Window on carbon: tracking building supplies from China

A software startup is building a data trail from China to Australia to open a window on the carbon footprint of the construction industry.

Melbourne-based Matrak announced on Wednesday a partnership with a trade body in China to immediately provide real-time, transparent data from a network of 30,000 manufacturers.

"What we wanted to do was tackle one of the most significant markets for Australia to begin with, particularly dealing with the complexity of language barriers that might make this feel impossible for a lot of people," chief executive Shane Hodgkins told AAP.

"We do see that as being a blueprint for then supporting imports from other countries as well," he said.

The data will help Australian builders, contractors and subcontractors know the carbon footprint of their goods and better secure their supply chains.

With many dependent on China-based suppliers and costs still escalating, the data on quality assurance and production schedules also tackles the risk of delays and price hikes.

With construction responsible for 40 per cent of global carbon emissions, the partnership is expected to provide the Australian industry with the tools needed to monitor and reduce the environmental impact of imported materials.

"This collaboration embodies the innovative spirit of Australian businesses and our dedication to sustainable practices," Austrade Commissioner Daniela Assis said.

Hudson Worsley, chair of the Materials and Embodied Carbon Leadership Alliance, said the building sector must have confidence that the products coming in have accurate data on low-carbon materials and technologies.

"Achieving a Paris-aligned and climate-safe future is a team sport and this kind of partnership will help to set the industry up for better long-term outcomes," he said.

From January 1, many large businesses - and their bankers - will need to make climate-related financial disclosures and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission has warned them to get ready.

According to Matrak, the technology provides a way for builders to easily create reports for these mandatory and potentially onerous climate disclosures.

"We're about to release a five-minute process for any business to be able to not only track their own carbon, but also to then invite their suppliers and their suppliers' suppliers, to get that end-to-end transparency," Mr Hodgkins said.

Compliance with Australian laws against modern slavery could also be tracked and audited, as China Building Material Exhibition/Trade Centre suppliers must provide all of the certifications required to be recognised under international standards.

The trade centre is the national governing body that oversees manufacturing exporters in the construction materials sector.