The Padstow-based book manufacturer won the Alan Smith Business Award for Continuous Commitment to Sustainability at the event last month.

Smith was a catalyst for recycling and the green movement in Cornwall and also set up the Cornwall Paper Company in 1977.

In order to win the award, TJ International has significantly reduced its waste output and increased its recycling.

Catriona Lawson, systems coordinator, TJ International, said the company is "wholly committed" to reducing its impact on the environment and is always seeking to improve working practices in a sustainable way.

Some 98% of the company's waste has been recycled for the last two years.

Lawson said: "We are keen to reuse as much waste as possible. Scrap cloth and foil from our finishing processes are given to a local scrap store and reused in schools throughout the county.

"We also reuse packaging materials as far as possible to package our goods."

The company's environmental plans for 2011 include maintaining only 2% waste to landfill through eliminating and reducing waste sources.

She added: "We will continue to recycle and investigate the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power, and run environmental awareness refresher training for all employees."

TJ International monitors its energy usage on a weekly basis and aims to have clear figures for energy and utility usage along with costs down to per book by the end of 2011.

It is also signed up to the Climate Change Levy scheme and receives an 80% reduction on its Climate Change Levy charge in exchange for meeting energy reduction targets.

TJ International manufactures scientific, academic and technical books.

It employs 125 staff and produces over six million books per year. Its annual turnover is £11m and it is also ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and FSC certified.