Bunnings
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Australia's largest hardware and home improvement retailer.
We couldn't confirm where it makes the rest, and most homewares and appliances are made in countries such as China and Vietnam, where the legal minimum is below a living wage.
Better-graded furniture
Graded higher than Bunnings, selling the same kinds of things.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in China, Vietnam and India.
- Met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (timber) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: timber
Red flags 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Bunnings names some of the countries it makes in: Australia and New Zealand. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Australia | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| New Zealand | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| PolandUsual for the industry | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| MalaysiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Modern slavery statement
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Doesn't show where its timber comes from. Timber is linked to illegal logging linked to forced labour, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.
Research notes Bunnings' own-brand and direct-sourced goods are made by independent suppliers; it says about 40% of what it sells comes from makers in Australia and New Zealand, but it publishes no factory list and no production shares; its 13 sourcing countries cover all suppliers, including resold brands. In FY25 it ran 637 audits, found 104 reportable breaches (mostly safety, hours, wages) and runs a worker helpline at 557 sites in China, Vietnam and Indonesia. In FY26 it monitored 65% of sites in its ethical sourcing program. It has no living wage commitment. Its timber policy needs natural-forest timber to be FSC or PEFC certified and says over 99% comes from plantations or legally verified forests.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Covered by Wesfarmers' 2025 modern slavery statement: Bunnings ran 637 supplier audits, found 104 reportable breaches and worked with 367 sites in 21 countries on remediation. View |
| Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (World Benchmarking Alliance) | Listed | Parent company Wesfarmers scored 43.7 out of 100 on the World Benchmarking Alliance's 2026 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Not assessed in Baptist World Aid's 2026 Ethical Fashion Report or its Electronics Industry Report (2016), which do not cover hardware retailers. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Bunnings – Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · Wholly owned by Wesfarmers; Wesfarmers scored 43.7/100 in the 2026 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (average 53.7)
Published by Bunnings or its owner
- Wesfarmers 2025 Modern Slavery Statement · search the archive · 637 Bunnings audits, 104 reportable breaches; 367 sites remediated in 21 countries; helpline at 557 sites; 13 sourcing countries
- Bunnings – Human rights FY2024 (Wesfarmers) · search the archive · 590+ third-party audits and 1,170 risk assessments; Your Voice helpline and call-back service; no living wage commitment mentioned
- Responsible sourcing – Bunnings Trade · search the archive · Over 99% of timber from low-risk plantations or legally verified forests; about 40% of products from Australian and NZ makers
- Bunnings – Nature and biodiversity FY2024 (Wesfarmers) · search the archive · Responsible Timber Sourcing Policy: natural forest timber must be FSC, PEFC or equivalent certified; no certified share published
- Wesfarmers 2026 Annual Report (ASX, August 2026) · search the archive · Bunnings employs more than 51,000 team members; 65% of ethical sourcing program sites monitored in FY26 (71% in FY25)
Company details
- Owned by
- Wesfarmers
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Employees
- About 51,000
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Bunnings ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/bunnings, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Bunnings.