polytec is 100% Australian family-owned brand and for over 30 years, we have taken pride in being an Australian manufacturer, with sustainability ingrained in the core of our operations, products, and work practices.
polytec is on a journey – one that places sustainability at the centre of how we design, manufacture, and support our customers. We believe that sustainable practices are the foundation of strong, resilient communities – and we’re committed to contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future for all.
This booklet outlines key sustainability practices and performance insights from our brand, providing a transparent overview of our current approach and progress across our MDF and particleboard product offers manufactured in Australia.
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polytec is actively developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for our decorative board products. EPDs provide a scientifically verified, transparent assessment of a product's environmental impact across its entire lifecycle - from raw material extraction to production, use, and end-of-life disposal.
By providing clear, independently assessed data, EPDs support our customers in achieving green building certifications and driving positive environmental outcomes.
The reDirect Recycling Wood Recovery Initiative services polytec customers by collecting raw and melamine coated particleboard offcuts for reuse. These materials are diverted from landfill and repurposed into new particleboard within our closed loop manufacturing processes, reducing waste and preserving valuable plantation resources.
By participating in this program, polytec customers contribute to a circular economy and help build more sustainable manufacturing practices - ensuring timber is used efficiently and environmental impact is minimised across the supply chain.
polytec are striving to reduce carbon emissions by installing solar panels throughout all sites nationwide. Since 2018 over 46,000 solar panels across the network of facilities have been installed.
When installed, the Oberon facility was Australia's largest rooftop solar system with over 27,000 solar panels over eight hectares.
At our Oberon manufacturing site, water conservation plays a central role in our sustainability efforts. The site features our largest Waste Water Treatment Plant, using Ultrafiltration and Reverse Osmosis to treat and recycle process water.
The recycled water becomes the site’s primary source of tertiary water, supporting various operations across the plant. By doing so, we minimise demand on the local town water supply and reduce the environmental impact associated with water consumption.
The initiative highlights our commitment to resource efficiency and environmentally responsible manufacturing.
polytec employs environmental policies and procedures with utmost integrity. We are committed to achieving the goal of minimising water and energy consumption by implementing careful measures in our manufacturing facilities. Holding Chain of Custody certification with internationally recognised organisations promotes responsible stewardship of the worlds forests.
Chain of Custody (CoC) is the process of tracking wood and forest products originating in certified forests through all phases of ownership, transportation and manufacturing from defined forest acres to the final product and delivery to the end consumer. polytec is Chain of Custody (CoC) certified under the Australian Forestry Standard. Our CoC certification assists to reassure our customers that certified products purchased from us are from legal, well-managed forests.
GreenTag Certificates
The Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) - AS 4708, is the leading management standard of the Australian Forest Certification Scheme (AFCS), which has over 7.8 million Certified hectares of native forests and plantations in Australia. The AFCS also includes a Chain of Custody Standard - AS 4707, to track forest and wood products through the supply chain.
These Australian Standards® are recognised by Standards Australia and are internationally recognised through the endorsement and mutual recognition of PEFC. All products displaying the AFS label are products from independently Certified organisations that are identified by the unique Certification number under the AFS trademark logo.
EWPAA Certificates
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC) was launched in 1999. PEFC is a framework for the mutual recognition of credible national or regional forest Certification schemes which have been developed to meet internationally recognised requirements for sustainable forest management. Over 209 million hectares of forests are currently Certified under the PEFC - which is the world’s largest forest Certification scheme.
