Bunnings - sustainability is just the beginning

Bunnings Warehouse is probably best known for its massive green stores, community fundraising sausage sizzles and television commercials.

What is not so well known is the strength of its commitment to sustainability. Since 2007, Net Balance has sat on Bunnings’ Sustainability Reference Group, the small team that takes the lead in translating that commitment into action. In 2009 we helped to run a Sustainability Strategy Workshop for Bunnings.

One action that made a real difference at Bunnings followed a Net Balance audit in 2008 of the packaging on products sold in the stores. Today, a hose reel that was previously encased in plastic is sold with a small label tied around the product. It is just one example of many changes in product packaging that reduce waste when customers take their purchases home. Bunnings works extensively with suppliers to reduce packaging.

In 2007, Net Balance carried out Bunnings’ original calculations of its carbon footprint and identified lighting as its biggest greenhouse source. In the years since, Bunnings has introduced energy efficient lighting systems including e-tronic and LED technologies. This was aided in part by $1.2 million in government funding secured by Net Balance for Bunnings.

Bunnings promotes water efficient products and has a healthy share of Australia’s domestic rainwater tank market. It has cut its own water consumption by installing rainwater harvesting systems at its stores and by hand watering plants in its nursery sections instead of using automated systems.

Bunnings was the first major hardware chain to commit to only sell timber products from low risk plantation or other verified legal or sustainable forest operations.

The famous fundraising sausage sizzles are the focus of Bunnings’ contributions to local communities around its stores. Bunnings provides the site and barbecue equipment for community group run sausage sizzles that raise money for local community organisations and projects.

Bunnings 2010 Community Report Card says it ‘contributed and helped raise over $20 million in direct donations, in kind support and Team Member labour towards community projects’.

Bunnings explains its commitment to sustainability on its website: ‘Sustainability is important to us because fundamentally, it’s the right thing to do and customers and our Team Members expect it’.

Net Balance is proud to be a part of the Bunnings sustainability story.

To learn more about Bunnings and sustainability, click here.