The company was named an emerging leader at the Sustainable Business Networks (SBN) Awards for its work changing business systems and raising awareness of environmental issues with staff and suppliers. SBN national chair Chris Morris said the awards had 160 entrants nationwide.
Directors of the family owned and operated Hamilton business Graham and Karen Walker say they are thrilled to win the award after 12 months obtaining the first stage of the Enviro-mark accreditation.
The printing company is part of Landcare Research's pilot programme which offers businesses the opportunity to formally monitor resource usage and measure their compliance to environmental and other business legislation.
John Walker Printers has subsequently changed its source for products to take environmental factors into account, while sending 84 per cent of its own rubbish to the recycling bin and encouraging staff and clients to do the same.
Karen says it has been a worthwhile exercise all round, raising awareness for their 15 full-time and two part-time staff and finding new ways to recycle.
"Now we know what questions to ask our suppliers and we are finding that many of them are very aware of environmental issues, some even offering to recycle their products like ink tins for us," she adds.
"The paper suppliers in particular are very vocal about paper from sustainable forests. It is very pleasing because sustainability and printing have never really been in the same sentence before."
