Photos: Behind the scenes at Shutterfly's secret workshop

In addition to recycling waste paper, Shutterfly must dispose of toxic inks and oils for reuse by third parties in compliance with California law. The whiff of toxic chemicals within Shutterfly's plants is a reminder that printing remains a polluting business.

The trend of "green" gifts hasn't quite reached the custom-publishing industry. Keepsake photo gifts are built to last for years in frames or on family bookshelves. The first customer request for an eco-friendly product came to Shutterfly this month from a green blogger and mother who wondered whether the company used recycled paper or low-toxic inks. It doesn't, but it's not alone in that. Practically none of the other photo-finishing facilities do.

Magazine and book publishers that can afford the premium are only beginning to make use of recycled paper and inks made from soy and other plants.

Photo by Shutterfly