Working with Indigenous suppliers is about much more than ticking boxes. It is about investing in Indigenous independence, creating new generations of entrepreneurs, and supporting sustainable long-term job creation, and social and economic empowerment.
Indigenous businesses make a real difference to people’s lives. Every dollar of revenue generated by Indigenous businesses in Australia creates $3.66 of economic and social value, according to The Sleeping Giant Rises, a 2025 report by the Indigenous business certifier, Supply Nation, of which Bunzl is a corporate member.
That equates to $42.6 billion of social value each year for Indigenous business owners, their employees, their households and Community.
“Doing business with Indigenous businesses creates additional social value experienced as agency and control over life, expanded aspirations, financial security, pride, physical health and mental wellbeing, improved family relationships and stronger connections to Culture and Country,” the report says.
Indigenous enterprises tend to reinvest directly into their communities, creating employment pathways, mentoring future leaders, nurturing local capability and developing an increased sense of pride.
As well as driving positive impact in their own communities, Indigenous-owned businesses are contributing to the prosperity of all Australians, Supply Nation says. Despite their vital role in regional and national growth, the contributions of these businesses can be underestimated. They not only generate employment and drive innovation, but also invest in skills development and long-term sustainability programs.
“Doing business with Indigenous businesses creates additional social value experienced as agency and control over life, expanded aspirations, financial security, pride, physical health and mental wellbeing, improved family relationships and stronger connections to Culture and Country,” the report says.
PROCUREMENT GROWTH
The Australian government’s Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) has been a major driver of growth in revenue for Indigenous suppliers in recent years, by encouraging the use of Indigenous businesses in government contracts, generating more than $9.5 billion for Indigenous businesses since 2015.
Private businesses are also increasingly choosing to engage Indigenous suppliers, says Mark Phelan, Bunzl Australia & New Zealand’s Managing Director. “We see more and more of our customers – government and non-government – asking for First Nations representation in our product and service suppliers,” Phelan says.
As well as supporting reconciliation and building multi-generational wealth, partnering with Indigenous suppliers can also benefit the procurer, bringing depth, meaning and connection to your brand.
Today’s consumers are more conscious than ever – they want to support businesses that stand for something. Partnering with Indigenous suppliers enriches your supply chain with purpose, authenticity and innovation. Brands should be investing in the idea that partnering with Indigenous businesses is a move toward resilience. These partnerships deepen local supply networks, diversify innovation pipelines and create embedded value that can’t be replicated offshore or at scale without local knowledge.
For businesses serious about long-term relevance and integrity, Indigenous procurement is not peripheral; it’s foundational.
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Partnering with Indigenous businesses allows brands to demonstrate that they “walk the talk” and are proud to put their principles into action. First Nations’ business owners also lead by example. “Indigenous business owners are role models for their families, employees and communities, demonstrating that it is possible to break the cycle of disadvantage and bring mob along with them, without compromising their values,” Supply Nation says.
Among Indigenous businesses, economic activity often goes hand-in-hand with a strong commitment to delivering generational benefits for Community. This alignment of purpose maintains highly motivated and values-driven enterprises. One such business owner is Lane Stockton, the CEO and co-founder of Yarn’n, an Indigenous-owned business that supplies recycled toilet paper, donates 50% of its profits to First Nations education, and recently teamed up with Bunzl to enable national B2B distribution.
“When you back Indigenous-owned businesses, you’re helping to build wealth that stays in the community, not just for today, but for future generations,” says Stockton. “It means job creation, skill development, and pride in seeing our culture embedded in everyday products and services.
“Working with partners like Bunzl is proof that when Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses work together with respect and purpose, we can shift the landscape, not just for our generation, but for those coming after us.”
