We’re shaping a more ResponsibleSteel industry.

The revision of the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard is picking up pace. Launched in late 2024 with a scoping consultation, the revision process is now reaching an inflection point: we have been consolidating input from the various Working Groups and other stakeholders’ feedback into a first draft for public consultation.

Below, we reflect on who ourstakeholders are, why their engagement matters, and how different perspectives can help drive the future of responsible steel production.

Why stakeholder engagement matters

Revising an international standard affects not only steel producers and workers, but also other businesses in the value chain, communities, auditors, civil society organisations, and governments — and more — worldwide. This requires a process that is transparent, credible, and robust.

The steel industry is under growing pressure to decarbonise, strengthen human rights protections, and improve transparency across supply chains. A credible sustainability standard must reflect not only technical expertise and best practice, but also the realities faced by those implementing, auditing, and impacted by the standard.

That is why stakeholder engagement sits at the heart of the revision process, ensuring that the Production Standard is informed by a diversity of perspectives, grounded in real-world experience, and trusted by not only steelmakers but industry stakeholders more widely.

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Mapping stakeholders across the steel ecosystem

As part of our standard revision work, we identified a broad range of stakeholders who are either directly or indirectly affected by the Production Standard and its revision.

Groups most directly affected are ResponsibleSteel value chain members and certificate holders, certification bodies, and recognised standard-setting schemes, as they directly implement, assess, or depend on the Production Standard.

These stakeholders provide practical insight into how requirements function on the ground, including challenges related to auditing, implementation, and operational feasibility.

More widely, ResponsibleSteel seeks input from members across all stakeholder groups, including:

·       civil society organisations and NGOs,

·       industry representatives,

·       governments,

·       scientists and academics, and

·       communities affected by steel production.

We also welcome perspectives from non-member organisations, including companies across the steel value chain, whose experience and expertise help strengthen the revision process.

Each group brings different expectations and priorities to the process — from scientific rigour and legal alignment to labour rights, environmental integrity, and local community impacts.

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Creating multiple channels for participation

Recognising that stakeholders engage in different ways, we have developed a multi-channel communications and engagement strategy.

Engagement spans channels like in-person and online meetings, webinars, Working Groups, Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), member reference groups, member newsletters, targeted outreach, social media, and public consultations.

This layered approach helps ensure that both highly engaged technical participants and broader stakeholder audiences can contribute meaningfully to the revision process.

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From awareness to active participation

The revision process has progressed through several stages, from raising awareness and sharing information, to convening Working Groups, member reference groups and Technical Advisory Groups to explore key technical and social topics in greater depth. Throughout, ResponsibleSteel has sought to create meaningful opportunities for stakeholders to engage with and inform the development of the revised Production Standard.

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The public consultation: a milestone for stakeholder engagement

One of the most important milestones for stakeholder engagement in the revision of the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard will be the public consultation, expected to launch in late-Q3 2026.

While Working Groups and Technical Advisory Groups provide dedicated forums for technical discussion and expert input, the consultation opens the process to a much broader audience. It creates an opportunity for anyone with an interest in responsible steel production, from steelmakers and downstream manufacturers to civil society organisations, researchers, governments, workers, and affected communities, to have their voice heard.

This stage is about more than simply inviting comments. It is an opportunity to hear directly from stakeholders about their real-world experiences, identify issues that may not have emerged during technical discussions, and understand how the proposed revisions could affect different parts of the steel value chain. By bringing together a wide range of perspectives, the consultation helps strengthen both the quality of the Production Standard and confidence in the process used to develop it.

The consultation will be supported by webinars, outreach activities, newsletters, and detailed consultation materials designed to help stakeholders understand the proposed changes and provide informed feedback. Every submission will be reviewed and considered part of the revision process, helping to shape the final version of the Production Standard. ResponsibleSteel will share further details on how to participate in the coming weeks and months.

Learn more about the standard revision process here.

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Steel is essential to modern economies, underpinning everything from buildings and transport to energy infrastructure and manufacturing. Yet the sector is also responsible for around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making its decarbonisation a critical component of achieving global climate goals.

Today, ResponsibleSteel has published a new report, Global Steel Decarbonisation: From complexity to coherence, examining how fragmented policy frameworks are creating barriers to the transition to low-emission steelmaking.

Across the world, governments are introducing policies designed to reduce emissions from steel production while maintaining competitiveness, supporting jobs and strengthening industrial capacity. While these objectives are often aligned in principle, they are increasingly being pursued through separate and sometimes incompatible policy frameworks.

The result is a growing patchwork of regulations, reporting requirements, emissions methodologies and product classifications that can increase complexity for producers, create uncertainty for investors and make it more difficult for markets to recognise and reward genuine decarbonisation progress.

As Annie Heaton, CEO of ResponsibleSteel, explains:

“Right now, policy fragmentation is slowing down the very transition it is meant to accelerate. Greater alignment is entirely achievable, and essential, if we are to unlock investment and deliver steel decarbonisation at the pace required.”

A global review of steel decarbonisation policy

The report provides a global review of steel decarbonisation policy, with a particular focus on the European Union and India, two of the world's largest steel producers and consumer markets.

It examines the expanding mix of policies shaping the transition, including trade measures, sustainable finance frameworks, public procurement requirements, green steel labelling initiatives and ESG-related regulations.

While policy activity is accelerating in both regions, the report finds that many frameworks are built on different foundations. Diverging definitions of low-emission steel, inconsistent emissions accounting methodologies and varying approaches to recycled steel content can create friction across markets and weaken investment signals.

From complexity to coherence

The report argues that governments do not need to start from scratch. Instead, greater policy coherence can be achieved through stronger alignment between existing standards, certification systems and data requirements.

To support this, the report identifies a number of practical actions that policymakers can take:

• Establish more consistent approaches to measuring and reporting steel emissions.
• Reduce duplicated reporting requirements through greater recognition of independently verified data across jurisdictions.
• Develop common approaches to accounting for recycled and primary steel content, including the use of scrap-variable metrics.
• Strengthen traceability through credible chain-of-custody systems across steel supply chains.
• Better integrate environmental, social and governance considerations into steel decarbonisation policy frameworks.

Together, these measures can help create more transparent and competitive markets for low-emission steel, reward producers making genuine progress on decarbonisation and support the investment needed to accelerate the transition.

Download the report

Global Steel Decarbonisation: From complexity to coherence explores these challenges and opportunities in greater detail, providing practical recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders and investors seeking to support the transition to low-emission steel.

Download the report

ResponsibleSteel has announced that its flagship global Forum will take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 16–18 March 2027, bringing together more than 400 leaders from across the iron and steel value chain to accelerate progress towards responsibly produced, low-emission steel.

Hosted with the support of Lead Sponsor EMSTEEL, the ResponsibleSteel Forum 2027 will provide a global platform for collaboration, bringing together stakeholders from across the steel value chain. The Forum will focus on tackling real-world challenges, advancing practical solutions and accelerating the actions needed to scale responsible, low-emission steel production, while strengthening the policy, investment and market frameworks that will enable the industry's transition.

The multi-day programme will feature keynote discussions, plenary sessions, practical working sessions, targeted roundtables and networking opportunities designed to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing. Participants will include steelmakers, raw material suppliers, downstream buyers from sectors including automotive, construction and energy, alongside policymakers, financial institutions, trade unions and civil society organisations. Together, they will explore the challenges facing the sector and identify practical solutions that can help accelerate progress while recognising leadership and innovation across the industry.

The MENA region is becoming increasingly important to the global steel transition, and the ResponsibleSteel Forum 2027 will reflect that momentum by bringing the global steel community to Abu Dhabi. With access to renewable energy, emerging hydrogen capabilities and strong industrial ambition, the region is well positioned to play a leading role in the shift towards near-zero steel. The Forum will also serve as an important bridge between COP31 and COP32, helping shape the steel sector's contribution to international climate discussions.

The Forum will be global in scope, bringing together participants from a broad and diverse range of countries and regions. It reflects the international nature of the iron and steel value chain and the shared need for credible standards, enabling policy, investment and stronger market signals to support the transition to responsible steel production.

The programme will focus on moving from ambition to implementation, including:

• Advancing credible standards and certification for responsible steel

• Scaling near-zero emissions iron and steel production

• Strengthening demand signals and green procurement

• Unlocking finance and investment for transition technologies

• Ensuring a just and inclusive transition across the value chain

Further details on the programme and speakers will be announced in due course.

ResponsibleSteel CEO Annie Heaton said the Forum comes at a pivotal moment for the industry, as the global transition continues to reshape steel production and the role of clean energy infrastructure becomes increasingly important.

"At a time when the global context continues to shift, we are acutely aware of the importance of clean energy infrastructure and the growing role of sunbelt economies in enabling the transition to low emission iron and steel. Against that backdrop, the ResponsibleSteel Forum 2027 will bring together leaders from across the value chain for what promises to be a timely global conversation on the future of responsible steel. By convening this multistakeholder community in the UAE, we aim to turn shared ambition into coordinated and coherent action and accelerate progress towards a more responsible, low-emission industry."

ResponsibleSteel Chair Gerry Tidd said the Forum reflects the organisation's founding belief that lasting progress depends on collaboration across the steel value chain and between a broad range of stakeholders.

"ResponsibleSteel was founded more than a decade ago, on the belief that real sustainability in steel requires collective action by multi-stakeholders. At a time of rapid technological and economic challenge for the sector, ResponsibleSteel plans to host the ResponsibleSteel Forum 2027 where we bring all our members and stakeholders together to address the near- and long-term future of sustainable steel.

The Forum 2027 will be held in the MENA region and hosted by leading steelmaker, EMSTEEL. The Forum will convene a worldwide collection of leaders from across our dynamic industry. It's a Forum not to be missed."

For EMSTEEL, hosting the Forum marks an important milestone for both the company and the wider region. Group CEO Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi said the event reflects Abu Dhabi's growing role as an international centre for industrial transformation while providing an opportunity for stakeholders to align around practical solutions for the future of steel.

"Hosting the ResponsibleSteel Forum in Abu Dhabi for the first time in the MENA region is a strategic milestone for EMSTEEL, the UAE, and the global steel industry. It reflects Abu Dhabi's growing role as an international centre for industrial transformation and climate-focused dialogue, while reinforcing EMSTEEL's leadership in advancing responsible steel production. As decarbonisation continues to reshape operating models, investment decisions, and long-term competitiveness, this Forum will provide a critical platform to align global stakeholders around practical solutions that support a more resilient and sustainable steel sector."

Join us in Abu Dhabi

Registration will open soon. If you'd like to receive updates and be among the first to hear when registration opens, register your interest below.

Register Your Interest Here

Sponsorship opportunities

A range of sponsorship opportunities is available for organisations looking to showcase their leadership and engage with an international audience of industry decision-makers.

If you're interested in sponsoring the ResponsibleSteel Forum 2027, please contact alobo@responsiblesteel.org

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