Across the construction industry, the bar is rising for product accountability, and steel is no exception. With growing scrutiny around modern slavery, carbon disclosure, and responsible procurement, traceability is fast becoming a non-negotiable requirement.

For governments, infrastructure developers, and major private sector developers, knowing exactly where materials come from, including how they were produced, transported, and handled, is essential to managing legal, ethical, and environmental risk. Yet many steel products still arrive on site without sufficient documentation or independent verification of their origin and compliance.

As part of the ACRS Product scheme, traceability is integral in the assurance of quality, and has been targeted as part of our onsite audits for the last 20 years. Consequently, our certification framework provides full traceability from the point of manufacture through to the final processed product on site. Through our multi-stage process, including Stage 1 (Manufactured Product), Stage 2 (Processed Product), and our Distributor and Trader Traceability Scheme, ACRS offers certainty across the entire supply chain.

All ACRS-certified steel carries certificates with verifiable QR codes and documentation to link the certified product back through a secure audit trail. The ACRS Cloud, with QR codes and our downloadable App, make it easier than ever for contractors and project teams to confirm compliance onsite within a secure digital environment, reducing the risk of substitution, mislabelled products, or inadequate materials slipping through the cracks.

But traceability isn’t just about compliance, it’s about performance and resilience. From seismic-rated structures to critical infrastructure, construction teams need to be confident that every component meets the required standard. With the complexity of today’s supply chains, only independent, third-party verification provides that assurance.

In an environment of increasing legal obligations and reputational risk, relying on unverified declarations is no longer good enough. Independent, third-party certification not only supports responsible sourcing but it protects everyone involved in the supply chain and provides building safety and resilience.

ACRS remains committed to raising the standard for steel compliance in Australia and New Zealand. For builders, engineers, and asset owners, that means one thing: if it’s ACRS-certified, you know exactly what you’re getting and where it came from.