Swift Printing and the Importance of B Corp Certification for the Community

Updated: February 11, 2025

Swift Printing has been around since 1950, upholding the gold standard in responsible printing. As a printing company servicing fellow businesses, the company has a mission to prioritize sustainability and community well-being. Printing everything from graphics to banners and wedding invitations, the Grand Rapids, MI, company does it all while putting people, the community, and the planet first.

Swift Printing is one of two commercial printing companies in the world that is a Certified B Corporation. What is a B Corp? B Corp stands for Benefit Corporation. If a company is B Corp certified, it has met rigorous standards of sustainability and displays social and environmental accountability and transparency.

As a B Corp, Swift Printing acknowledges the importance of using printing resources responsibly. It follows steps to recycle, reuse, and repurpose at every opportunity. Instead of focusing just on profit, the company balances purpose and profit. Some sustainability choices come at the cost of the bottom line, and those are intentional, cause-driven decisions. Learn more about why supporting companies that prioritize sustainability over profit is important.

What Is a B Corp?

A Benefit Corporation takes a pledge to perform all business operations with sustainability in mind. Here are some key standards required for B Corp certification:

Social and Environmental Performance: B Corps are evaluated based on their positive impact on society and the environment. This includes factors like reducing carbon footprints, ensuring fair labor practices, and contributing to local communities.
Accountability: B Corps must ensure that their governance structures support the company’s social and environmental goals. This includes legally committing to ponder the impact of their decisions on stakeholders, including employees, customers, and the environment.
Transparency: Certified B Corps must openly disclose their social and environmental practices and outcomes. Transparency allows consumers and other businesses to make informed decisions based on a company’s verified commitment to sustainability and ethical practices.
Legal Structure: B Corps are required to legally incorporate their social and environmental responsibilities into their corporate governing documents for a long-term commitment.

Instead of claiming to have green practices without any backing, B Corps are transparent about the steps they take to reduce their carbon footprint. With a B Corp certification, they are held accountable after passing comprehensive third-party assessments that prove sustainable and ethical business practices.

It is rare to see a print shop with a B Corp certification, and Swift Printing stands out with its commitment to environmentally friendly practices. Printing services are needed for local businesses to operate and grow. Swift Printing’s B Corp certification shows that it does not waste resources, values the environment, and gives back to the community whenever possible.

Who is Swift Printing?

Swift Printing is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was established in 1950 and has been dedicated to serving local businesses and members of the community for 75 year

They print it all! Local businesses print posters, banners, labels, and packaging to market and grow their clientele. Individuals choose Swift Printing for wedding invites, letters, envelopes, notepads, business cards, and more. No matter who they serve, Swift Printing delivers premium products and superior results.

Environmental Responsibility

Swift Printing recognizes that every decision they make impacts the environment and takes that responsibility seriously. As part of its commitment to sustainability, the company prioritizes using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper, ensuring that the materials they use come from responsibly managed forests. Additionally, most of the paper products they purchase contain a percentage of recycled content, further reducing their environmental footprint.

In addition to using sustainable materials, Swift Printing works with local Michigan vendors to reduce carbon emissions. By sourcing materials and services from within the state, they minimize transportation emissions, helping to reduce CO2 emissions and support the local economy. Most of their vendors are Michigan-based, ensuring tax dollars remain within the community.

Repurposing and recycling is a key part of Swift Printing’s sustainability efforts. The company actively separates materials that can be repurposed for other jobs or donated to causes. They also recycle paper, cardboard, envelopes, and other materials by directing them to specialized recycling plants to maximize their potential for reuse, even though it would be easier to recycle all the scraps together. Swift Printing also accepts back packaging materials, like boxes, from customers, allowing them to reuse them for future orders, giving the boxes more than just one use.

Furthermore, Swift Printing is committed to reducing waste from shrink wrapping, which they accommodate for customers concerned about hygiene and touchpoints. While shrink wrap can create plastic waste, they repurpose the leftover plastic as filler for shipping, giving it a second life instead of discarding it. These efforts are part of the company’s broader strategy to minimize waste and maximize reuse across its operations.

Community Impact

Swift Printing has long believed in the importance of giving back to the community, and this commitment is reflected in its B Corp certification, where community involvement is one of its highest scores. Over the past 75 years, the company has partnered with local organizations and supported causes that make a difference. In 2020, they organized a coat drive to help those in need, and in 2021, they proudly sponsored Sullivan Field. The company also contributed to the beautification of the community by restoring and installing the Red Lion Sign on Bridge Street, symbolizing their investment in the city.

Additionally, Swift Printing supports the WestSide Stride running group, which donates extra funds to local nonprofits, furthering the company’s collective impact on the community. They also work closely with Genesis Non-Profit to provide low-cost housing in the apartments above their location, ensuring that affordable housing remains accessible to their neighbors.

Swift Printing helps strengthen the Grand Rapids community by supporting many other local businesses, non-profits, and initiatives. The company believes its success is directly tied to the well-being of the people and organizations around it, so it is committed to building a stronger, more vibrant community.

A Model for Change

Valuing its B Corp certification and moving forward with accountability and transparency, Swift Printing is an example to businesses around the world. B Corp certifications allow businesses to prove their sustainability efforts.

As a consumer, you can look for a B Corp certification and know that the company’s green claims are backed by real evidence. Choose companies like Swift Printing to support the sacrifices they make to prioritize reduced carbon footprints and cause-driven initiatives.

Swift Printing has you covered for all local printing needs. Enjoy large graphic prints, letterhead stationery, and promotional banners delivered with clarity and precision while knowing you are supporting a B Corp business.