The company was first awarded the standard, which is given to businesses that reduce their carbon footprint, in 2008, when it showed that it had continually reduced its carbon footprint over a three-year period.

In order to retain the standard, the company has continued to reduce its carbon footprint two years down the line.

Trinity Mirror's group legal director Paul Vickers said: "Our staff can feel rightly proud of this achievement because they have contributed greatly to this recertification.

"To be the first business to retain the Carbon Trust Standard demonstrates to our staff, customers and readers our genuine commitment to reducing our environmental impact.

"Obviously these reductions also have a benefit for our bottom line and saving energy in these challenging times makes good business sense. Going forward we will continue to set ourselves tough targets to ensure that we continue to reduce our environmental impact."

Since 2008, Trinity has implemented a range of energy-saving measures across the group that have resulted in a 9.5% absolute reduction in carbon emissions since it received the initial certification.

According to the company, measures range from the frontline education of staff through to large-scale infrastructure investment programmes such as chiller replacements at a number of the company’s major press sites.

Harry Morrison, general manager, Carbon Trust Standard Company, said: "To date, more than 380 organisations have achieved certification with the Carbon Trust Standard.

"We congratulate Trinity Mirror on being the first to achieve recertification. This is a true testament to the company’s ongoing commitment to improving its efforts to measure, manage and reduce its carbon emissions."