Staying sustainable with St Austell Printing Company

5 min Our Blog Published on February 11, 2020 Updated on September 11, 2026

We're proud to use St Austell Printing Company to produce our cards and wrap, not only because they are local to us, but because of the thoughtful work they do to reduce their environmental impact.

St Austell Printing Company print production area

A local printing company with sustainability at its heart

St Austell Printing Company specialises in sustainable printing for a more responsible future. Working with the environment is at the heart of what they do, from the way their factory was built to the materials, equipment and systems they use each day.

They have been recognised as one of the UK's most sustainable printing companies, winning several major environmental awards:

A carefully designed sustainable print factory

St Austell Printing Company built its print factory to be efficient, using sustainable materials, and was awarded an Excellent BREEAM rating, the world-leading sustainability assessment for buildings.

They have one of Cornwall's largest roof-based solar panel arrays, presenting a carbon saving of at least 45 tonnes per year.
Their factory is one of the most environmentally friendly in the UK.
They harvest rainwater for flushing toilets and have grass-topped roofs.
They maximise natural ventilation and daylight, and limit heat loss through insulation.
Their building features passive and natural ventilation. Air conditioning units are limited to three small areas of the business where machinery requires cool temperatures, and these rooms also have heat air circulation and ventilation systems in place.
They measure and manage their waste, water and energy use.
They use movement sensors across the building to automatically switch lights on and off, as well as light sensors that respond at dusk and dawn.
They have introduced a delivery planning and tracking system for their fleet of vans, calculating the most fuel-efficient routes for each day's deliveries.

St Austell Printing Company printing equipment

Responsible print, paper and waste choices

When it comes to printing, St Austell Printing Company is continually working to increase efficiency and deliver high sustainability standards, from shrinking its carbon footprint to cutting energy consumption and reducing waste.

In 2018, St Austell Printing Company invested in a new lithographic printing press and associated plate maker, with energy efficiency and sustainability both key parts of the decision.
The Ryobi Mitsubishi 9 Series Press uses LED-UV drying technology instead of traditional bulbs, helping ink dry instantly while using substantially less energy than the press it replaced.
All the paper they use is recycled or produced from sustainably managed forests.
St Austell Printing Company is FSC certified, with licence code FSC-C140438, and holds an ISO 14001:2015 certificate for its environmental management system.
They use recycling schemes to reduce, and work towards eliminating, print and paper waste going to landfill.
They recycle 100% of their paper waste and 95% of their total waste, while continuing to work on the rest.
They make damaged paper into pads and use scrap paper for printing internal emails and documents.
They use vegetable-based inks, and waste ink is taken away to be used as fuel in furnaces in place of coal, gas or oil, or as a hardener in concrete.
Their Suprasetter Platemakers can process chemical-free or processless thermal printing plates, and all of their plates are recycled.
They engage in carbon offsetting schemes through partners and suppliers, including using Woodland Trust office paper for copiers and office use.

Aerial view of St Austell Printing Company's factory

Why it matters to Whistlefish

St Austell Printing Company is continually improving its environmental performance, showing that responsible printing can be thoughtful, carefully managed and rooted in better choices.

That matters to Whistlefish because our cards and wrap are part of everyday moments: birthdays, Christmas, thank yous, celebrations and small notes of care. Choosing a local print partner with strong environmental standards helps us keep those moments beautiful while staying mindful of the world around us.

You can find out more about St Austell Printing Company's sustainable past, present and future on its sustainability page. You can also read more about Whistlefish's own environmental commitments on our Green Matters page and our product pledge.