A few blocks from campus on University Avenue, there lies an inconspicuous little office building. Tucked behind a thick patch of trees, Parisleaf Printing and Design might not even be seen by passersby. But if you spend enough time in Gainesville, you will be sure to see its work, as more local businesses are choosing the year-old firm because of its focus on the environment.
The company operates on a unique premise: For every order, the company plants a minimum of ten trees, effectively producing more than what is consumed. Working with local and global organizations, Parisleaf planted 7,000 trees in 2011. Its achievement didn't go unnoticed — Parisleaf won the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award for Commitment to the Environment last year.
In addition to the company's commitment to carbon neutrality, Parisleaf also uses soy— and vegetable— based inks for all of its printing, as well as 100 percent wind power for the production of all its printing materials. All the paper is made from mostly recycled sources also.
Chad and Alison Paris, both 23, founded Parisleaf Printing and Design on June 3, 2010. Chad Paris, a business marketing and management graduate of Gainesville State College in Georgia, decided to open shop here while his wife studies cognitive neuroscience in UF's graduate program. He knew the economy was rough, so he decided to go into something businesses always need.
"There's nothing that makes you more recession-proof than starting your business in the middle of a recession," Chad Paris said. This courageous logic led him to focus on printing and design. He learned that the printing industry consumes an area of forest equivalent to the size of a football field.
This fact forced him to think of a green alternative. Parisleaf's promise to plant at least ten trees for every printing order extends to plant 100 trees for every Web-design order. By doing this, Chad Paris hopes to promote web-based promotional material instead of wasteful print.
About half of those trees are personally planted by Chad Paris and the company's employees, in partnership with local Neutral Gator at the Alachua Conservation Trust. Three times a year, the group works to plant from 2,000 to 5,000 trees locally. The rest are planted throughout the world, through a partnership with Trees for the Future, a charity that has been working since 1989.
Of course, the other half of the company is design. Chad Paris' passion for design started about five years ago when he worked for a screen-printing company. The young marketing graduate quickly learned the ropes of design but eventually left to come to Gainesville while his wife attends UF.
"That's what really introduced me to creativity," Chad Paris said, and he works to carry that to Parisleaf. The company's portfolio can be viewed online at www.parisleaf.com.
His company employs seven people, working mostly with local businesses and different academic departments at UF. "We're always looking for interns, especially with a passion for public speaking and sustainability," Chad Paris explained.
The future looks bright for the Parisleaf family. In 2012, the company plans to expand its office to accommodate not only its growing business, but for its campaign for social entrepreneurship as well.
"We're a unique company because our focus is on eco-friendly business, but we want other companies to follow our lead," he said.
