By Danielle Davey
Burmak Cabinets’ striking hemp board cabinets, which have been used in Woodleigh School’s Futures Studio, caught the eye of Zac Efron.
Burmak Cabinets’ Hastings factory has been the source of an increasing buzz – and it isn’t the sound of industrial saws. Founded 20 years ago, the family-run business is generating excitement by helping pioneer the commercial manufacture of cabinetry using Australia’s first 100 per cent hemp board.
The innovative product even caught the eye of Hollywood actor Zac Efron, who recently paid a visit. Deepening his commitment to green building since filming his hit documentary series Down to Earth, Zac spent hours talking with employees, staying into the evening to see the manufacturing process firsthand. In a major endorsement for the team, he has committed to using their cabinetry for his off-grid eco-friendly home under construction in northern NSW.
Accompanying the star on his visit was sustainable living advocate Joost Bakker, the visionary designer who sparked the company’s breakthrough.
Burmak and Joost have now worked together on several projects, beginning with their debut collaboration: Futures Studio at Langwarrin’s Woodleigh School. The space is described as a pioneering, carbon-positive and net-zero learning environment.
Selected to spearhead the studio’s design after his living, no-waste eco-house installation at Federation Square in 2021-22, Joost appointed Somerville-based business SEBS (Sustainable & Environmental Building Solutions) to handle construction. In a fortunate twist, the builders then entrusted Burmak to manufacture and instal cabinets and joinery for the studio’s kitchens, bathrooms and study spaces.
Zac Efron spent hours at Burmak Cabinets’ Hastings factory talking to staff about the hemp board cabinet manufacturing process.
Managing director Brad Kyle and his team were among the first to work with the new material. Through extensive machining trials, they transformed it into premium architectural joinery, proving it was ready for commercial manufacture. They now have exclusive rights to the unique hemp board, made from 100 per cent plant matter.
The Australian-grown hemp is sorted for manufacture: coarse fibres form the core of the board, while finer fibres create the outer face. The benefits to the environment are remarkable. Hemp crops restore farm soils and pull more carbon dioxide from the air than any other plant or tree. There is no concern about a shortage of material either; the crop takes just 100 days to grow from seed to harvest.
Client demand is also growing rapidly. The team has already created and installed fitouts and custom cabinetry for businesses and homes from Collingwood to Merricks. The company is also involved in this season’s The Block, with its work set to be revealed later in the series.
To learn more about this exciting local business, visit www.burmakcabinets.com.au
