Perth’s Push Towards Sustainable Printing

In Perth, sustainability is no longer just a buzzword—it’s a guiding principle reshaping how organisations operate. From construction and healthcare to education and small business, workplaces across Western Australia are under growing pressure to cut waste, reduce emissions, and act on climate responsibility.

Printing, often overlooked in sustainability conversations, is undergoing a quiet transformation. Once seen as a necessary but environmentally taxing part of business, printing is now becoming smarter, greener, and more efficient thanks to new technologies and evolving business practices.

Today’s environmentally conscious offices are rethinking how they manage documents—from switching to cloud platforms to investing in energy-efficient printers that reduce waste. Local suppliers like Toner Print are playing a vital role in helping Perth organisations upgrade their printing practices without compromising performance.

In this article, we explore the importance of sustainability in printing, highlight Perth’s green initiatives, and showcase practical ways to reduce your environmental footprint—one print job at a time.

Why Sustainability in Printing Matters

While printing may not be the first area considered when discussing environmental impact, its cumulative footprint is significant. From the energy consumed by devices to the paper, toner, and packaging used, traditional print practices contribute heavily to waste and carbon emissions. In Perth, where environmental leadership is gaining momentum, businesses are being encouraged to act more responsibly—and the print room is an obvious place to start.

The Environmental Cost of Printing

Every print job has a tangible impact. Consider:

• Paper consumption contributes to deforestation and landfill waste
  
• Toner cartridges often end up in landfill unless properly recycled
  
• Energy usage from older, inefficient machines increases carbon emissions
  

According to Planet Ark, over 25 million printer cartridges are consumed in Australia each year, with many not being disposed of sustainably. By shifting to more eco-conscious habits, Perth workplaces can play a role in reducing that number.

Meeting Sustainability and ESG Goals

With environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards becoming a business imperative, sustainable printing can help demonstrate measurable progress. It’s particularly relevant in sectors with strict reporting requirements—like government, education, and finance.

Growing Pressure from Clients and Employees

Customers and staff increasingly expect businesses to be transparent about their environmental impact. Sustainable printing practices, while seemingly minor, can become part of a broader strategy to improve brand perception and workplace satisfaction.

Local Green Printing Initiatives in Perth

Perth is home to a growing number of sustainability programs that support greener business practices—including initiatives focused on printing and resource conservation. As both public and private sectors shift toward environmentally responsible operations, local efforts are helping to create momentum for change.

City of Perth and WA Government Programs

The WA Government’s Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 outlines goals to improve resource recovery and reduce landfill dependency. Local councils are also encouraging sustainable procurement and digital-first documentation practices. For example:

• The City of Perth promotes paperless council operations and office digitisation.
  
• Department of Water and Environmental Regulation advocates for e-waste reduction through improved recycling and lifecycle planning.
  

Green Accreditation Schemes

Organisations can seek recognition through environmental certifications such as:

• Green Stamp (run by the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), which helps businesses assess and improve their environmental footprint.
  
• Eco Office by Keep Australia Beautiful WA, which promotes low-waste practices including responsible printing habits.
  

These programs guide businesses on actions such as reducing toner use, managing device efficiency, and shifting to cloud documentation platforms.

University and Not-for-Profit Engagement

Perth’s universities and sustainability-focused non-profits are also promoting responsible printing. Initiatives include:

• Student print quotas to discourage unnecessary printing
  
• Paperless submission systems
  
• Workshops encouraging digital workflow adoption across public and private sectors
  

These grassroots efforts are helping to instil sustainable values in both current businesses and future leaders.

Best Practices for Eco-Friendly Printing

Making printing more sustainable doesn’t always require a complete overhaul. Many of Perth’s environmentally conscious businesses are achieving meaningful results simply by adjusting their print habits and settings. These small changes, when consistently applied, lead to reduced waste, lower energy consumption, and improved cost efficiency.

1. Default Duplex (Double-Sided) Printing

Configuring printers to print on both sides of a page as the default option can cut paper use in half without changing how teams work. Most modern printers support this setting and it can be applied organisation-wide.

2. Enable Eco or Quiet Modes

Many smart printers offer low-energy or quiet modes that reduce power draw when not in active use. These modes also help extend the life of toner and reduce wear on parts—particularly useful in devices that handle frequent or high-volume jobs.

3. Recycle Toner and Ink Cartridges

Rather than sending cartridges to landfill, partner with recycling programs such as:

• Planet Ark’s Cartridges 4 Planet Ark
  
• Manufacturer-led return programs from brands like Lexmark and OKI
  

These initiatives are widely accessible across Perth and can be implemented with minimal effort.

4. Move to Cloud and Digital Alternatives

Reduce unnecessary printing by digitising internal workflows:

• Use cloud platforms like Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive to store and share documents
  
• Encourage the use of e-signature tools for approvals
  
• Replace printed memos and reports with secure PDF delivery
  

Signs Your Printing Setup Is Unsustainable

• You reorder paper and toner more than once a month
  
• Staff print in colour by default without tracking usage
  
• Devices stay powered on 24/7, even when not in use
  
• You lack visibility into who’s printing what and when
  
• There’s no recycling program for cartridges or paper waste
  

Smart Printers That Support Green Goals

Sustainable printing begins with smarter equipment. Modern printers are designed not only for performance but also for environmental responsibility. From energy-saving modes to high-efficiency toner use, these devices play a direct role in helping Perth businesses reduce their carbon footprint.

Below are several environmentally conscious printer models available from Toner Print that support greener operations without compromising productivity.

1. Lexmark XC9635 Colour A3 Multifunction Printer

This powerhouse printer balances performance with environmental responsibility. It’s designed with Lexmark’s sustainability framework in mind and includes a suite of energy and toner-saving features.

Why it’s eco-friendly:

• Automatic duplexing and sleep mode as default
  
• High-yield toner cartridges reduce packaging and waste
  
• Advanced tracking to help teams monitor and reduce paper use
  

Perfect for: Large offices, schools, and government departments focused on both efficiency and sustainability.

2. Lexmark C2335 Colour Laser Printer

Compact, efficient, and perfect for smaller teams, the Lexmark C2335 delivers sharp prints while keeping energy and consumable usage in check.

Sustainability highlights:

• Energy Star certified
  
• Quiet and efficient operation in Eco Mode
  
• Supports toner cartridge recycling through Lexmark’s return program
  

Perfect for: Home offices, startups, and small businesses prioritising green growth.

3. OKI Pro9542dn Graphic Arts Printer

Designed for high-impact colour printing, this OKI model offers long-lasting toner yields and robust batch processing—ideal for minimising print waste in design and marketing environments.

Eco features include:

• Durable print components that reduce long-term waste
  
• Banner print capability to reduce short-run reprints
  
• Precision toner technology to reduce unnecessary coverage
  

Perfect for: Print studios, marketing agencies, and in-house creative teams seeking environmental and operational efficiency.

How Print Management Software Can Help

Even the most energy-efficient printer can fall short if it’s used inefficiently. This is where print management software becomes a powerful tool—helping Perth organisations take control of their print environment, reduce waste, and enforce sustainable practices across teams.

Track and Report Usage

Print management tools such as PaperCut MF, uniFLOW, and Lexmark Cloud Print Management allow businesses to:

• Monitor print activity by user, department, or device
  
• Identify high-usage patterns and unnecessary colour printing
  
• Generate sustainability reports for internal review or ESG reporting
  

These insights empower office managers to make informed decisions and set achievable environmental targets.

Set User Permissions and Print Quotas

Organisations can reduce overprinting by:

• Setting page limits per user
  
• Restricting colour usage to essential documents
  
• Requiring authorisation for high-volume jobs or sensitive printouts
  

This is particularly useful in schools, government offices, and medium-sized teams managing shared devices.

Promote Digital Workflows

Many print management systems integrate with digital platforms like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, making it easy to encourage:

• Paperless file sharing
  
• Digital signatures
  
• Cloud storage instead of printed backups
  

The result is less paper, less energy consumption, and more agile workflows.

Secure Printing and Reduced Waste

By using secure print release, jobs are only printed when the user is physically present to collect them. This avoids forgotten print jobs and sensitive documents being left unattended—a win for both sustainability and data security.

Perth Businesses Leading the Way

Sustainability in printing is no longer theoretical—it’s being practised every day by organisations across Perth. While not all businesses go fully paperless, many are making tangible progress by adopting smarter technologies, revising policies, and building a more eco-conscious workplace culture.

Education and Training Providers

Several Perth-based schools and training centres have implemented student print quotas to limit waste and raise awareness about responsible printing. Many now default to digital handouts, with printing reserved only for essential exams or assessments.

Legal and Financial Firms

Industries traditionally reliant on paper are also evolving. Law firms and financial advisors are moving toward secure cloud document systems with e-signature capability, reducing the need for multi-page contracts and printed reports. Where printing is unavoidable, they’re using print release systems and energy-efficient devices.

Healthcare Providers

Hospitals and clinics are integrating electronic medical record (EMR) systems, which cut back drastically on printing. When documents are needed, they use multifunction printers that are Energy Star certified and support encrypted print jobs to maintain patient confidentiality.

SMEs and Startups

Perth’s small businesses and startups are often ahead of the curve. Many are digital-first by design, using cloud tools like Xero, Google Workspace, and DocuSign. They opt for compact, cloud-ready printers with low energy draw—such as those offered by Toner Print.

Toner Print’s Commitment to Sustainability

As Perth businesses look for more sustainable ways to operate, having a knowledgeable and eco-conscious supplier is essential. Toner Print plays a key role in helping local organisations align their printing needs with their environmental goals.

Supplying Eco-Friendly Printers and Consumables

Toner Print provides a curated range of printers from trusted brands like Lexmark and OKI—many of which are designed with energy efficiency, toner conservation, and waste reduction in mind. These devices support features such as duplex printing, eco-modes, and advanced tracking software that helps organisations minimise their environmental footprint.

Supporting Smarter Workflows

Beyond hardware, Toner Print offers expert advice on how to set up printing systems that promote long-term sustainability. Whether it’s implementing cloud-based workflows or helping organisations adopt print management software, they guide clients toward smarter solutions that reduce both waste and cost.

Access to Genuine, Long-Life Supplies

By supplying genuine consumables, Toner Print ensures that printers operate efficiently and last longer—reducing the number of devices and parts sent to landfill. Many of the toner cartridges offered are compatible with recycling programs, including manufacturer return schemes and Cartridges 4 Planet Ark.

Local Service and Long-Term Support

With their base in Perth, Toner Print provides responsive, face-to-face support and product guidance tailored to the needs of WA businesses. Their commitment to sustainability extends to helping clients extend the life of their equipment, reduce unnecessary prints, and build workflows that balance performance with environmental care.

Printing with Purpose in Perth

Sustainability is no longer a side project—it’s a necessity. In Perth, where the environmental impact of business operations is under increasing scrutiny, even everyday practices like printing are being reimagined through a greener lens.

By embracing sustainable printing, organisations can reduce waste, cut costs, and support broader environmental goals without sacrificing productivity. From implementing duplex printing and cloud workflows to choosing energy-efficient devices, the changes needed are often simple—but their effects are long-lasting.

Support from local partners like Toner Print makes this transition easier. With expert advice, eco-conscious hardware, and reliable service, Perth businesses can confidently take steps toward a more responsible, efficient print environment.

Sustainable printing isn’t just about doing less harm. It’s about doing better—for your business, your team, and the environment we all share.