Responsible sourcing

Our commitment to timber procurement began in 2001, when we introduced a zero tolerance approach to illegally logged timber in our supply chain. That led to the development of our timber policy (PDF, 208KB), which has been in place since 2003, and was most recently updated in August 2018. From that point onwards, we have actively engaged with suppliers, industry groups and government to promote responsible timber sourcing. In 2007, we became the first retail partner of the WWF Global Forest Trade Network (GFTN), an organisation established to end illegal logging and unacceptable timber practices. 

In 2009, we were the lead signatory to a joint industry, community and conservation statement (PDF, 412KB) (led by Greenpeace) which called for an Australian Federal Government ban on the importation of illegally logged timber. In 2011 we were also part of the Common Platform (PDF, 474KB) supporting the Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill, which was presented to the Australian Federal Government. We also played a significant role in a joint timber industry, retailer and non-government organisation steering group led by Planet Ark, which developed Australia’s first national wood products forum and workshop in May 2012. 

In New Zealand, we have been an active member of the NZ Imported Tropical Timber Group (ITTG) since 2001 and we continue to work collaboratively with government and environmental organisations to promote responsibly sourced timber. In November 2012 we welcomed the passing of Australia’s Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill and we are now playing an active role in work aimed at supporting the implementation and education of this legislation for industry and consumers.

We are confident that more than 99% of timber products are confirmed as originating from low-risk sources including plantation, verified legal, or certified responsibly sourced forests. Within that, more than 85% of our total timber products are sourced from independently certified forests or sourced with demonstrated progress towards achieving independent certification, such as that provided by the Forest Stewardship Council® and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC). 

In May 2018, Bunnings NZ achieved chain of custody certification for 3 Trade Centres (East Tamaki, Auckland; Naenae, Wellington and Hornby, Christchurch) to support commercial Greenstar and residential Homestar building projects.

We continue to seek advice from Greenpeace and WWF on our procurement and we remain grateful for their ongoing support. In 2014, we undertook a forest concession field trip with WWF to a supplier of Kwila timber in West Papua, Indonesia. We are proud that our long term efforts and commitment to timber procurement has provided customers and team members with the knowledge that our timber is responsibly sourced.