In today’s world of heightened environmental awareness, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a business imperative. From record heatwaves and floods to tightening regulations on pollution and waste, Australian companies are under growing pressure to operate safely, responsibly, and transparently.
Whether you manage a factory, fuel depot, warehouse, or workshop, one simple but critical question remains:
“Are we doing enough to prevent environmental contamination?”
For many organisations, the answer lies in one essential safety measure — bunding.
Bunding, also known as secondary containment, creates a physical barrier that captures and contains spills of hazardous liquids such as fuels, oils, chemicals, and coolants. In essence, it’s a proactive environmental shield — one that protects soil, waterways, and your business reputation from harm.
At Super Spill & Safety Solutions, we see bunding as more than compliance — it’s a cornerstone of environmental stewardship and operational integrity.
🧱 What Is Bunding?
Bunding is the construction of a containment system — typically a raised barrier, tray, or perimeter wall — around areas where hazardous liquids are stored or handled. Its primary purpose is to capture leaks, drips, or spills before they can spread, protecting both the environment and your site.
Common types of bunding include:
- Floor bunding and drive-over bunds for warehouses and workshops,
- Portable spill pallets for drums and IBCs,
- Containment trays beneath machinery or tanks,
- Flexible bund walls for temporary or outdoor use,
- Rubber or polymer bunding systems for chemical-resistant applications.
🛠️ Explore our full range: Bunding & Spill Containment Solutions
🌿 1. Containment of Hazardous Substances
At its core, bunding is about prevention.
Leaks happen — seals degrade, drums rust, hoses split. Without bunding, those spills spread rapidly, seeping into soil, stormwater drains, and groundwater systems.
Bunding provides a vital line of defence, confining hazardous materials within a controlled area and limiting their environmental impact.
| Hazardous Substance | Common Source | Bund Type Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel & Oils | Drums, tanks, vehicles | Poly or steel spill pallets |
| Acids & Chemicals | Manufacturing, cleaning | Chemical-resistant floor bunding |
| Wastewater | Processing areas | Concrete bunding with sealant |
| Coolants & Lubricants | Machinery, maintenance | Drive-over bunding |
| Flammable Liquids | Storage facilities | AS1940-compliant containment bunds |
By physically containing spills, bunding buys you crucial response time, turning what could be an environmental incident into a manageable clean-up.
🧯 Pair your bunding with a compliant Spill Kit for fast containment and clean-up.
💧 2. Protecting Soil, Groundwater, and Waterways
Every year, industrial runoff contaminates thousands of litres of water across Australia. What starts as a small diesel leak in a carpark can end up as a major pollutant in local creeks, wetlands, or drinking supplies.
Bunding safeguards your soil and water quality by acting as a physical shield, preventing hazardous substances from escaping into natural ecosystems.
It’s not just about compliance — it’s about corporate sustainability. With consumers and investors increasingly focused on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance, companies that demonstrate environmental care gain a significant edge.
💚 By preventing contamination at the source, bunding helps businesses align with Australia’s environmental goals — supporting cleaner industries and healthier communities.
📜 3. Meeting Regulatory Compliance: WHS & EPA Standards
In Australia, bunding isn’t optional — it’s often legally required.
Regulatory frameworks such as the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) guidelines, and Australian Standard AS 1940:2017 (Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids) specify that:
- All liquid storage areas must have secondary containment,
- Bunds must be designed to hold at least 110% of the largest container volume,
- Materials must be compatible with the substances stored,
- And inspection and maintenance must occur regularly.
Non-compliance can result in fines, EPA notices, or even shutdowns. But beyond penalties, bunding compliance demonstrates your company’s commitment to responsible operation — something regulators and clients both value.
🧾 Stay compliant with our Site Audit & Compliance Service — we assess, install, and maintain bunding to AS and EPA standards.
💰 4. Minimising Financial and Reputational Risk
Environmental incidents cost more than just cleanup.
They can lead to:
- EPA fines (often exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars),
- Litigation from affected stakeholders,
- Insurance claim rejections,
- And irreversible brand damage.
With global media and social platforms amplifying every misstep, a single spill can become a public relations crisis overnight.
Implementing effective bunding drastically reduces these risks. The cost of a quality bunding system is minuscule compared to the financial and reputational fallout of an uncontrolled spill.
It’s a proactive investment, protecting not only your business assets but also your credibility and community trust.
“Businesses that invest in prevention save exponentially on remediation.”
🚨 5. Enhancing Emergency Response & Spill Preparedness
No matter how careful your operations, accidents can still occur. When they do, time is everything.
A properly designed bunded area:
- Contains the spill, preventing spread,
- Allows responders to identify the material type safely,
- Provides access points for recovery or vacuum systems,
- Reduces slip and ignition hazards,
- And prevents further environmental damage.
Bunds also integrate seamlessly with Spill Kits, Absorbents, and Emergency Shower & Eyewash Stations to form a complete spill response system.
💪 The goal isn’t just compliance — it’s confidence. With bunding, you control the situation before it controls you.
🧩 6. Sustainability and the ESG Advantage
In 2025, sustainability isn’t a “nice to have.”
It’s a key metric in business partnerships, government tenders, and investment decisions.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting has become mainstream — and proactive environmental management like bunding directly supports these outcomes.
Bunding and ESG in Practice:
| ESG Pillar | How Bunding Contributes |
|---|---|
| Environmental (E) | Prevents contamination, supports clean water goals, and reduces waste. |
| Social (S) | Demonstrates corporate responsibility and care for community well-being. |
| Governance (G) | Aligns with WHS and EPA laws, reducing compliance risk and liability. |
When you show measurable action, like installing compliant bunding systems, you prove to clients, investors, and regulators that your business doesn’t just talk sustainability; it builds it into every process.
🧱 7. Choosing the Right Bunding Solution for Your Site
Not all bunds are created equal. The correct system depends on what you’re storing, how it’s handled, and where it’s located.
| Bund Type | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene Spill Pallets | Corrosion-resistant platforms with built-in sumps | Drums, oils, chemicals |
| IBC Containment Bunds | Large capacity trays for 1,000L containers | Bulk liquid storage |
| Rubber Floor Bunding | Flexible drive-over barrier | Workshops, vehicle bays |
| Concrete Bund Walls | Permanent, heavy-duty containment | Fuel depots, manufacturing |
| Portable Flexible Bunds | Lightweight and mobile | Temporary sites, field operations |
💡 Tip: Always ensure your bund volume equals 110% of the largest vessel or 25% of total stored volume — whichever is greater, as per EPA guidelines.
🧱 Explore our range: Bunding & Spill Pallets
🔍 8. Maintenance, Inspections, and Record-Keeping
Installing bunding is step one. Keeping it compliant is step two.
To meet EPA and WHS obligations, businesses should:
- Inspect bunds monthly for cracks, debris, or chemical corrosion,
- Empty accumulated rainwater or liquids (after proper waste testing),
- Maintain clear documentation of inspections,
- Ensure bund valves are locked and labelled,
- Re-test bund integrity after repairs or modifications.
📋 Super Spill & Safety Solutions offers On-Site Inspections that include:
- Visual checks of containment systems,
- Volume capacity verification,
- Spill response readiness audits,
- Detailed compliance reporting for EPA and WHS purposes.
- Bunding maintenance isn’t just good practice — it’s proof of due diligence.
🏢 9. Real-World Impacts: Lessons from Recent Environmental Incidents
Across Australia, environmental authorities are taking a tougher stance on preventable contamination.
In 2024, several high-profile companies faced EPA enforcement for oil and chemical spills that breached containment barriers.
In nearly every case, investigators found:
- Inadequate or damaged bunding,
- Lack of inspection records,
- Or complete absence of secondary containment.
The result? Massive cleanup costs, public scrutiny, and long-term brand damage.
These examples underline the growing expectation for businesses to adopt visible, verifiable containment systems — not just reactive measures after the fact.
When your site is inspected, a properly installed and maintained bund is a clear demonstration of environmental compliance and risk management maturity.
🧭 10. What Bunding Means for Your Business
Implementing robust bunding systems is about more than avoiding penalties. It’s about futureproofing your operations, protecting your people, and preserving the planet.
Key Business Benefits:
✅ Prevent environmental damage and EPA breaches
✅ Protect soil, groundwater, and ecosystems
✅ Reduce cleanup and insurance costs
✅ Strengthen ESG credentials and tender eligibility
✅ Build public and stakeholder trust
✅ Demonstrate leadership in sustainable operations
“Environmental protection isn’t a cost — it’s an investment in resilience.”
By embracing bunding, you signal that your business is serious about compliance, safety, and sustainability — three pillars that define successful organisations in 2025 and beyond.
🦸 How Super Spill & Safety Solutions Can Help
As Australia’s trusted experts in environmental containment, Super Spill & Safety Solutions provides end-to-end bunding support:
- Site risk assessments and product selection,
- Supply and installation of permanent and portable bunding systems,
- Scheduled inspections and maintenance,
- EPA and WHS documentation,
- And integration with Spill Kits, Absorbents, and Emergency Showers for full-site protection.
Our team works with businesses across manufacturing, logistics, automotive, education, and government sectors — tailoring containment systems that meet your unique risks and regulatory requirements.
🧱 Learn more: Bunding Solutions for Every Industry
🌏 Conclusion: A Safer, Cleaner Future Starts with Containment
The future of business is sustainable, compliant, and environmentally conscious.
In an era where every action counts, bunding stands as a simple yet powerful safeguard — one that protects our waterways, communities, and corporate integrity.
By containing hazardous substances, maintaining compliance, and demonstrating environmental leadership, your business contributes to a cleaner, safer, and more responsible Australia.
