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BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY

Bunnings’ commitment to environmental responsibility and supporting the community continued in 2006/07.

In May this year Bunnings announced a further $8 million commitment in new environmental initiatives involving:

  • plans to re-fit every Bunnings Warehouse store in mainland Australia (excluding stores located in the tropics) with rainwater harvesting systems at a cost of approximately $6 million over two years;
  • a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2015 or earlier with
    new programmes, including a research partnership with Murdoch University, to accelerate the drive to achieve the goal at a cost of approximately $2 million over two years; and
  • inviting submissions and offering grants to develop carbon offsetting projects.

These new initiatives build on work already undertaken in areas such as timber procurement and plastic bag, energy, waste and water reduction.

Bunnings continued its support of local communities in 2006/07 in a variety of ways. Over $4 million was raised by several thousand community groups through sausage sizzles conducted at Bunnings stores on weekends and public holidays. Through direct donations and sponsorships in excess of $2.5 million was also contributed together with donations of employee time to a large number of community projects. Significant fundraising activities included $230,000 raised for the Australasian Fire Authorities Council for the training of volunteer firefighters and $120,000 for breast cancer research raised through the sale of pink light globes for the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s Porches in Pink appeal.

With over 24,000 employees and a continually expanding store network, issues of safety, recruitment, training and development receive a high priority. A number of new development programmes were introduced into the business during the year. There is also a strong focus on skills training covering service, product knowledge and systems and procedures. Safety receives a very high profile in the business through the B.S.A.F.E. programme, although, it remains a significant challenge for the business as the rolling 12 month lost time injury frequency rate for the year increased to 14.4, compared to 12.4 last year.  The 12 month all injuries frequency rate also increased to 51.1 from 50.7.