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
New report outlines key considerations for a just transition for mining and steel
Today, ResponsibleSteel and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) published a landmark report, ‘Driving just transitions in the mining & steel sectors: The role of voluntary sustainability standards’, outlining how voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) can help deliver fair and inclusive transitions as heavy industries globally move to decarbonise. It is the first report of its kind, jointly authored by VSSs from the mining and steel sectors.
Developed by ResponsibleSteel and IRMA, the report demonstrates how collaboration across the supply chain provides the necessary understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by both sectors to achieve a truly just transition for mining and steel. ‘Driving just transitions in the mining & steel sectors: The role of voluntary sustainability standards’ introduces nine key principles and five recommendations to help VSSs integrate just transition into their frameworks.
The report also reveals a significant gap—despite commitment at both government and corporate levels to just transition principles, implementation remains slow and inconsistent. With mining responsible for up to 10% of global energy-related emissions and steel also accounting for around 10%, accelerating decarbonisation in these sectors is critical. But without deliberate action, workers and communities most affected by these transitions risk being left behind.
ResponsibleSteel CEO, Annie Heaton, commented, “Decarbonisation is one of the most pressing global issues we face today. But if we ignore its social impacts, we risk serious unintended consequences. With around six million people employed in steel and another 20 million in mining—plus millions more in supply chains and communities that depend on these industries—industry must work together with workers, communities and governments to consider how to plan the transition to benefit people as well as the planet.”
Stakeholders involved in the project—including industry leaders, supply chain actors, academia, governments, trade unions, civil society organisations, local communities, and Indigenous groups—emphasised that these transitions must not only be fast, but fair, putting justice at the heart of industrial change.
IRMA Executive Director Aimee Boulanger observed, "This research shows that for voluntary standards to succeed, they must be structured to improve justice and inclusivity as they decarbonise and protect the environment."
Key findings from the report included:
- Justice at the centre: Stakeholders recognised the urgent need to decarbonise but stressed that justice must guide transition planning.
- Inclusive process: The specific definition of “Just Transition” is highly contested, with varying interpretations. Engaging stakeholders is key to effectively defining the transition scope, identifying social impacts, and shaping mitigation actions.
- Restorative justice challenges: Addressing restorative justice remains complex, requiring deeper collaboration among governments, companies, VSSs, and historically impacted communities.
- Flexibility: Just transitions will differ across contexts and sectors. Principles must remain adaptable to be effective.
Funded by the ISEAL Innovations Fund with support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the report draws on international principles from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the UN Working Group on Human Rights, academic justice theory, interviews with 35 stakeholders, and two in-person workshops held in Brussels and Johannesburg.
This work highlights the unique role VSSs can play in providing practical frameworks for implementation, accountability, and verification, setting a clear reference point for steel and mining companies to plan transitions in a way that is equitable and fair. Both ResponsibleSteel and IRMA will continue to engage with stakeholders to discuss the best way to integrate just transition principles into their respective systems.
Read the full report here.
For more information, please contact:
ResponsibleSteel: communications@responsiblesteel.org
Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA): info@responsiblemining.net
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.
