Hatch's new paper option, available in weights of 280gsm and 560gsm, has been designed to grow into a mini garden when buried.

Called seeded paper, the material can be printed full-colour, single or double-sided, and using vegan printing processes. Suitable applications include business cards and flyers.

Seeds are added during the production of this hand-crafted substrate, which makes it plantable as well as recyclable.

“We are always on the lookout for products that are harmless to the planet. Since I started Hatch, driving us to be an environmentally-friendly business has always been a priority,” said managing director Gary Toomey.

“We have been adding unconventional options to our range, allowing customers to also do their part for the planet by ordering eco-friendly products.”

Also new is an 800x2,000mm banner, billed as the UK's first fully-recyclable roller banner. This product, which can be used multiple times, is made of cardboard and has a paper-based display.

Flower seeds line the inside of the banner's base and customers can therefore bury it for the cardboard to compost.

Seedlings will hatch in around three months and within a year customers of Hatch, which currently include design studios, schools and SMEs, could have a bed of flowers.

“Most roller banners are made of PVC on metal frames, which cannot be recycled or are hard to recycle. We sell 50 of these a day at £29,” said Toomey.

“The recyclable version marks our first step towards becoming a plastic-free printer and will cost £89. As it takes off and demand increases, we expect prices to come down.”

Established last year, eight-staff Hatch celebrated its first year this summer by hitting its £500,000 turnover target using an HP Indigo and a 1.5m-wide HP Latex 350. Toomey aims to add a 2.2m-wide machine by Christmas.

He is also looking to move from his Bermondsey base to a larger one in the borough, but a little closer to the City, in the near future.

His company uses animal-free products and keeps its carbon footprint small by using CO2-neutral presses. It runs efficient power-saving energy sources and recycles waste.

Hatch also offers recycled paper stock options and CO2-free delivery in London with pedal-powered couriers from Gophr.

Hatch became the UK’s first printer to hold the Vegetarian Society-approved vegan accreditation after analysing every aspect of its supply chain to ensure all products used were animal-free.