ACCC complaint targets Bunnings over greenwashing claims

The Wilderness Society has filed a complaint to the ACCC calling for Bunnings to be investigated for greenwashing.

Despite promising its consumers responsible and legal sourcing, the Wilderness Society is concerned that Bunnings is selling timber sourced from Australia’s native forests, where destructive and illegal logging takes place. This includes timber from Forestry Corporation of NSW, an agency with a criminal record for environmental harm and a long history of misconduct.

Even with its extensive record of illegal logging, Forestry Corporation of NSW is certified by a sustainable forest management scheme endorsed by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). The PEFC certification scheme has been found to certify the destruction of unique forests and endangered animal habitat as ‘sustainable’.

The Wilderness Society says it made the ACCC complaint because it hopes to highlight the importance of corporations backing their sustainability claims with real action, and the risks of relying on controversial certification schemes in lieu of due diligence. 

Bunnings should not assume the timber it sources from native forests in Australia is sourced sustainably or legally, even if it’s PEFC-certified. Highly destructive logging operations continue to impact Australia’s native forests, including in forests that Bunnings sources from in New South Wales and Lutruwita/Tasmania. 

The Wilderness Society calls on Bunnings to drop PEFC and stop sourcing wood from Australia’s special native forests.

Victoria Jack, Campaigns Manager for Wilderness Society NSW, said, “Australia’s forests are too precious to be for sale on a Bunnings shelf.”.

“Bunnings claims its timber is legal and does not harm endangered species. Our research tells a different story.

“What customers are paying for at the checkout could be timber taken from greater glider or swift parrot habitat, and it may even be illegally logged. 

“For months, Bunnings has refused to provide evidence to support its sustainability claims. Customers need proof—they should not be expected to rely on blanket assurances to ‘trust us, this is sustainable’. 

“Behind the PEFC certification is a grim reality. Forests are being destroyed and endangered animals are losing their homes.

“Bunnings needs to drop PEFC and stop selling wood made from critical habitat for endangered species.”

The Wilderness Society is grateful for the assistance of the Environmental Defenders Office who were engaged to write to the ACCC to set out The Wilderness Society's concerns.

For interviews with Victoria Jack, NSW Campaigns Manager, please contact Rhiannon Cunningham, media adviser for the Wilderness Society on [email protected] or 0419 992 760