Print specialist Kyocera Mita UK has beaten its rivals by becoming the first vendor in its market sector to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard.

The certification, which replaces the energy efficiency accreditation scheme is awarded to businesses that have genuinely reduced their carbon footprint and committed to making further reductions year on year.

To secure the accolade Kyocera had to be independently audited by an assessor to prove its energy consumption had been reduced over a two-year period.

Sandra Rogers, personnel manager at Kyocera said: "We are delighted to have been awarded the standard. Environmental issues are extremely important to Kyocera – not only to Kyocera Mita in the UK but to Kyocera Corporation Worldwide. The Standard sits very well with the organisation’s worldwide objective of reducing carbon emissions."

She added that the firm's employees had contributed to the achievement by switching off computers and lights and opening windows instead of using air conditioning.

"The results so far are very encouraging and we are currently well ahead of our energy reduction targets."