ArcelorMittal’s Hamburg site has achieved ResponsibleSteel Core Site Certification, marking an important moment for Europe’s only direct reduced iron (DRI) - electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking site.

The certification recognises the site’s performance against ResponsibleSteel’s International Production Standard and its commitment to responsible steelmaking across environmental, social and governance issues. It follows a comprehensive, two‑year independent audit process carried out by certification body GUTcert, including on‑site assessments, worker interviews and engagement with external stakeholders. Certification confirms that the Hamburg site meets ResponsibleSteel’s globally recognised requirements, with a strong emphasis on transparency and continuous improvement.

Annie Heaton, CEO of ResponsibleSteel, welcomed the announcement, saying, “We congratulate ArcelorMittal Hamburg on achieving ResponsibleSteel Core Site Certification. As Europe’s only DRI‑EAF steelmaking site, this is an important milestone for the region’s steel industry. As the site works towards its ambition of producing near‑zero steel, this certification demonstrates that decarbonisation is being pursued alongside strong social and environmental practices. We look forward to continuing to support ArcelorMittal Hamburg on its journey towards responsible, lower‑emission steel.”

As Europe’s steel sector accelerates efforts to decarbonise, ResponsibleSteel’s Production Standard provides a robust framework that goes beyond greenhouse gas emissions to address workers’ rights, occupational health and safety, community impacts, pollution, biodiversity, and water stewardship.

ResponsibleSteel's Head of Membership and Communications, Joe Woodruff, was on the ground to present the team at ArcelorMittal Hamburg with the site's certificate. He emphasised, "This is a significant achievement, and one that deserves to be recognised and celebrated. Certification is never just a technical exercise. It represents commitment, perseverance, and real courage. To achieve certification, steelmaking sites must work through challenges, address non-conformities, strengthen systems, and demonstrate openness to scrutiny and improvement. That process is what ResponsibleSteel certification is designed to support, not perfection from day one, but credible progress built on transparency and accountability."

The audit process confirmed that the site has established management systems in place and is actively addressing environmental and social impacts, while also identifying areas for further improvement, which is a core principle of ResponsibleSteel’s approach to certification. In particular, the auditors recognised the site's strong commitment to health and safety, which was evident throughout the process. ResponsibleSteel certification is valid for three years, with regular surveillance audits required to ensure ongoing conformity with the Production Standard.

Thoralf Winkel, CEO of ArcelorMittal Hamburg, commented, “For us, the ResponsibleSteel certification is far more than a formal piece of documentation. It stands for our shared values and our consistent commitment to sustainability, integrity and responsible conduct. With this, we are making a clear promise – to the environment, our local communities and future generations.”

ArcelorMittal Hamburg has been in operation since 1970. The site produces liquid steel and hot‑rolled wire rod and has an annual production capacity of up to 800,000 tonnes of wire rod.

With the certification of the Hamburg site, all four of ArcelorMittal’s steelmaking sites in Germany are now certified against the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard, alongside Bremen, Duisburg and Eisenhüttenstadt. This reflects a broader commitment across the company’s German operations to independent verification, stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement in responsible steelmaking practices.

Take a look at the certificate and the public audit summary here.

Earlier this year, ResponsibleSteel was in China to mark an important milestone following the announcement at COP30 of our agreements with the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) and the Brussels‑based Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS). The visit culminated at CISA’s annual LCA conference, where we presented the project to the Chinese steel value chain and celebrated our shared ambition to advance steel decarbonisation through global collaboration.

In this video, we speak with voices from across the steel value chain, including ResponsibleSteel’s CEO, Annie Heaton, and Director of Programmes, Amy Jackson; CISA’s Vice Secretary General, Feng Chao; VAMA’s Chief Technology Officer, Li Xiang; and Hang Lung Properties’ Deputy Director - Sustainability, John Haffner. They reflect on why interoperability between global standards matters, and how collaboration between ResponsibleSteel and CISA can help unlock trusted, comparable data for low‑ and near‑zero‑emission steel.

Together, these partnerships are laying the foundations for a more transparent global market, one that supports informed procurement, targeted investment, and real emissions reductions across the steel value chain.

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.

ResponsibleSteel’s 2026 Progress Report captures a year marked by deepening global alignment and strengthened member commitment to advancing responsible, low‑emission and near‑zero steelmaking. Despite a challenging operating environment marked by geopolitical volatility, shifting supply chain risks and heightened scrutiny of corporate transition plans, our latest report demonstrates how ResponsibleSteel continues to convene members and stakeholders to drive credible, independently verified progress across the global industry.

A critical year for responsible steelmaking

ResponsibleSteel Chair Gerry Tidd reflects on a year marked by disruption and rapidly shifting expectations for heavy industry, as many steelmakers turned their focus to immediate operational pressures. Yet the urgency around climate and sustainability has not diminished. As Tidd notes in his opening message, “In this evolving context, ResponsibleSteel’s role as a trusted multistakeholder convenor and an independent global reference point has never been more critical.”

Despite these headwinds, 2025 saw clear momentum across ResponsibleSteel’s global certification programme. Seven new sites achieved Core Site Certification—including the first site in the Gulf Cooperation Council region and the largest single certified site in Europe to date. Importantly, every site with expiring certifications chose to recertify, underscoring the value of credible, independent verification in a rapidly changing market.

Strengthening global alignment

Last year, we celebrated a major milestone in aligning global approaches to low emission steel. ResponsibleSteel concluded landmark agreements with the Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS) in Europe and with the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA), extending common approaches to GHG measurement and classification across a collective membership covering roughly 60% of global steel production. These partnerships lay the foundations for interoperability mechanisms that will bring greater clarity to markets, reduce fragmentation and enable investment in the world’s largest steel producing regions.

The year also saw major buyer and investor engagement initiatives, including the Strength to Strength campaign, a US investor roadshow, and new guidance from Microsoft and Carbon Direct recognising ResponsibleSteel Progress Levels as benchmarks for supplier expectations.

Key highlights from the year

The report details strong progress across ResponsibleSteel’s certification and membership programmes:

• Seven new certified sites across Europe, the Middle East and India
• 100% recertification uptake for expiring certificates
• Nearly 90 certified sites across 19 countries, representing a combined 142 million tonnes of annual steel production
• Over 262,000 workers covered by ResponsibleSteel certification
• 12 new members, bringing total membership to 167 organisations headquartered across 36 countries.

Looking ahead: Building the systems for accelerating progress at scale

In her closing message, CEO Annie Heaton outlines the organisation’s focus for 2026: reinforcing the systems and frameworks that will underpin growth in responsibly produced low emission and near zero steel. With many companies facing delayed transition investments and unpredictable market conditions, Heaton stresses the importance of maintaining long term ambition while supporting practical, measurable progress.

ResponsibleSteel’s priorities include strengthening interoperability mechanisms, advancing the revision of ResponsibleSteel’s International Production Standard and claims framework, and expanding work with buyers and investors to support robust procurement and financing decisions.

As Heaton states, “This work is key to expanding low‑emission steel supply, enabling global trade through comparable data, strengthening investment cases, reducing regulatory burden and supporting effective policy. In short, it helps to keep global trade gates open and ensure a claim made in one region can be understood and trusted in another.”

As our membership grows and global partnerships deepen, ResponsibleSteel continues to serve as a unifying force, bringing together industry, civil society, policymakers and finance to accelerate pathways to responsibly produced low-emission and near-zero steelmaking.

Read ResponsibleSteel’s 2026 Progress Report here.

As the global decarbonisation effort has advanced, actors in the mining and steel sectors are under pressure to transform production processes, supply chains, and energy systems to meet climate goals. But alongside these changes lies an essential question: how do we ensure that the transition to a low-carbon economy is fair for the workers, communities, and regions that depend on these industries?

ResponsibleSteel and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) set out to tackle this question in a joint project bringing together perspectives from across the mining and steel value chains. Together, in a recently published report, 'Driving just transitions in the steel and mining sectors', we explore how voluntary sustainability standards can help guide and support just transitions in two of the world’s most critical industries.

Putting people at the centre of the transition process

One of the strongest and most consistent key messages from the project and stakeholder engagement was the need to keep people at the centre of transition processes. Decarbonisation is often discussed in terms of technology, emissions targets, and industrial transformation. Yet transitions also reshape livelihoods, local economies, and social structures.

The report underscores that strong and inclusive planning is essential to avoid leaving workers and affected communities behind. This is further reflected in stakeholder perspectives, with one of the rights holders noting the disconnect between discussions around just transition and lived experience: “Just Transition is a confusing term. It does not reflect the realities we face.” Throughout the project, stakeholders repeatedly highlighted the importance of ensuring that transitions must not only be fast, but fair. Workers, Indigenous peoples, and affected communities must have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape their futures.

This reinforced an important insight: “just transition is not only about managing economic change. It is also about justice, rights, and participation.”

The power of social dialogue

Another key learning from the project was the central role of social dialogue. Across interviews and workshops, participants emphasised the need for ongoing engagement between workers, communities, companies, governments, and other stakeholders.

Early and inclusive dialogue is particularly critical when major changes are being planned, such as mine closures, technological shifts, or new supply chains. As one stakeholder reflected during the project, standards can help by requiring processes that support “stakeholder engagement and planning,” rather than defining rigid requirements.

Social dialogue is therefore not simply a consultation exercise. It involves sharing information, building capacity among stakeholders, and creating spaces where different perspectives can meaningfully shape decisions.

Voluntary sustainability standards can play an important role by creating frameworks that encourage transparency, accountability, and structured engagement.

One of the central questions of the project was how standards systems such as ResponsibleSteel and IRMA can contribute to just transitions in practice.

The Just Transition Framework for Voluntary Sustainability Standards

The focus of this project was the question of how VSSs such as ResponsibleSteel and IRMA can best contribute to driving just transitions in practice.

The project confirmed that many elements of existing standards already address issues relevant to just transition, including human rights due diligence, occupational health and safety, grievance mechanisms, and environmental management. At the same time, the project highlighted areas where further development may be needed. These include supporting worker retraining and skills development, strengthening value-chain-wide due diligence, and ensuring equitable access to the benefits of the low-carbon transition.

To help understand and identify the key elements for a just transition, the project undertook a literature review, mapping exercises of existing standards, key informant interviews, and two in-person workshops. Each activity provided valuable insights and information, which together formed the foundation of a framework that defines principles related to human rights, social equity, inclusive governance, and protections for workers and communities.

Significantly, the framework is not intended to be prescriptive or define minimum requirements. Instead, it serves as a reference point to help VSSs integrate just transition considerations in a way that reflects and is shaped by the realities of each region, industry, and community.

The value of collaboration

Transitions in mining and steel do not happen in isolation. They unfold across interconnected supply chains, regulatory systems, and communities. As a result, no single actor can drive meaningful progress alone.

Achieving a just transition requires coordination between many different actors, including companies, workers and unions, governments, civil society, investors, and standards systems. Collaboration between standards organisations themselves can also play an important role by aligning approaches, sharing knowledge, and creating stronger incentives for responsible practices across industries.

The concept of just transition continues to evolve. While there is growing recognition of its importance across governments, industries, and civil society, there is still uncertainty about what implementation looks like in practice and what responsibilities different actors should carry.

This project represents a strong joint effort with key stakeholders and an important step toward understanding how voluntary sustainability standards can contribute to that conversation.

Achieving just transitions will require sustained commitment, continuous learning, and inclusive engagement. Standards alone cannot deliver just transitions, but they can provide practical tools and shared frameworks that help stakeholders navigate complex transitions.

For ResponsibleSteel and IRMA, this work reaffirms our shared commitment to ensuring that the transformation of heavy industries supports not only climate goals, but also fairness, dignity, and opportunity for the workers and communities most affected by change.

Read ResponsibleSteel's and IRMA's joint report, 'Driving just transitions in the mining and steel sectors' here.

This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, which is supported by the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO and UK International Development.

The March edition of the ResponsibleSteel Newsletter is out!

This month, we share the publication of a major joint report with Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) – the first collaboration between voluntary standards in the mining and steel sectors focused on a just transition. With these industries each responsible for around 10% of global energy-related emissions and supporting millions of workers and communities, the report highlights the need to accelerate fair and inclusive approaches to decarbonisation.

We also share the latest developments from our interoperability work with CISA and Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS), an upcoming guest webinar from RMI, and opportunities to join our growing Membership and Programmes teams.

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

- Our just transition report and key recommendations

- Updates on interoperability with CISA and LESS

- Welcome to our newest member

- Four new vacancies across ResponsibleSteel

- International Women’s Day team spotlight

… and more.

Read the full March newsletter here.

As global emissions continue to rise, the need to rapidly scale up clean solutions and phase out fossil fuels to align with a 1.5°C pathway has never been greater. For the steel industry, one of the world’s most complex and emissions-intensive sectors, this raises critical questions around how progress should be driven, assessed, and reported transparently.

Real change is reflected not only in boardrooms and corporate strategies, but in the day-to-day operations and decisions at individual production sites. Yet the granular detail that truly reflects the asset-level investments happening at site level is often missing. Without a comprehensive and consistent approach to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions assessment, comparing progress across sites, regions, and production routes becomes nearly impossible. That’s why global standards, and the rigour to apply them consistently, are essential to understanding where the industry stands today and how far it still needs to go.

Principle 10 of ResponsibleSteel’s International Production Standard, which addresses GHG emissions and climate change, is ideally placed to assess the credibility and implementation of a steelmaker’s fossil fuel phase-out strategy. It provides independent, third-party verification of climate performance, demanding a holistic approach to fulfilling climate commitments and effectively bridging the gap between corporate pledges and site-level action.

Certification against ResponsibleSteel’s International Production Standard supports steel procurers and specifiers, financiers, and policymakers among others, by providing verifiable evidence that a steelmaker has, and is effectively implementing, a credible strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.

Integrating renewable energy is increasingly central to the business case for decarbonised steelmaking. This has formed a major part of discussions with ResponsibleSteel stakeholders and was a key theme at ResponsibleSteel’s policy convenings in Delhi and Brussels last year. ResponsibleSteel members are also already beginning to deploy increasing amounts of renewable energy in the production of steel. But to build clean industries of the future, this needs both augmentation and acceleration through both public and private sector initiatives. An example is the work of a member of ResponsibleSteel, We Mean Business Coalition (WMBC), which launched a ‘Fossil to Clean’ campaign, working with companies to phase out fossil fuels by 2040 and to advocate for a well-managed and just transition globally.*

For Certified Steel, ResponsibleSteel applies a fair and consistent approach to calculating GHG emissions, including emissions associated with renewable energy use. Our methodology incorporates specific safeguards for the use of market-based electricity instruments like Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Guarantees of Origin (GOs), as well as bio-based fuels, as set out in our  “Fundamentals for GHG Emissions Accounting and Classification”.

As part of our mission - to be a driving force in the socially and environmentally responsible production of near-zero steel -  we have mapped the requirements of the Production Standard against the Fossil to Clean campaign’s focus areas and developed a checklist which can be used as a tool for steelmakers to not only demonstrate alignment with the a ‘Fossil to Clean’ campaign, but also for broader industry stakeholders to recognise and track progress towards a clean industrial transformation.

Decarbonisation and Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Checklist

The checklist is available for download here.

Advancing expectations to demonstrate commitment to climate action

ResponsibleSteel is currently in the process of revising Principle 10’s approach to climate transition plans, under the three guiding principles of ambition, feasibility and simplicity. Based on recent stakeholder consultations, including extensive meetings with a member-based Working Group and independent Technical Advisory Group, Version 3.0 of the Production Standard will likely see a reshaping of the related requirements at corporate (criterion 10.1) and site (criterion 10.5) levels to strengthen credibility.

Credible climate transition plans, as defined by ResponsibleSteel, must include several components to ensure a comprehensive plan, assessment and ongoing management of emissions that balances decarbonisation ambition and investment feasibility, both in the near and long-term. The strategy must be driven by the corporation, cascade down to production sites, and integrate feedback loops to ensure decarbonisation outcomes are realised over time.

The credibility framework for climate transition plans is presented in the following figure:

Beyond the presented credibility framework, the revision of Principle 10 will likely include a more holistic and systematic approach to climate transition plans, including improved clarity in how to demonstrate corporate-level ambition, greater alignment across emissions measurement methodologies, and clearer expectations for material scope 3 emissions inclusion.

ResponsibleSteel holds steelmakers accountable whilst celebrating decarbonisation progress

ResponsibleSteel continues to push the industry towards more ambitious decarbonisation outcomes, not only through the Production Standard’s Core requirements, but also through the Decarbonisation Progress Levels, a market mechanism for the trade of low- and near-zero-emissions steel products.

ResponsibleSteel Certification gives civil society organisations, steel buyers, financial institutions, and policymakers the confidence that a steelmaker has a credible transition plan in place, and that meaningful progress is being made towards its implementation. Now, this checklist provides steelmakers with another practical tool to effectively demonstrate progress on decarbonisation and fossil fuel phase-out.

*WMBC’s ‘Fossil to Clean’ campaign aims to catalyse and guide the shift from fossil fuels to clean solutions, calling on companies to phase out fossil fuel use (especially coal); electrify operations where possible; switch to 100% renewable electricity; eliminate new fossil fuel infrastructure; align climate action with a 1.5°C pathway; and use purchasing power and policy advocacy to accelerate the transition. We Mean Business funded ResponsibleSteel’s policy project in 2025.

In recognition of International Women’s Day, we’re proud to spotlight some of the women who are helping shape a more responsible steel industry through their work at ResponsibleSteel.

Steel has historically lacked diversity, and inclusive perspectives are still underrepresented across the sector. Yet expanding gender diversity is essential—not only for building a stronger and more resilient industry, but for accelerating the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

“For me, the solutions we need to foster a strong, clean steel industry fit for the 21st century lie in foresight, insight, and a strong collaborative ethos. That has been my focus at ResponsibleSteel, and it is a focus shared by dozens of women across the sector, bringing both fresh perspectives and skills. That’s not something you could have said 10 years ago. There is a seismic shift happening in steel, and women should be very proud of the unique roles they are playing to keep the industry focused where it needs to be—on developing sustainably. Let’s keep at it, re‑imagining the industry, connecting ideas and plans, and finding the way forward so that together we ensure we only move ahead.” - Annie Heaton, CEO, ResponsibleSteel

In this video, members of the ResponsibleSteel team share their roles, their journeys into the organisation, and their hopes for the future of responsible steelmaking.

Top image courtesy of ArcelorMittal Brasil.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.