

It also plans to upgrade its Eltromat process and registration control system in order to reduce paper waste and increase press efficiency.