Matrak partners with China’s national building material trade center to boost supply chain transparency and sustainability

Melbourne, Australia, 20 November 2024- Homegrown tech company Matrak has partnered with the China Building Material Exhibition/Trade Centre (CBME) to provide real-time, transparent data from Chinese manufacturers. 

Backed by Austrade, this partnership will help Australian builders secure their supply chains, improve quality control, and drive sustainability by offering direct access to key data on production, quality, and carbon emissions.

As of this week, Australian construction companies will have live access to critical insights on quality assurance, production schedules, and carbon impact from Chinese suppliers. This eliminates long-standing risks and inflated costs tied to overseas manufacturing, allowing builders to make informed decisions, reduce project delays, and meet sustainability targets. 

Notably, earlier this year ASIC announced that from 1 January 2025, many large Australian businesses and financial institutions will need to prepare annual sustainability reports containing mandatory climate-related financial disclosures, following the passage of a major bill through Parliament. Matrak’s technology provides a way for builders to create reports and proactively engage with these mandatory climate reporting requirements.

“Matrak’s partnership with CBME is a turning point for Australia’s construction sector,” said Shane Hodgkins, CEO of Matrak. 

“For the first time, builders will have full visibility into the production processes of Chinese manufacturers, giving them the power to track materials, ensure quality, and reduce carbon emissions. Rather than needing to choose between affordability and transparency, which are both vital. This is even more important – with ASIC’s mandatory Scope 3 Emissions Reporting from 1st January, the industry faces one of its biggest financial policy changes since the introduction of GST. Matrak’s partnership w/ CBME ensures this critical data is available to the construction industry. Now is the time to ensure you’re compliant.”

To better support the industry transition, Matrak has launched a “5 minute challenge” to help companies get their business + supply-chain Scope 3 ready in only 5 minutes – utilising AI to help track items without creating overhead for builders, suppliers or manufacturers. 

Industry leaders have welcomed this significant advancement. “Immediate access to real-time data from Chinese manufacturers is a game-changer,” said Steve Stavrou, Commercial Director and Head of Global Procurement at Hickory. “It not only reduces risks but helps us hit sustainability targets and deliver projects on time and on budget.”

With construction responsible for 40% of global carbon emissions, this initiative will provide the Australian industry with the tools needed to monitor and reduce the environmental impact of imported materials, aligning with the country’s carbon reduction goals.

“This collaboration embodies the innovative spirit of Australian businesses and our dedication to sustainable practices,” said Daniela Assis, Trade and Investment Commissioner at Austrade Beijing. 

This initiative sets a new benchmark for international cooperation in the construction sector, demonstrating how technology and collaboration can tackle long standing industry challenges.

Hudson Worsley, Chair of the Materials and Embodied Carbon Leadership Alliance (MECLA) said, “As Australia sees more building materials coming in from overseas to meet our increasing demand, this collaboration between Matrak and CBME is important to provide confidence to the building sector that the products coming in have transparent data to improve material selection and efficiency, and details around 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.”

Matrak is an Australian start-up specialising in supply chain management solutions for the construction industry. Its platform enables real-time tracking and coordination of materials, quality certifications, and embodied carbon data across global supply chains. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, Matrak helps businesses improve transparency, efficiency, and sustainability in their operations.

The China Building Material Exhibition/Trade Centre (CBME) is the national governing body overseeing Chinese manufacturer exporters in the construction materials sector. Committed to promoting transparency, quality, and sustainable practices, CBME plays a key role in advancing China’s construction industry on the global stage.