A SOUTH Lakeland-based printer has become the first in Cumbria – and one of just a handful in the UK – to be officially recognised as carbon neutral.

H&H Reeds Printers achieved the environmental gold standard when it was named the county’s first accredited Carbon Balanced Publication Printer.

This effectively means that the print jobs it produces have zero impact on the environment and, therefore, climate change.

The paper used by the Milnthorpe company is carbon balanced and customers are also given the opportunity to offset the carbon generated by their products through a payment the printer makes to the World Land Trust.

Steve Wray, of H&H Reeds, said the customer paid the same price as they would for a conventional print run.

“Businesses that really want to cut their impact on the environment need to focus on reducing carbon emissions, and choosing carbon balanced printing is an important step towards that goal,” said Mr Wray.

“We can also issue the customer with a certificate for each print job to show how much carbon they have balanced.”

H&H Reeds Printers has seen an upsurge in customer interest in carbon offsetting since gaining its accreditation.

During the summer, sustainable tourism body Nurture Eden chose H&H Reeds Printers to produce 30,000 trail guides for walkers and cyclists.

The major job saved 1340kgs of carbon and preserved 112.56sq m of threatened rainforest via offsetting payments to the World Land Trust.

Mr Wray said: “Many people think that using environmentally friendly paper and printing materials will result in an inferior product, but that is absolutely not the case. The latest green printing technology means it is impossible to tell the difference between traditionally printed materials and those that are produced with the least damage to the environment.

” H&H Reeds Printers says it is able to achieve these stunning results because the company has invested in the latest Heidelberg XL press, which uses an in-line coater.

Brochures can be spot high-gloss coated to give the appearance of a spot UV varnish, with the dual benefits of reducing costs and being more environmentally friendly.

Paper waste has been reduced by 60 per cent with a new computer-controlled Heidelberg Stahl folding machine, which uses less electricity.

The company is constantly evaluating new print and digital technology with the aim of cutting customers’ costs, improving quality and reducing the environmental impact.