Bunnings responds

Below is the response from Bunnings to our letter to them:

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Bunnings would like to let people know that we have operated a zero tolerance approach to illegal logging for many years and we do not understand why we are being associated with these claims by the Rainforest Action Group.

Please read our recent response to RAG and make up your own mind. We welcome your contact via our website on this issue and would be happy to discuss any concerns or queries on this issue.

Dear Omar,

Thank you for your letter dated 7th September regarding concerns surrounding the sale of timber products made from kwila.

Bunnings has an absolute “zero tolerance” to illegal timber and we share the concerns that you raise in relation to illegally logged Kwila.

Bunnings has been committed to real action on this issue for almost a decade now. We began working with Greenpeace in 2001 and first introduced our sustainable timber purchasing policy in 2003. Since then Indonesian Kwila and indeed all tropical hardwoods from South East Asian forests have been a focal point of our actions.

In 2006 we began a third party Verified Legal Origin (VLO) pilot program targeting key Kwila decking suppliers in Indonesia. This identified opportunities and pitfalls within those supply chains and where a VLO CoC or alternatively a Tropical Forest Trust source was achievable.

This pilot led to Bunnings implementing a specific requirement for all 100 per cent tropical timber products to achieve a minimum of VLO by January 2009. This result has been substantially achieved in relation to Kwila products in New Zealand and we continue to raise the bar by challenging our suppliers to transition from VLO to “Credibly Certified” status.

We are proud of this achievement and the fact that our policy has been able to influence positive change in Malaysian and Indonesian forests.

As quoted in the June 2006 independent report “A Review of the Current Policies & Practices Employed by Timber and Timber Product Importers to Determine the Legality of Supply”, funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry:

“The key driver identified for the adoption of written policy and practices to determine legality was an annual survey undertaken by a major customer, Bunnings, to support their Timber and Wood Purchasing Policy. This market based driver has been very successful. Many of the timber importers nominated their reason for having a procurement policy was due to this initiative by Bunnings.”

As an example of this in New Zealand, since 2009 all Bunnings Kwila outdoor furniture has been sourced exclusively from suppliers who are members of the Tropical Forest Trust and are progressing with action plans under the guidance of the TFT to ultimately achieve FSC certification.

We have always taken a collaborative approach on these issues and have actively sought the advice of Greenpeace, WWF, and other accredited bodies, who have assisted with framing a policy for imported tropical hardwoods.

Further to active involvement in the NZTTIG over many years, Bunnings is also part of the WWF Global Forest Trade Network and joined Greenpeace Australia as the leading retail signatory to a joint letter calling the Australian Government to regulate illegal timber imports in June 2009. We are hopeful that this legislation will be passed in Australia which may assist the New Zealand Government in framing a similar approach.

Bunnings remains committed to providing products for our customers that originate from legal and well managed forests, and we believe that customers and team members have a right to demand this of us. While we make no claim to be perfect we are sincere in our efforts to do the right thing and reduce our impact on the environment.

We believe that the best way of achieving this goal is through engaging with suppliers of tropical timber products so we remain in a strong position to influence better forest practices and outcomes for local communities.

If you wish to discuss this matter in more detail please feel free to contact our New Zealand General Manager, Rod Caust or myself.

Kind Regards,

John Gillam

Managing Director

Bunnings Group Limited