We’re shaping a more ResponsibleSteel industry.

The ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard is the global benchmark for sustainable steelmaking, but a benchmark only matters if it keeps pace with change. Steelmakers face evolving challenges, including increasingly ambitious climate targets, shifting regulations, and rising expectations on social and environmental responsibility.

That’s why ResponsibleSteel is committed to continuous improvement, ensuring our Production Standard remains relevant and effective in driving progress towards the responsible production of near-zero steel.

What is the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard?

The ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard consists of 13 Principles containing over 500 requirements for the responsible sourcing and production of steel, including some of the most challenging areas of sustainability for steelmakers, such as decarbonisation. However, responsible steelmaking goes beyond climate change mitigation. That’s why the Production Standard also lays out requirements on labour, human rights, water, biodiversity, and more.

How was the Production Standard developed?

The Production Standard was developed through a process that uses the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for standard-setting as a reference. The first Standard was developed over two years with input from over 70 organisations and 180 individuals. Since then, the Standard has continued to evolve with the needs of the industry. Read more about the evolution of ResponsibleSteel and the development of the Standard here.

Collaboration and transparency sit at the heart of our Standard. Our extensive multi-stakeholder development process involving the steel industry, upstream and downstream stakeholders, and civil society is what makes the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard the most trusted standard for steel globally.

Why are we revising the Production Standard?

Since the launch of the first Standard in 2019, ResponsibleSteel has established itself as a leader on steel sustainability. As the global industry landscape continues to evolve, driven by shifting regulations, emerging ESG reporting requirements, technological innovation, and growing expectations to address social and climate issues, the Production Standard must also evolve.

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, ResponsibleSteel reviews the Production Standard to assess whether revision is needed at least once every five years. This way, we ensure the Production Standard remains effective in supporting ResponsibleSteel’s mission to drive the responsible production of near-zero steel.

What is the standard revision process?

The revision process is outlined as part of ResponsibleSteel’s Standards Development Procedures. The process consists of five overarching stages:

1. The ResponsibleSteel Secretariat reviews the Standard and holds a public consultation to determine topics for revision. Based on these inputs, the Secretariat makes a recommendation to the ResponsibleSteel Board of Directors, which decides whether or not to revise the Standard.
2. Terms of Reference are developed, then approved by the Board of Directors, defining the scope of the revision and outlining the revision process.
3. Topic-based Working Groups provide input on revision areas, and Technical Advisory  Groups are convened to review and oversee Working Group outcomes.
4. A draft of the revised Standard undergoes public consultation to get stakeholder feedback. If there is substantially new content, or extensive changes or feedback, there is a second round of public consultation. Once the revised Standard is finalised, it is reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors before being voted on by ResponsibleSteel’s membership.
5. The revised Standard is published, and a transition period is determined (usually lasting 6 to 12 months) before the new Standard comes into effect for existing certificate holders, however, it could be used earlier for new sites or if preferred by existing certified sites.

Currently, the revision process is in stage three.

What is being revised in the Production Standard?

The revision process focuses on ensuring the Production Standard reflects the latest sustainability priorities and realities of steel production. So far, discussions have commenced on aspects of Principle 10: Climate Change and GHG Emissions, Principle 6: Labour Rights, ensuring a just transition, and increasing alignment with emerging regulations and other standards (e.g. CRSD, ISSB).

Additionally, the revision will include the incorporation of urgent revisions, interpretations and clarifications previously issued, and necessary amendments identified during the review process (e.g. typos).

Who can get involved?

Driving the socially and environmentally responsible production of near-zero steel is a challenge that no single organisation can achieve on its own. Over 180 voices contributed to the development of the first ResponsibleSteel Standard, and this spirit of multi-stakeholder collaboration continues to be the backbone of our standards development process.

ResponsibleSteel members have a unique opportunity to contribute to the revision of the Production Standard and are invited to join our Working Groups to discuss topics for revision. Please get in touch with us to learn more.

Members and wider stakeholders are also encouraged to contribute feedback during public consultations in 2026. Keep an eye on our website, LinkedIn, and our monthly newsletter to find out about upcoming public consultations.

Learn more about the revision process and get involved here.

The December edition of the ResponsibleSteel Newsletter is out!

As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on a year of both challenge and progress for the global steel sector. Amid a rapidly evolving policy and market landscape, ResponsibleSteel has continued to work alongside its members and partners to advance credible, internationally aligned pathways for responsible and low-emission steel. We would like to thank our members, stakeholders, and supporters for their continued commitment and engagement throughout the year.

To mark the end of the year, our CEO Annie Heaton has shared a reflection on ResponsibleSteel’s progress in 2025 and the momentum building across interoperability, standards, policy, collaboration and more. You can read Annie’s end-of-year letter here.

In this month’s newsletter, you’ll also find:

- An introduction to our new Business Board Director

- Updates on recent and upcoming audits, alongside new training opportunities

- A round-up of policy convenings in Europe and India, with insights feeding into our forthcoming policy paper

- A welcome to our newest ResponsibleSteel member

- Key developments from the ResponsibleSteel Standard Revision process

Read the full December update here.

Dear Members, Partners and Friends,

Just under a decade ago, ResponsibleSteel began with a bold vision: to unite the steel industry around a shared commitment to sustainability. As we stand on the threshold of our tenth year, that vision matters more than ever.

You, our members, have championed ResponsibleSteel and its evolution over the years, and driven real progress across the steel industry. I thank you for your continued commitment, even amid complex global challenges.

Mounting pressure to stay competitive while delivering on climate commitments underscores why credible, coherent standards and collaboration across the steel value chain must remain a priority. They are essential to ensure that policy, finance and demand side dynamics shape the future of the industry in a fair and effective way.

Leading the way: Thought leadership and interoperability

This year, ResponsibleSteel took a decisive step forward in shaping the future of low-emission steel. Our leading work on interoperability moved from concept to reality, sending powerful signals to governments, markets, civil society, and investors that global alignment on steel decarbonisation is not only possible, but already underway.

At COP30, we announced landmark agreements with the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) and the Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS), to develop conversion tools for stakeholders to claim equivalency of their decarbonisation progress under the different schemes. Together, membership of the three organisations represents around 60% of the world’s steel production.

These agreements show that pragmatic, plurilateral solutions can deliver real progress, even when global consensus is challenging.  By enabling comparability across standards, these agreements provide a foundation for trade, procurement and investment in cleaner steel. It has clearly bolstered stakeholders’ resolve to build further solutions for the transition to low-emission steel.

In a further significant announcement in December, ResponsibleSteel worked with CARES, CISA, GSCC, LESS, RMI and Worldsteel to jointly commit to the Steel Standards Principles (SSPs) Transparency Criteria for GHG reporting. These criteria outline the key measurement rules behind any carbon intensity disclosure, and their disclosure will enable stakeholders to understand the data they are given and drive standards initiatives closer to achieving clarity, transparency and interoperability. These milestones towards comparable, transparent emissions reporting build on the technical groundwork we have laid, including the publication of our Fundamentals for GHG Emissions Accounting and Classification and verified greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data from ResponsibleSteel Certified Sites.

They represent important steps towards transparent and consistent emissions accounting and data disclosure across the steel industry and mark a real turning point in how standards can support action at scale.

Policy: Engaging government and policymakers to support the transition

Policy is undeniably one of the most powerful levers for driving sustainability, which is why policy engagement has been another cornerstone of our work in 2025.

We began by publishing The Steel Decarbonisation Scale, a joint policy briefing with LESS, urging European policymakers to adopt a realistic approach to steel decarbonisation - recognising scrap supply limits and incentivising genuine emissions reductions across all production routes.

We convened stakeholders in Brussels and Delhi to explore how standards can inform policy mechanisms such as lead market labels, carbon pricing schemes, including cross-border mechanisms, green procurement frameworks and national decarbonisation pathways. I want to thank all our contributors; your insights will shape our global policy paper, which will be published in early 2026.  

Progress on our programmes: Standards, certification and member impact

Despite setbacks to wider industry progress, ResponsibleSteel has strengthened its role as the leading global standard for responsible steelmaking. Our Standard Revision process is well underway, ensuring the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard remains effective, relevant and fit for purpose. Alongside this, our Just Transition project continues to explore how standards can support a fair and inclusive shift to low-emission practices across steel and mining.

Certification remains at the heart of our mission, allowing steelmakers to demonstrate measurable progress across key social and environmental issues. In 2025, major certification milestones included thyssenkrupp Steel’s Duisburg site, the largest in Europe, and EMSTEEL, the first site in the MENA region, bringing the total to 90 Core Site Certifications covering 142.436 Mtpa capacity.

Certifications and recertifications this year spanned eight countries and five regions: Europe, South America, Oceania, Asia and the Middle East.  Over 80% of sites due for renewal chose to recertify, with additional recertifications already underway for next year. These certifications prove that, even in a complex global environment, organisations continue to step up in order to build a more responsible steel value chain.

Another compelling example of the practical progress certified steelmakers are making is our case study with SIJ Group, whose SIJ Acroni and SIJ Metal Ravne sites achieved ResponsibleSteel Core Site Certification in 2024. SIJ outlines why they undertook certification and how it has enhanced their credibility within the market and laid the foundation for continuous improvement across their operations.

Finance and demand: Driving investment and the right market signals

The key to the success of any certification scheme is the value it delivers to the certificate holder. Our Certified Steel Campaign helped demonstrate the credibility of ResponsibleSteel certification to investors and customer networks, showing how it can support procurement and investment decisions, mitigate supply chain risk, and strengthen their market position. By engaging finance, automotive, construction, infrastructure, and beyond, we worked to drive stronger market signals for Certified Steel and showcase the progress certified steelmakers are making towards responsible, near-zero steel.

We have convened lenders and investors both in New York in May and via our online Finance Working Group, bringing together finance sector representatives with steelmakers and civil society to explore how certification can inform investment decisions and be seen as an indicator of risk readiness.

With steel company testimonies, these sessions highlighted the benefits of ResponsibleSteel certification and prompted discussion of how credible standards can mobilise capital toward low-emission steel.

Moving forward: Accelerating the responsible steel transition

The urgency of our mission cannot be overstated. Scientists now expect the world to reach 1.5°C warming by 2030, not 2050. There is growing recognition that credible, transparent, comparable standards must sit at the heart of policy, finance and demand mechanisms if we are to deliver real progress on climate and social issues affecting workers and their communities.

ResponsibleSteel will continue to lead this work, but success depends on all of you, steelmakers, buyers, material suppliers, civil society, investors, and policymakers, working together to urge and support steelmakers to use the ResponsibleSteel system as their reference.

In the upcoming year, we will revise our strategy and focus on our Value Activation Plan, including revisions to our Claims guidance to enable greater market access for those actively driving responsible, low-emission practices. Our goal is to ensure that you, our members and supporters, clearly see the value of your continued commitment to ResponsibleSteel and the tangible impacts we are having across the sector.  

Thank you once again for your contribution and dedication throughout this year.

With best wishes for the year ahead,

Annie Heaton

CEO, ResponsibleSteel