We’re shaping a more ResponsibleSteel industry.
We have the opportunity to do things differently.
ResponsibleSteel is a global, not-for-profit organisation created to maximise steel’s contribution to a sustainable world. Working collaboratively with our members, we have developed an independent standards and certification programme for steel via a process that uses the ISEAL Codes of Good Practice as a reference. Together, we are setting the global standard for responsibly produced net-zero steel.
We’re at a pivotal moment in the steel industry.
According to ResponsibleSteel's calculations using data from RMI and the International Energy Agency (IEA), the steelmaking process, from the extraction of raw materials to the production of steel, accounts for 10% of global GHG emissions. We face a collective challenge to transform the industry, reducing global emissions while ensuring a just transition for workers and local communities.
We have over 160 members working to deliver on our mission to drive responsible steel production.
According to the IEA's Net Zero Emissions Scenario, we need to reduce steel industry emissions by at least 90% by 2050, compared to 2022.
We have over 80 ResponsibleSteel certified sites globally.
Over 250,000 workers are covered by ResponsibleSteel certification.
Over 30% of furnaces covered by ResponsibleSteel certification are EAFs.
This is the future of steel.
Our members are at the heart of our work.
ResponsibleSteel’s membership consists of representatives from across the steel value chain, including businesses, NGOs, trade associations, and other organisations with an interest in our mission. This means our standards are uniquely shaped by multiple perspectives, and their adoption requires the support of both business and civil society members. We encourage organisations globally to join us to create lasting impact for people and the planet.
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We have certified sites across the globe.
Latest news & events
The February edition of the ResponsibleSteel Newsletter is out!
The February edition of the ResponsibleSteel Newsletter is out!
Multistakeholder engagement is at the heart of ResponsibleSteel’s work, and this month we’re excited to launch our new quarterly all-member webinars. We are also drawing attention to our member commitments and inviting members to share examples of progress in action.
Other highlights from this month’s newsletter include progress on the revision of the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard, the launch of our new Resources Hub and more ways for members to get involved.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll also find:
- Dates for the Q1 all-member webinars and reference group meetings
- Membership commitments and leadership opportunities
- Updates on the ResponsibleSteel Standard Revision process
- Introduction to our new Resources Hub
… and more.
Read the full February newsletter here.
The January edition of the ResponsibleSteel Newsletter is out!
As we begin 2026, the year ahead promises to be an exciting and productive one for ResponsibleSteel and the global steel sector. Building on the momentum of 2025, we are continuing to work with our members and partners to advance credible, internationally aligned pathways for responsible low-emission steel.
This month’s newsletter highlights several strands of work beginning to shape our priorities for the year ahead. From progress on our interoperability work with CISA, to key developments in the revision of the International Production Standard, plus new opportunities for members to get involved, 2026 is already off to an exciting start for ResponsibleSteel.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll also find:
- An update on our interoperability work with CISA
- A call to join our Just Transition working group
- Updates on the ResponsibleSteel Standard Revision process
- An introduction to our newest steelmaking member and an approved Certification Body
- Upcoming audits details
… and more.
Read the full January newsletter here.
Reflections from China: ResponsibleSteel's CEO Annie Heaton discusses building interoperability across global standards
Interoperability: Building a bridge between global standards
ResponsibleSteel's quest for a coherent market for decarbonised steel in 2026 got off to a constructive start this month. Following the announcement of our landmark agreements with the Chinese Iron and Steel Association (CISA) and the Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS) at COP30, ResponsibleSteel was in China in January to kick off our work on interoperability with CISA. This work in China complements our parallel project with Brussels-based LESS.
The goal? To build trusted data and claims on decarbonisation.
During our trip, our Director of Programmes, Amy Jackson, our Decarbonisation Lead, Alli Devlin, and myself had the opportunity to:
- Present to the Chinese steel value chain our C2F (China's low-carbon emission steel standard) interoperability MoU at CISA's annual LCA conference.
- Connect with our Chinese members, including SKF, World Resources Institute (WRI), Climate Group, VAMA (Valin ArcelorMittal Automotive JV), Penglai Dajin, and some of our certification bodies working in China, including Afnor and China Quality Certification Centre (CQC).
- Get to work on our C2F-ResponsibleSteel Interoperability Project, structuring the discussions around our Framework for Credible Interoperability.
- Visit the 15mtpa Zhanjiang steel plant, where a new DRI-EAF line was launched in Dec 2025. This has involved the production to date of iron reduced with hydrogen in a 1mtpa DRI plant. Whilst this is currently produced from refined coke oven gas, the project is a hugely significant demonstration of the potential to produce hydrogen-based DRI at an industrial scale.
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What do ResponsibleSteel's interoperability projects look like in practice?
In short, interoperability means measuring emissions using rules that are as aligned as possible, and recognising the differences, to enable comparison on a like-for-like basis. Imagine the benefit this would bring for anyone wanting to distinguish what good looks like, for example, procurement teams, investors, and policymakers.
But making interoperability work in practice requires a lot more if we want a reliable, credible and sustainable system that generates high-quality, comparable data.
We've outlined the key components of this in our Framework for Credible Interoperability, which will inform both our work with LESS and CISA:
- Aligned GHG accounting rules
- A reliable calculation tool
- A robust assurance mechanism
- Credible claims protocols
- Good governance, oversight and resourcing
- Appropriate data management
- Strong operations management systems
This is how markets are built: first with innovation, then with the necessary rules and systems that enable good information to flow – so that steel buyers can understand, investors can evaluate, and steelmakers can compete, based on emissions performance that everyone can trust.
