WLT is a worldwide conservation charity supported by Sir David Attenborough, which has helped secure more than 600,000 acres of threatened habitat. Funds raised through carbon balancing are used by WLT to tackle climate change through projects that offset carbon dioxide emissions and conserve biodiversity.

Stanbury Chameleon director Patrick Crosley, who runs the company with brother Robert, said: “We've looked into this for about three years from a moral stand point.

“People always ask me how much does it cost, but if you run your business efficiently, it really does come down to pennies.”

The Gosport, Hampshire-based commercial printer was certified by CarbonCo, which works with the WLT in the UK, beginning the process in January. Certification involves audits on machine efficiency, type of substrates used, water and energy use and levels of waste.

The CarbonCo then offsets this through WLT, which purchases threatened forests to save them and keep carbon locked up.

The 14-staff business turns over just under £1m and runs two waterless Presstek DI litho machines and digital kit including a Xerox J75 and a five-colour Ricoh Pro C7100. The company has already switched to low-energy LED lighting and is looking into installing solar panels.

Crosley: “Initially this had nothing to do with USP, but it certainly has given us that now, thanks to all the talk on the environment and plastics in the ocean. Sir David Attenborough has become like a demigod.

“I've been in this industry 35 years and print has always had a bad rap, but the more you look at environmental issues, the scarier it becomes, and it is important for printers to fight the good fight.”

Stanbury Chameleon has also partnered with the Marine Advertising Agency (MAA) to offer carbon balanced publications to the latter’s clients.

This means any print bought via MAA can have the carbon balanced publication World Land Trust logo added. As well as running the print company, Robert Crosley is an environmental scientist and marine biologist.