Water

Divisions strive to use water more efficiently. Bunnings and WesCEF extend this focus on water management to including consideration of the sustainable supply and quality of the water resources relied on for their operations.

Bunnings

Bunnings recognises the importance of responsible water management. 

Bunnings continues to utilise rainwater collection tanks across many stores in Australia and New Zealand to reduce reliance on water mains. Rainwater harvest systems are a standard inclusion for all new Australian store builds and are used for nursery irrigation and restroom facilities.

Kmart Group

Kmart Group recognises the importance of working to minimise water impacts in its supply chain.

Most of Kmart Group’s water usage and impact is from the raw materials and manufacturing of clothing and towel and bedding products. The raw materials, in particular cotton, and the wet processing facilities, such as fabric mills and dying facilities, use the largest amount of water. Kmart Group has committed to capture water usage data, and to develop water efficiency improvement plans for wet processing facilities at select supplier factories producing own-brand clothing, towel and bedding products. Read more about the Kmart water commitment here and Target water commitment here.

Kmart and Target are members of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition who have developed the Higg Index which is a combination of five tools, including the Higg Facility Tool to standardise the measurement of social and environmental impacts in factories or sites. By using the Higg Facility Tool, Kmart Group seeks to gain a better understanding of the different environmental and social performance at the top 100 wet processing supplier facilities, including water use and wastewater.

Kmart and Target are members of the Better Cotton Initiative. Better Cotton encourages cotton farmers to continuously improve their farming practices, including water usage and land management.

Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers

The supply of water and management of wastewater is a business-critical requirement at CSBP's Kwinana site. CSBP manages availability, reliability and cost of traditional water supply and wastewater treatment options, which in turn impact costs, compliance, plant reliability and business growth opportunities.

A review of water source options for daily operations and future growth projects was undertaken in the 2023 financial year and two potentially viable solutions were identified. First, that WesCEF increase its water allocation from the Kwinana Water Reclamation Plant (KWRP) and second, build an additional reverse osmosis plant onsite to remove contaminants from wastewater so that it can be re-used for operational purposes.

Both options use wastewater as the source of supply and assist WesCEF to reduce its reliance on the site’s existing groundwater bores.

The options are currently being assessed for economic viability. Contractual discussions have commenced with the Water Corporation for the planned expansion of the KWRP, which if completed by mid-2025, will address most of CSBP Kwinana site’s projected water needs. 

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