We’re shaping a more responsible steel 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 standard and certification programme for steel via a process that aims to align with the ISEAL Codes of Good Practice. 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 150 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, producing over 130 million tonnes of steel annually.
Over 230,000 workers are covered by ResponsibleSteel site certification.
Around 40% of ResponsibleSteel certified sites producing crude steel use 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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Certified sites around the world
Latest news & events
Public consultation: Review and Revision of the International Production Standard
We are pleased to announce that we are conducting a public consultation for the review and revision of the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard v2.1. The consultation period is open for 60 days, from 1 October to 1 December 2024.
To ensure that the standard remains effective and relevant to the industry, periodic reviews and revisions are essential. This process is guided by the ResponsibleSteel Standard Development Procedure v3.0 (topic 12.1), which requires a review and revision every 5 years, in alignment with the ISEAL code.
As part of this formal consultation, we engage relevant stakeholders, including ResponsibleSteel Members, approved certification bodies, and ResponsibleSteel certificate holders to assess whether the standard requires revision, and we report the findings to the Board. Additionally, it is mandated that any approved urgent revisions be included in this regular review and revision process.
The standard consists of 13 principles, covering a wide range of sustainability topics, including ESG, GHG, and community-related topics. To guide the review and revision process, we have gathered and reviewed all relevant information and developed a public consultation document proposing the scope of the revisions to the standards.
Please find the public consultation document here.
The public consultation is open to all stakeholders, and we encourage all relevant stakeholders to participate and provide their valuable input!
Accompanying materials
September 2024 Newsletter
This has been an extraordinary month for ResponsibleSteel. Last week we were proud to announce the achievement of the first Certified Steel by U. S. Steel's Big River Steel at Climate Week NYC. This marks a major milestone for the steel industry. With the first Certified Steel on the market, we are now working with our members and stakeholders to support other steelmaking sites to follow suit and take the next step in certification, while also encouraging steel buyers to promote uptake of Certified Steel.
In this month's newsletter, you will find key updates including:
- The first Certified Steel
- Our newest members
- Upcoming events and trainings
- New opportunities to join the board and team
- And more!
Click here to view ResponsibleSteel's September 2024 newsletter.
U. S. Steel earns world’s first ever certification for ResponsibleSteel Certified Steel at Big River Steel
The United States Steel Corporation's Big River Steel, located in Osceola, Arkansas, passed a rigorous set of standards in environmental, social, and governance categories that raise the bar for sustainability across the steel supply chain.
U. S. Steel today announced it is the first steel company in the world to qualify to sell its products as ResponsibleSteel Certified Steel at its Big River facility in Osceola, Arkansas. Big River received the first ResponsibleSteel Site Certification in North America in 2022 and is once again at the forefront of innovation by achieving certification for sustainably sourced and manufactured steel.
ResponsibleSteel is the industry’s leading global multi-stakeholder standards body, enabling certification at the site level - and now for the first time steel certification. By meeting the standard for Certified Steel, U. S. Steel’s Big River facility demonstrates its continued commitment to advancing industry sustainability while delivering profitable solutions for stakeholders and benefits for the planet.
“This is an extraordinary accomplishment,” said U. S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt. “The rigorous requirements needed for ResponsibleSteel Certified Steel represent a new gold standard for responsible steel manufacturing on a global scale. This certification gives customers and stakeholders confidence that Big River is on the path to near zero and demonstrates that we are using responsible practices across our supply chain. Being the first steel company in the world to achieve ResponsibleSteel Certified Steel demonstrates our strong resolve to build a more sustainable steel industry in the United States and across the world.”
The ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard incorporates environmental, social and governance requirements across its thirteen Principles, which include over 500 criteria for the responsible sourcing and production of steel. Certified Steel requires both Site Certification and additional conformance with two key components: progress on the responsible sourcing of input materials and site-level decarbonisation. ResponsibleSteel Certified Steel provides steel buyers with a consistent assessment of the site’s material sourcing and decarbonisation progress.
By offering Certified Steel, U. S. Steel is demonstrating leadership in enabling steel producers, and suppliers to assess their sustainability progress through a comprehensive, credible global benchmark. The Production Standard is constructed not only to encourage decarbonisation progress at the site but also to drive responsible sourcing and a rigorous supply chain ESG analysis. It fosters tracking and transparency across the steel supply chain from input materials to the product, ensuring that ESG initiatives are integrated at every stage. With four Progress Levels outlined, companies are guided in improving responsible sourcing and decarbonisation until full supply chain transparency and near zero are achieved. U. S. Steel has achieved certification at Progress Level 1 continuing a steadfast commitment to an integrated approach to sustainability.
“ResponsibleSteel employs a comprehensive approach to its certification standards, and that is evident in the work we do here at Big River Steel,” noted Dan Brown, Senior Vice President of Advanced Technology Steelmaking for U. S. Steel and Chief Operating Officer of Big River Steel Works. “Our transparency around decarbonisation and collaborative approach with our suppliers and community all play a role in what it means to have truly ‘sustainable’ steel products for our customers.”
U. S. Steel’s Big River achieved Certified Steel by demonstrating how sustainability permeates throughout the company’s operations. For example, it is more sustainable to obtain the input materials closest to the facility with a known supply chain source. Iron ore pellets are mined and produced at U. S. Steel’s Minnesota Ore Operations, which serve as raw materials for pig iron production at U. S. Steel’s Gary Works in northwest Indiana, which then becomes a key input in the steelmaking process at U. S. Steel’s Big River.
“ResponsibleSteel congratulates U. S. Steel on this significant accomplishment – the first-of-a-kind across the global industry. This certification demonstrates the company’s strong ongoing commitment to transparency, credibility, and responsibility, as they make progress in their decarbonisation plans. Today this news sends a clear message to the market: progress towards responsible ‘green steel’ is being achieved and can be most credibly benchmarked. For those buyers looking to cut through the confusion of environmental claims, look no further,” remarks Annie Heaton, ResponsibleSteel’s CEO. “We look forward to U. S. Steel’s ongoing progress and leadership in the market for credible sustainable steel products.”
Achieving Certified Steel will ensure customers have responsibly sourced and produced steel right here in the USA. Together with ResponsibleSteel, U. S. Steel is creating a more sustainable industry and future for generations to come.
Additional Information
Measured against the global benchmarking system provided by ResponsibleSteel’s International Production Standard, Big River Steel has achieved Decarbonisation Progress Level 1 and Input Materials Progress Level 1, based on the following independently verified information:
· Embodied GHG emissions of crude steel(requirement 10.4): 1.34t CO2e per tonne crude steel
· % scrap content: 57.3%
· Production volume: 2.4mt
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For more information, please contact:
Savannah Hayes
Communications Manager
shayes@responsiblesteel.org
+44 7588 785909
Click here to view the certificate and public audit summary.
