About Vistaprint

Vistaprint greatly cares about the environment and strives to minimize the impact of the company’s activities on the environment as a whole. Whether through a program that affects the entire manufacturing plant or an idea suggested by just one employee, we realize every little bit counts. As a result, the company has been able to cut down greatly on the waste produced on a global scale. By helping to set the bar as an environmentally responsible company, it will hopefully encourage others to follow!

What recycling programs are in place at VistaPrint’s manufacturing plants? Both of VistaPrint’s printing facilities work hard to recycle and reuse materials as much as possible. Some of the things the manufacturing plants employ include systems to regulate lighting, air quality and temperature. These systems ensure that resources are used only when necessary for maximum efficiency. Both VistaPrint’s Windsor and Venlo plants recycle the metal plates used during printing and wooden skids used around the facility. Excess paper from the printing process doesn’t go to waste either, as a system of vacuums gather and recycle the paper scraps around the plant, bundling them for recycling use later on.

What is VistaPrint doing to be energy efficient globally? VistaPrint utilizes natural light in all five of the company’s global locations. This not only brightens the work spaces of the company’s employees, but also enables VistaPrint to reduce the amount of artificial light used. The company’s printing plants, for example, are outfitted with numerous skylights and also the latest technology in the printing and building management systems that require minimal energy. When VistaPrint was looking for locations for the company’s North American printing operations, Windsor, Canada proved to be an ideal location, in part because of the areas reliance on hydroelectric power, which is very environmentally friendly. VistaPrint is always looking into the latest technologies and building amenities that can help reduce the company’s carbon footprint across the globe. As an example, the servers in our Bermuda data center were converted to more energy efficient models in 2007, and the company moved to a virtualized platform which also cut down on the amount of energy and cooling needed to run the machines. This has reduced energy usage by 75 percent and cut the company’s carbon dioxide emissions by several hundred tons in the first year alone. The company is also researching environmentally friendly options for future construction projects, including LEED certification, utilizing rainwater and other elemental factors for building maintenance.

How do VistaPrint employees get involved with helping the environment? VistaPrint consistently ensures that employees are able to participate in helping and protecting the environment. Every employee is given their own recycling bin, and others are located around the building - including by printers, the cafeteria and kitchens. An employee also made the suggestion that the company stop supplying individual bottles of waters in kitchens because of the impact on the environment. VistaPrint made this idea a reality by giving each employee their own re-useable water bottle that can be refilled by multiple water filtration systems around the building. Employees are encouraged to recycle as much as possible and also submit any other ideas they have to make sure our offices are as “green” as possible. Outside of the office, VistaPrint employees also do their part to give back to the community and the environment. Employees from the Lexington, Mass. office recently worked with the Charles River Conservancy to help restore a section of park along the Charles River (Boston). The Conservancy, along with some 2,500 volunteers every year, works to make the parklands more attractive and accessible to all. To learn more about VistaPrint’s Volunteer Day and the Charles River Conservancy, please visit the Charity Partner page.

What else does VistaPrint plan to do to help reduce its impact on the environment? VistaPrint continuously looks for new ways to recycle and reduce energy. Look for more from VistaPrint in the future in these areas.