Site manager John Roberts said the Croydon-based company needed to become accredited to enable it to be on the preferred supplier list of several print management companies.

He said: "Governmental pressure will increase the emphasis on companies being greener. I think it is a prerequisite for any company that wants to conduct its business in a professional way and to be able to have a blue-chip customer base."

He added the cost of maintaining the accreditation is "not huge" and the expense of getting the accreditation is partly offset by the opportunity to look at the business from a new perspective and to increase efficiency.

The 23-staff company is a specialist envelope printer and supplier and part of the Mayer Kuvert network, Europe's largest envelope manufacturer.

Roberts said: "The amount of mail is reducing year-on-year, so we want to be in a position to be considered for local and national government work.

"Several competitors have gone into liquidation or administration recently. We believe that well-managed companies will want to ensure that their suppliers have a good track record and are, in turn, well-managed."

Mekvale's markets include direct mail, transactional and billing, and corporate stationery.

By the end of 2009, the company hopes to have ISO 14001 certification – this framework will then allow it to aim for ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 18001 (health and safety).