On 1 April 2011 Kennedy's Timbers was awarded the 2010 ENERGEX Innovation in Sustainability Award. This award is the pinnacle of the ENERGEX Supplier Quality Awards and demonstrates the importance of sustainability for ENERGEX.

The award was presented to Michael Kennedy by the ENERGEX CEO Mr Terry Effeney.

During the presentation the ENERGEX Group Manager Procurement, Ms Sharyn Scriven, remarked that Kennedy's won the award because of their perseverance, commitment to environmental practices and the development of innovative solutions in helping ENERGEX reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Those at the breakfast awards ceremony were told how Kennedy's initially approached the government about recycling timber power poles and then developed a method to remove the contaminated edges and dispose of these to regulated waste.

Kennedy's now recycle old ENERGEX poles and cross arms to sell as recycled timber, a process that has now been extended to shorter length poles, further reducing the amount of waste that would otherwise go to landfill and reducing ENERGEX's carbon dioxide emissions.

This innovative and specialised timber recycling further enhances the strong environmental credentials of increased timber use as opposed to other more carbon intensive materials such as concrete, fibre composites, steel, aluminium and plastics.

Interestingly, the awards presented at the ceremony were crafted from an old ENERGEX power pole!

Kennedy's are proud Partners in the 2011 Timber Design Awards.

Kennedy's recycled timber products featured prominently in the 2009 and 2010 Timber Design Awards, with many architects choosing Kennedy's as their preferred supplier in relation to a variety of landmark projects across Australia.

With an ever-increasing focus on sustainability, and a number of early entries in this years Awards, 2011 is already shaping up to be another big year for recycled timber.

Regatta Foreshore by Day Bukh Architects showcased Kennedy's timber prominently in last years awards. Featuring recycled tallowwood and ironbark the project took out the Public or Commercial Buildings Award along with the high profile People's Choice Award.

The now iconic Tree of Knowledge by Brian Hooper Architect and m3architecture was a crowning project for 2009.

This internationally recognised monument was built from 5200 timber pieces, all hand-picked by Kennedy's staff, from Kennedy's premium recycled hardwood collection. The Tree of Knowledge won the Australian Timber Design Award in 2009 and was also honoured with the prestigious Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage in 2010.

The annual Timber Design Awards play a vital role in emphasising the importance of, and indeed beauty to be found in, the recycled timber industry. Kennedy's is proud to be stepping up to partner with the 2011 Australian Timber Design Awards, once again supporting the best use of recycled timber award.