Printing does not need to be a wasteful, energy intensive business. Sentinel Printers, located in downtown Santa Cruz, has an eco-friendly printing business from its paper and inks to its delivery process. They offer high quality printing at a fair price to both you and the environment.

Sentinel Printers – Effective and Sustainable

Sentinel Printers, established in 1856, offers an eco-friendly way to print your projects, while supporting a small business dedicated to the local economy and the environment. Printing has often been considered an industry that is “less than green” in its use of natural resources. However, Sentinel Printers proves that the printing business does not have to be wasteful to be effective.

Local Employees and Alternative Transportation

Trula and her husband, Neil, started their business in San Jose. They had to commute everyday from Santa Cruz – a wearing drive that was also increasing their carbon footprint. Two years ago, the couple had the opportunity to buy Sentinel Printers and start afresh. Now their workplace is within walking distance from their house. The couple has hired an entirely local staff, almost all of whom walk, bike or carpool to work. But that’s only the start.

Eco-Friendly Inks

Although it costs more, Sentinel Printers uses only vegetable based inks free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) because they want to offer “the greenest product for [their] customers”. Ink is the component of printing that people have direct physical contact with and they believe it makes sense to use the most natural available ingredients. Ink is a large part of the quality of printing and these eco-friendly inks offer high quality printing as well. But what is this VOC-free ink printed on? And is the printing process also ‘green’? Sentinel has carefully thought over these questions and their answers incorporate both the environment and their community.

Helping the Environment and Their Community

Sentinel’s waste stream is 95% recycled and their presses are energy efficient. They also encourage their customers to help conserve our forests by choosing recycled paper. Seventy percent of Sentinel’s jobs are printed on recycled paper and anything left over is recycled within the community. Extra stock is donated to schools and to the Boys & Girls Club. Small, colorful scraps are donated to St. Claires, where nuns make handmade greeting cards. Sentinel donates materials to a number of other local programs, such as the Museum of Art History and Shakespeare Santa Cruz, among other programs dedicated to the arts and education.

This business’ green printing methods are affordable and provide high quality products for their customers. Sentinel Printers has gone the extra length so that every step of their business model has the smallest possible carbon footprint.

Low Impact Deliveries

Sentinel has shrunk its carbon footprint to child-size by consolidating orders and walking deliveries. Ordering as much as they can at once decreases the number of delivery trucks per week. For local deliveries, dedicated employees walk the finished product to the customer. Some of Sentinel’s neighbors who trust them with their printing needs include: Ecocoupons, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Kelly’s Bakery, Marini’s Candy, Bargetto’s Winery, Hoffman’s Bakery, Pacific Cookie Company, and the Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company.

Your Local Choice for All Your Printing Needs

Sentinel Printers offers an eco-friendly, locally run alternative to printing giants like Kinko’s and online services that lack any attachment or benefit to a community. Without sacrificing quality, environmental practices, or a dedication to the Santa Cruz community, Trula and Neil have created an incredibly successful and competitive business. Sentinel Printers has proven that every detail matters – from recycling every last scrap of paper, to hiring local employees who walk and bike to work. If you want quality, fair-priced work that supports the environment and your local Santa Cruz community, there is no place other than this 153 year-old business that can satisfy all of your printing needs.

To learn more about Sentinel Printers or to start your next printing project with them today, visit their website below:

http://www.sentinelprinters.com/

The best part is, Sentinel Printers isn’t alone in their environmental and community oriented thinking. If you know of any other local businesses with an innovative business model that has a positive effect on your community and the environment, post your comments on our blog below. Your favorite business may be the next Ecocoupons spotlight!