Sustainability

Bowens - The Builders Choice

Bowens is moving towards a more sustainable way to do business by reducing our impact on the environment. As a fourth-generation leading supplier of timber and hardware in Australia, Bowens, along with our manufacturing division Timbertruss, is dedicated to supporting future generations in building sustainability within everyday operations and practices.

Our Sustainability Initiatives

Upcycling Materials
Did you know Bowens and Timbertruss re-uses timber off-cuts? We’re upcycling materials to ensure it doesn’t end up in landfill.
- Re-use off cut timbers for bearers on packs
- Re-use timber bearers that come from suppliers
- 45mm and 35mm off cut timber lengths greater than 300mm are reused for product wall junction blocks and truss noggins
- Design software at the detailing stage to minimise off cut waste
- State-of-the-art production automation allows for precise cutting, reducing waste.
Responsible Sourcing

As a supplier of timber, it is important for us to support the long-term sustainability of our forests.

Since 2014, our North Melbourne store has held a PEFC & FSC accreditation for the responsible sourcing of timber. This accreditation promotes sustainable forest management through an independent third-party certification.
Renewable & Reduced Energy Usage
We’ve been consciously finding ways to reduce our footprint across stores and investing in solar energy.
- Saving Energy In-House with the use of automatic lights, timers and the introduction of LED lighting solutions
- Installation of Laserlite transparent roof sheets across all warehouse and manufacturing operations to maximise natural light and reduce reliance on the grid during the day
- Solar panel installation at all manufacturing locations, including 1,386 solar modules at Timbertruss. All Bowens store locations to be rolled out in the next 5 years.
Transportation
As a one of our main tools of the trade, moving towards electric forklift fleets is essential to reduce our carbon footprint and encourage sustainability within our stores.
- Forklift fleet currently transitioning from LPG to electric
- Electric side loading forklifts at multiple locations
- Electric pallet jacks at all locations
- Provisioning for EV charging stations at all new locations.
Bowens Online Trade Hub

Our industry leading ecommerce website ensures that builders and trades can access their accounts, invoices, quotes and order online 24/7. Zero paper, zero pens, zero waste.
Reducing Waste & Packaging
We are committed to reducing landfill and supporting recycling at all our stores.
- Cardboard and paper recycling at all locations
- Recycling plastic wrapping at select locations
- Recycling Plastic (LDPE and PP) at Timbertruss
- The use of drinking fountains across the business to reduce plastic water bottles
- Removal of all plastic items from promotional materials
- Recycling waste, food organic waste and general waste in staff kitchens
- Timbertruss packing sticks and non-reuseable timber off cuts are donated to Geelong Disability People Industries to be repurposed.
Preserving Water
Preserving our precious water supply is important to us. These are the ways we are trying to reduce our consumption.
- The use of rainwater tanks at stores for landscaping
- Installing zip taps across stores to reduce single use plastic bottles.