A landmark year for ResponsibleSteel: Reflections from our CEO
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
Shaping India’s steel transition: Reflections from ResponsibleSteel’s Policy Convening in Delhi
As India’s steel industry navigates the twin imperatives of growth and sustainability, ResponsibleSteel hosted a policy convening in Delhi earlier this year to explore pathways for steel decarbonisation in India.
Held under the theme “Decarbonisation of India’s steel sector: Dynamics of the energy transition and the role of standards,” the event brought together leaders from government, industry, and civil society to discuss how credible standards, collaboration, and innovation can accelerate India’s transition to low-emission steel. Participants included Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Tata Motors, the Indian Steel Association, WWF, Climate Group, and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, as well as representatives from the Hydrogen Mission India, the Ministry of Cooperation and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
The convening was opened by the Hon’ble Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, whose keynote address framed the energy transition as both an environmental necessity and a moral responsibility. Reaffirming India’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, he described the transition as “a gift we must leave behind—a legacy of ethical industry.”
He encouraged India’s industry to lead through innovation, highlighting green hydrogen as the cornerstone of the transformation and urging investment in carbon capture, smart furnaces, and Direct Reduced Iron (DRI).
Industry perspectives: Progress and challenges
Senior industry leaders shared insights on their progress, highlighting several areas of development:
- Hydrogen-based pilots are underway with positive results, marking a shift in the future of steel production in India.
- There is increasing integration of renewable energy into steel operations, particularly solar and wind, enabling greater energy autonomy.
- A growing focus on circularity and scrap-based production is emerging to reduce lifecycle emissions.
At the same time, industry participants acknowledged significant barriers to the transition, above all, the high cost of green hydrogen, limited access to clean energy, land availability and grid challenges, and gaps in hydrogen infrastructure.
Policy, incentives, and the role of standards
Discussions also touched upon a clear, globally aligned national framework to support policy, finance, and trade. Shivakumar K., ResponsibleSteel’s Director of Development and Innovation, emphasised the role standards can play as strategic tools that build trust, guide policy and investment, and support industry transformation. By adopting, integrating, or aligning with international standards, national policy frameworks can demonstrate leadership and maintain competitiveness in the global market.
Clear priorities emerged in the discussions, including the need to:
- Ensure interoperability between India’s taxonomy and international standards and policy mechanisms to support trade and global compliance.
- Establish robust certification frameworks to build investor confidence.
- Embed standards within policy narratives linking industry decarbonisation with employment, equity, and regional development.
The convening also discussed policy incentives to accelerate the transition, with representatives from MNRE highlighting ongoing initiatives such as the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which plans to allocate ₹19,744 crore (around $2.2 million) to produce five million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.
However, participants stressed that more targeted support is needed, such as tax credits to encourage early adoption of low-carbon technologies.
Toward a responsible, low-emission future
The Delhi convening reaffirmed the growing momentum behind India’s steel transition. It also underscored the essential role of international standards in shaping national policy frameworks and unlocking sustainable finance.
ResponsibleSteel’s engagement with industry stakeholders in India will continue to build on the momentum created in Delhi, laying the groundwork for a responsible, near-zero industry, built on cross-border collaboration.
Learn more about the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard.
Certification as a catalyst: ResponsibleSteel leads EU dialogue on industrial transformation
Earlier this year, ResponsibleSteel brought together senior representatives from European government institutions, industry, standards bodies, civil society, and finance for a high-level policy roundtable in Brussels to discuss certification as a catalyst for industrial decarbonisation.
Europe is entering a decisive phase of industrial and climate policymaking. With the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and a forthcoming low-carbon steel label, the stakes are high.
The challenge is clear: how can independent, voluntary certification accelerate the transformation of Europe’s steel industry? And just as importantly, how do we ensure these standards work seamlessly with government policies and regulations, aligning climate ambition, safeguarding competitiveness, and building trust across the value chain?
Three key takeaways
Three priorities stood out during the Brussels discussions:
1. Achieving coherence and interoperability
Aligning the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and product labels is critical to avoid policy fragmentation. This ensures that climate performance and market access work hand in hand, rather than pulling in different directions.
2. Building trust through robust assurance and traceability
Strong assurance systems are essential to give businesses and consumers confidence in sustainability data. This helps prevent greenwashing and ensures that claims about low-carbon steel are credible and transparent.
3. Embedding integrity beyond carbon
Europe’s industrial transformation must go further than emissions. It should integrate environmental and social responsibility—from labour rights and biodiversity protection to circularity and resource efficiency—creating a truly sustainable steel sector.
A call for coherence and clarity
The outcome of the discussions was clear. As one participant observed, "Europe doesn't need more bureaucracy—it needs coherence, trust, and credible evidence." This means having a trusted data backbone linking policy instruments rather than multiplying accounting systems. Global certification and assurance frameworks like ResponsibleSteel can provide that backbone, reducing complexity and ensuring comparability across borders.
Recent EU policy developments, such as the expected steel trade defence measure, are prime examples of how trade and climate instruments must evolve coherently. Europe’s policy architecture must be designed to reward verified low-emission steel, ensuring that trade and climate policy pull in the same direction. Certification can serve as the "connective tissue" of industrial policy, translating ambition into verifiable data and helping policymakers and businesses meet the integrity test of Europe's Green Deal.
Going beyond carbon
Another key point made was that Europe must progressively move beyond carbon-only metrics towards integrating environmental and social integrity more broadly. Climate metrics alone aren’t enough. ResponsibleSteel remains the only globally recognised standard that integrates emissions, labour, biodiversity, and governance into one assurance model. A holistic approach ensures Europe’s industrial transition is not just green, but fair.
Certification: Turning intent into impact
"Certification is no longer a technical afterthought—it's what turns climate intent into credible, measurable impact," said ResponsibleSteel CEO Annie Heaton. "The roundtable confirmed that credible, interoperable standards are now essential for Europe’s industrial transition. ResponsibleSteel's agreement with the Brussels-based Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS), announced at COP30, was a major milestone on the road to greater alignment.”
With new trade-defence measures on the horizon, ResponsibleSteel will continue working with policymakers, industry, and civil society to make certification a cornerstone of Europe’s climate-industrial architecture.
Because only when integrity and ambition move together—through coherence, credibility, and verified performance—can Europe’s industrial transition truly succeed.
Public Statement: The EU Label for Steel Should Build on the Sliding Scale Approach
As announced in the Clean Industrial Deal, the European Commission is expected to put forward an EU label for steel on 10 December as part of the Industrial Accelerator Act. This label aims to incentivise and reward investments in the decarbonisation of steel production. To succeed, the EU must establish a clear, credible, and uniform framework that incentivises genuine and additional greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions across all production routes while preserving industrial competitiveness. The concept of the ‘Sliding Scale’, also known as ‘Steel Decarbonisation Scale‘, initially proposed by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and adopted by ResponsibleSteel, LESS, and CISA, offers a robust, technology-neutral, and globally inclusive approach which aligns with the WTO TBT Principles. This paper argues for the adoption of the Sliding Scale as the basis for the European Label for Steel, ensuring a fair and effective transition of the steel industry to near-zero emissions steel.
The Sliding Scale: A Fair and Effective Framework for Europe
The Sliding Scale evaluates steel production based on both GHG intensity and the share of scrap used. This dual approach ensures that decarbonisation progress is recognised and rewarded, independently of the production route or scrap input.
By contrast, a purely footprint-based approach fails to guide the industry toward near-zero emissions. Footprint-based specifications are designed to reduce emissions at the product level, but this won’t lead to global GHG reduction if achieved by higher recycled content alone as doing so would simply shift scrap and emissions from one product, project or region to another (see report “The role of scrap in steel decarbonisation” by the Institution of Structural Engineers and the ”Civil Society Response to GSCC Steel Standard” signed by 12 NGOs which outline this in a compelling way). In other words, a footprint-based approach would merely outsource the decarbonisation of primary production to third countries and make the EU steel industry more vulnerable and less resilient.
Why the Sliding Scale Works
The Sliding Scale encourages all producers, primary (ore-based) and secondary (scrap-based), to decarbonise. For secondary producers using the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) route, it incentivises measures such as increasing the use of green electricity and decarbonising hot-forming processes. These improvements are less capital-intensive than decarbonising ore-based primary steelmaking, allowing EAF producers to achieve better performance classes faster. This is clearly demonstrated by the first certificates awarded under LESS, where secondary steel routes achieved substantially better classifications than primary steel routes, and by the first steel certification by ResponsibleSteel, which was awarded to an EAF facility with 57% scrap inputs.
The EU label should include upstream scope 3 emissions (raw materials) from the start, thereby ensuring that "near-zero steel" is truly decarbonised across the entire value chain. This prevents carbon leakage and ensures that decarbonisation efforts are not undermined by shifting emissions from one part of the value chain to the other.
The Need for Decarbonised Primary Steel in Europe
Europe cannot rely on scrap-based production alone. The availability of high-quality scrap is limited, and this will become even more of an issue as demand rises. When EAF operators cannot source enough high-quality scrap due to qualitative constraints (e.g. the level of trace elements present), they require primary iron inputs (e.g. direct reduced iron). Consequently, the distinction between primary and secondary steel production will be increasingly blurred going forward. The Sliding Scale approach takes this into account by attributing suitable emission thresholds depending on the scrap content.
If Europe fails to decarbonise its primary steel production, it risks increasing its dependency on imports, which are often from regions with higher average emissions, while undermining its own climate commitments.
A European Label for Steel
In order to increase demand for low-emission steel, Europe needs a Steel Label that provides buyers with clear, comparable and actionable information. The Sliding Scale offers the ideal foundation for such a label:
- It incentivises all producers – primary and secondary – to decarbonise.*
- It preserves Europe's industrial competitiveness by ensuring that primary and secondary steel production decarbonise and remain viable in Europe.
- It supports the EU’s and global climate goals by driving real emissions reductions, not just scrap redistribution.
- It provides transparency on both emissions intensity and scrap share, enabling informed purchasing decisions.
International Perspective
The Sliding Scale approach was developed by IEA when proposing low-carbon steel and cement definitions for policies to support decarbonisation. These principles have since been endorsed and further refined by G7 members and the Climate Club, who affirmed the need for globally harmonised, yet flexible, emissions standards to accelerate industrial decarbonisation.
Building on this foundation, the Sliding Scale was adopted by ResponsibleSteel, the Low Emissions Steel Standard (LESS), and the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA), which together represent around 60% of global steel production. These are all part of the Steel Standard Principles-Initiative, which aims to align steel standards and create transparency in the market. ResponsibleSteel is actively working on interoperability and potential equivalency mechanisms with LESS and CISA to enable efficient low emissions steel markets. This enables public and private buyers to make informed, sustainable procurement decisions based on reliable and comparable data.
Demand-Side Measures and Policy Alignment
A Steel Label is only effective if paired with strong demand-side policies. Europe must actively foster lead markets that position low-emission steel as the standard choice for both public and private procurement. This requires aligning climate and industrial policies to drive demand in key sectors, such as construction, infrastructure, defence, and automotive, where steel plays a critical role. By embedding the Sliding Scale into sector-specific regulations, incentives, and public procurement criteria, Europe can create a stable, predictable market for clean steel, ensuring that its industry remains resilient and future-proof in a decarbonised global economy.
Conclusion: A Strategic Path Forward
The Sliding Scale provides a technology-neutral framework for incentivising genuine GHG emission reductions in steel production. LESS and ResponsibleSteel serve as prime examples of its successful implementation - transparent, operational standards that classifies steel based on emissions intensity and scrap share. Both systems account for upstream scope 3 emissions and are working together to ensure interoperability. By incorporating the Sliding Scale approach into the Industrial Accelerator Act and future steel policies, Europe can establish a coherent, equitable, and efficient framework for transitioning to a climate-neutral steel industry. This will accelerate decarbonisation while safeguarding jobs, strengthening industrial resilience, and upholding climate integrity.
*Includes primary producers (<25% scrap), secondary producers (>70% scrap), and producers which aren't currently classified as either (25-70% scrap).
Download the statement here.
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In Conversation With CEO Annie Heaton On Our Achievements And What’s Next For ResponsibleSteel
This month marked one year since CEO Annie Heaton stepped in to lead ResponsibleSteel through a new phase, one of building momentum. Annie discusses what led her to join ResponsibleSteel, how her experience has shaped her vision for ResponsibleSteel, what achievements she has been most proud of over the last year, and what she sees as the next steps for ResponsibleSteel.
You spent almost a decade shaping ArcelorMittal’s sustainability agenda, why did you choose to join ResponsibleSteel?
One word: impact. I am inspired by the sheer scale of contribution the steel industry makes to our modern world, the ubiquitous utility of steel in the infrastructure of today and the technologies of tomorrow. I am even more inspired by the potential for tomorrow’s steel production to impact positively on people and the environment. At ArcelorMittal, I saw this potential at first hand, through a combination of leadership commitment, sound management, and innovative thinking. ResponsibleSteel has the potential to drive impact of a different magnitude.
Our well-respected standard and robust assurance system offer steelmakers a roadmap to improvement and a common language of assessment that their customers, communities, investors and workforce can all get behind. I firmly believe ResponsibleSteel will drive the next generation of steelmakers to truly maximise their contribution to a sustainable society.
What makes ResponsibleSteel unique?
As the landscape of initiatives gets busier and busier, particularly in relation to climate, it is clear to me that ResponsibleSteel provides a much-needed common, consistent and credible thread between all these efforts, enabling all the work being done to be streamlined and accelerated. Our credibility is so valuable in today’s world of misinformation, false claims and greenwashing. That is why both businesses and not-for-profit organisations choose ResponsibleSteel.
And it’s not just about carbon. Responsible steelmaking goes far beyond climate change mitigation. The safety and well-being of the some six million people working in the industry, the millions more working in the supply chain and living in nearby communities, all need to be ensured. The impacts on biodiversity and our ecosystems of mineral and timber extraction as well as steelmaking need to be greatly improved. If in 30 years’ time, we have removed almost all emissions of greenhouse gases, but haven’t worked hard to support nature and people’s livelihoods, our future will be very bleak.
ResponsibleSteel is the only standard for steel that combines all the complexities of good social and environmental performance in one indicator across the value chain that everyone can look for: certification.
What is your vision for ResponsibleSteel?
We are on the cusp of the next industrial revolution, and with this one, we have the luxury of being able to plan it. We have a tremendous opportunity to ensure every dollar we invest in new industry avoids unintended consequences for people or the planet. This means adhering to strong sustainability standards. I firmly believe when we look back at this period, we will see how good international sustainability standards such as ResponsibleSteel played a critical role in the transition. The application of good standards will ensure our transition is as focused and streamlined as possible. It will enable suppliers to align with customers, investors and policymakers, and ensure fair global trade and direct finance to where it is most effective. Good standards will catapult us towards society’s goals without discriminating against poorer countries. All these are outcomes I believe ResponsibleSteel will deliver.
So we are at a pivotal moment globally. We can transition our economies within the next 30 years or less if we create the right conditions. Both for steel and in all the industries steel serves. This is an enormous challenge, and it needs to be faced collectively. ResponsibleSteel works as a catalyst, providing steelmakers with the necessary framework to tackle critical climate and sustainability issues. We need to ‘win on carbon’. But we must win on people and the environment too. ResponsibleSteel is the tool to drive that success.
To achieve that, ResponsibleSteel has to be the most trusted global standard for steel. It’s an initiative working with the integrity, credibility and spirit of collaboration we need to maximise steel’s contribution to a sustainable world. When a site becomes certified against the ResponsibleSteel International Standard, people know it’s been through a rigorous process assessing how it manages its impacts on the environment and local communities, how it treats its workforce and how it drives improvements, both in its operations and in its supply chain. And if practices falter, people want to be sure that ResponsibleSteel’s assurance system will oversee and track the corrections needed.
How has your experience in sustainability over the past 30 years influenced your vision for ResponsibleSteel?
I’ve enjoyed a wonderfully varied career working on everything from child labour to water scarcity, renewable energy to community engagement, finance to healthcare systems, and across many many different sectors. At one stage or another, I have spent time working on almost every aspect principle of the ResponsibleSteel Standard! And over the years I’ve learnt some valuable lessons. Firstly, that change is not inevitable. Nothing changes without vision and commitment. Secondly, that change is driven by the focused actions of stakeholders in pursuit of ambitious goals. With the right tools, we can drive change some may think impossible. Thirdly, that consulting people is a must. The outcomes of any project are enriched if one works with one’s ears open.
ResponsibleSteel must draw on all these elements to deliver on our mission, to drive the socially and environmentally responsible production of steel, globally. The commitment of our members is palpable. They believe in what we are doing, and how we’re doing it. They learn through the process too, both business and civil society members, because their common commitment to our purpose enables a safe space in which to discuss difficult issues. This is how they help us build the tools that are the right ones for the job. That is why steelmakers accept the enormous challenge of preparing for a ResponsibleSteel audit. I want to point out though, that our standard and certification scheme is not the only tool in the box: it’s vital that ResponsibleSteel works with other initiatives as they emerge to enable an ecosystem of tools that work together to deliver our common goals.
This past year has seen significant growth for ResponsibleSteel, what are the moments you have enjoyed the most? What achievements are you most proud of?
The opportunity to work both with our members and wider initiatives across the world, exchanging ideas and looking for synergies, is what brings me to work every day with passion. It’s been great to see so many new members over the past year – our membership has grown by 20% in the past year and now stands at well over 140 members with a growing body of civil society organisations and 15% of the steel industry in membership. We have 58 certified sites to date across 5 continents covering 107mt of steel production, over 5% of the global industry, in just a few years.
Forum III was certainly one of ResponsibleSteel’s greatest achievements last year with over 200 people coming together in Memphis, and a proud moment for me and the team. Seeing how much leadership and critical thinking our members are demonstrating, across the value chain, across the generations, and across business and civil society, was so invigorating.
In the first part of this year, we established a Finance Working Group. This is a new space we are convening for investors and steelmakers to come together to look at how to remove the blockages to financing for steel decarbonisation. We’ve developed an ambitious work programme to do what ResponsibleSteel does best: facilitate multistakeholder dialogue with a view to developing practical solutions to drive progress.
One more highlight has been our first engagements in Asia. Shiv, our Development & Innovation Director, Ali, our Corporate Affairs Director, and I have been in India, South Korea, Singapore and soon Japan, engaging with shipping, automotive, energy, and finance sectors. These have really helped grow understanding of ResponsibleSteel’s mission in some of the world’s most significant steel making economies.
What comes across from all this is what an amazing team we have in the Secretariat, that has built and continues to build the organisation that we are today. The spirit of collaboration, thoughtful commitment and bold ambition is something I value immensely.
So what’s next for ResponsibleSteel?
We have achieved a huge amount, but in many ways, we have only just begun. We are seeing applications for membership and core certification growing rapidly. We’re now preparing for the market for certified steel to take off so that sites can distinguish themselves for their progress towards responsible near zero. And the new downstream chain of custody rules I’ve mentioned will be critical in ensuring that claims about certified steel in the market are specific and reliable to ward against greenwashing.
ResponsibleSteel’s standards and certifications are only part of a wider ecosystem. So the work we do with other initiatives that credit ResponsibleSteel as the most trusted global standard is critical to ensure we are all pulling in the same direction as efficiently as possible. Leading examples of this are the collaborations we are working on with SteelZero and the First Movers Coalition to drive the right kind of demand signals for true and responsible decarbonisation.
We are also working on alignment across GHG measurement standards under the UN Steel Breakthrough agenda. Unless embodied emissions are measured using the same rules, the numbers will look very different, so this is critical. That is why we are working with worldsteel and other methodology initiatives to align on these rules so that datasets can be interoperable.
On near zero in particular I see some emerging consensus on the thresholds, and I expect to see this firm up in the months to come as measurement rules align. This will give off-takers and investors some clarity on how to look for assurance that a project’s future steel production will be recognised in the market as near zero, for example through ResponsibleSteel’s progress level 4 certification.
And since ResponsibleSteel certification covers the human and broader environmental considerations of steelmaking, these near zero plants have a very real opportunity to show they are responsible too. This after all is the real answer to the ubiquitous question, ‘What is green steel’?
Yet decarbonisation is not only about nurturing innovative near zero steel projects. It’s a transition, and the ResponsibleSteel Standard is designed specifically for this. We are saying to all steel sites: come on the journey, and use our progress levels as marketable stepping stones towards near zero. This is so important in high-growth countries like India, where new capacity needs to be developed. ResponsibleSteel certification ensures that at the very least, these are built at an emissions intensity that beats the global average (our level 1) and has a roadmap for timely reduction.
These are critical times, and we can all sense that momentum is building. The good work of ResponsibleSteel feels more important and more exciting now than ever. We have the tools, and I believe that together we can drive the change some may think impossible. The hard work ahead will need collaboration, trust and commitment.
Borçelik: Our Greatest Strength
“We see our human resources as our greatest strength.” Worker well-being is a crucial part of creating a sustainable industry. This means not only ensuring a healthy and safe working environment, but also providing the care, opportunities, and respect that every individual deserves and needs in order to thrive. Derya Demirer, Director of Human Resources and Corporate Communications for Borçelik, discusses the strides the company is making to promote equality, support professional growth, and put worker well-being first.
Borçelik, a special collaboration between Borusan Group, a leading conglomerate in Turkey, and ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel producer, proudly stands as Turkey’s biggest galvanized flat steel producer. We wholeheartedly embrace and endorse Borusan Group’s sustainability vision, which revolves around three key pillars: climate, people, and innovation. At Borçelik, we integrate initiatives aligned with these focal points into our core business operations, ensuring a holistic and responsible approach to our endeavours.
The Borçelik Technical Academy (BTA), established with the aim of supporting the professional development of Borçelik employees, is deeply committed to creating value for society. It welcomes individuals who are eager to enhance their expertise in the fields of metal, machinery, transportation, logistics, communication, chemistry, petroleum, rubber, and plastics. Moreover, BTA dedicates itself to designing a unique curriculum for technical high school students, empowering students to become highly skilled professionals and promoting diversity in the industry.
Gender equality holds immense significance for us at Borçelik. We are proud to lead the way in introducing innovative initiatives for our industry in Turkey. One such initiative is our “No Job Too Tough for Women” project, implemented in collaboration with the BTA, which establishes a comprehensive programme to enable female employees to work in the predominantly male-dominated steel industry.
Furthermore, we actively engage in the Gender Lens initiative as a key participant within Borusan Group’s Equal Borusan Platform. Through this initiative, we implement a wide range of practices to foster gender equality. These include offering private health insurance with maternity coverage to both male and female employees, ensuring uninterrupted utilization of maternity and paternity leave, providing support programmes for maternity and postnatal care, granting leave on important occasions like the first day and last day of school for colleagues with children, organizing well-being activities, implementing hybrid work arrangements, and establishing an accessible Ethics Line to report any gender equality violations.
We also offer childcare assistance to our female employees with children aged 0-66 months. Moreover, we engage in the Borusan Equality School project initiated by the Borusan Group, which aims to raise awareness about equality. Through continuous gender equality-focused training programmes, we strive to foster awareness and understanding both within and beyond our company.
At Borçelik, we remain dedicated to our sustainability endeavours, focusing on climate, people, and innovation. We prioritize the well-being of individuals and embrace the concept of “Inspiring the Future by Inspiring the World.” Our dedicated efforts revolve around fostering the healthiest and safest work environments for our workers. Recognizing our workforce as our greatest asset, we have developed comprehensive programmes to enhance their competencies and promote their overall welfare. Central to our approach is the utilization of cutting-edge technology to continuously improve working conditions and establish a secure atmosphere within our facilities.
Through innovative solutions, we strive to create a workplace that ensures the safety and satisfaction of our employees. We are committed to conducting inspiring projects that set the benchmark across the industry.
By Derya Demirer, Director of Human Resources and Corporate Communications, Borçelik
Derya Demirer is an experienced Human Resources Professional who has an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering. Her areas of expertise includes performance management, talent and career management, organisational design and diversity and inclusion studies. She is currently working for Borçelik as Human Resources and Corporate Communications Director.
ResponsibleSteel hosting event at upcoming 14th Clean Energy Ministerial in Goa
ResponsibleSteel is hosting a critical meeting at the upcoming 14th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM14) demonstrating the role of the ResponsibleSteel International Standard in impacting policy, finance and the energy transition to accelerate decarbonisation in India’s steel industry at pace and scale. The event will take place from 9:00 to 10:30 am (IST) on Saturday, July 22nd.
India is the second-largest producer of steel after China and according to the IEA, the Indian steel industry is projected to triple by 2050. Currently, the steel industry accounts for around 12% of India’s emissions. The country’s push to meet its net zero targets will rely heavily on the decarbonisation of its steel sector. That is why ResponsibleSteel will bring together key stakeholders from government, downstream, and the steel industry to discuss the challenges and solutions needed to achieve an equitable and just transition in India.
The event will feature keynotes from Shri. Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary for the Indian Ministry of Steel, Shri. Alok Sahay, Secretary General & Executive Head of the Indian Steel Association, and Annie Heaton, CEO of ResponsibleSteel, as well as a panel discussion between representatives from the Ministry of Steel, JSW Steel, and SteelZero.
Topics of discussion will include:
- The main challenges facing the Indian steel industry as it moves to a “greener” future
- The role the ResponsibleSteel Standard and certification programme can play to help accelerate the decarbonisation of India’s steel industry
- The importance of driving alignment on frameworks and near-zero definitions
- The investments, innovations and new policies needed to speed up a decarbonised future
Learn how more about CEM14 and how you can register to join us in Goa here!
Jindal Steel & Power Joins ResponsibleSteel
Jindal Steel & Power has become the latest steelmaker to join ResponsibleSteel, demonstrating their commitment to our mission to be a driving force in the socially and environmentally responsible production of net-zero steel, globally.
Jindal Steel & Power (JSP) is an industrial powerhouse with a presence in steel, power, mining and infrastructure sectors in India and abroad. Led by Mr Naveen Jindal, the company’s success has been based on overarching goals to promote innovation, set new standards, enhance capabilities, and support company stakeholders.
ResponsibleSteel CEO, Annie Heaton commented, “We’re delighted to welcome Jindal Steel & Power to ResponsibleSteel. This is yet another prime example of the growing commitment of Indian steelmakers to building a more sustainable industry. As one of the largest steel-producing countries in the world, India has a critical role to play in driving steel decarbonisation. With JSP, we now have nearly 40% of India’s steelmaking capacity in our membership. We look forward to working closely with JSP as we continue to accelerate the rollout of the ResponsibleSteel International Standard globally.”
ResponsibleSteel steelmaking members commit to starting the certification process of at least one steelmaking site against the ResponsibleSteel International Standard within one year of joining. As one of the largest steel producers in India with a turnover of more than $7.6 billion, JSP has a significant presence in sectors like mining, power generation, and infrastructure. Through technologies like Coal to Liquid & Coal Gasification, JSP has worked to become a trailblazer and drive innovation in the steel industry.
Mr Bimlendra Jha, Managing Director for JSP stated, “By associating with ResponsibleSteel, JSP has reiterated its commitment to a more sustainable future by incorporating environment-friendly initiatives and technologies. JSP has been an ardent advocate and practitioner of sustainable development since its inception and is wholeheartedly committed to improving its sustainability performance. We aim to incorporate sustainability into our businesses by strengthening our economic, social & environmental pillars by mitigating the impact of our operations.”
Thyssenkrupp Materials Processing Europe Achieves First ResponsibleSteel Certification
Following an independent audit conducted by DNV, thyssenkrupp Materials Processing Europe’s El Puig site has successfully obtained ResponsibleSteel certification. This is the organisation’s first certification globally and is an unprecedented milestone as the first steel-cutting service centre to obtain the certification.
The El Puig Steel Service Centre was founded in 1989 as a joint venture and has belonged to thyssenkrupp Materials Processing Europe since July 2016. This achievement was the result of a collective effort by the entire El Puig team to fulfil the 12 principles of ResponsibleSteel’s International Standard Version 1.1, covering a wide range of ESG criteria.
Oliver Bensing Carvalhal, CEO of thyssenkrupp Materials Processing Europe S.L, said, “This ResponsibleSteel certification reflects our commitment to our environment as well as acts as a differentiating factor between our competitors and us and endorses our path to a sustainable and decarbonised production process for future generations. It is not an easy task, but this is what responsible management is about, combining economic development, social inclusion, environmental sustainability and transparency to contribute to creating a more sustainable future for people and the planet. This certification positions us as a reference steel cutting service centre worldwide.”
Thyssenkrupp has set targets for 2030 to reduce the sum of its direct emissions (Scope 1) and its emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2) by 30% compared to 2018. Furthermore, the company aims to reduce indirect emissions from its value chain by 16%.
ResponsibleSteel CEO, Annie Heaton, commented: “We’re delighted to have thyssenkrupp’s El Puig site join the growing ranks of ResponsibleSteel certified sites. This achievement, the first for thyssenkrupp Materials, demonstrates their commitment to our mission to drive the responsible production of net zero steel and the importance of managing sustainability impacts all along the value chain. The site has worked to create a culture which promotes worker safety and wellbeing and has made significant environmental strides. Most notably, El Puig has reduced its water consumption rate by 40% and has already made progress reducing emissions, having lowered CO2 emissions by 25.6% between 2017 and 2021.”
Read the public audit summary here.
May 2023 Newsletter
Please view the May 2023 newsletter by clicking the link below:
From Commitment to Action: World Biodiversity Day 2023
We face a global biodiversity crisis. Biodiversity losses are running at unprecedented levels with up to a million species facing extinction in coming decades. The maintenance of biodiversity is an important and shared responsibility. That’s why the ResponsibleSteel International Standard requires sites to take stock of the risks and impact they have on biodiversity. Anne Sophie Pellier, Senior Programme Manager at Fauna & Flora and ResponsibleSteel Board Member, discusses how the steel industry is working to protect biodiversity.
World Biodiversity Day 2023 feels very significant. We are riding on a new wave of optimism with the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, setting out a goal to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 – putting nature visibly and measurably on the path of recovery.
This comes at a critical time. We understand nature’s vital contributions to our planet and to society, and its interconnections with climate change. Yet nature is under threat like never before. Biodiversity loss stands in the World Economic Forum’s top five global risks, reflecting the potential for significant negative impacts for humanity within the next 10 years; for our food, water, economy, health and well-being.
We must act together and swiftly, putting nature loss on a par with climate change and aligning our new goal for nature with the net-zero Paris Agreement. If we fail to do so, the consequences will be catastrophic.
The business community is critical to this; not only due to the scale of its impact, but because biodiversity loss directly translates into business risk. Loss of ecosystem resilience, reputation damage and supply chain disruption can all have an impact.
Fauna & Flora: Why we value our membership of ResponsibleSteel
Fauna & Flora is a nature conservation charity protecting the diversity of life on Earth; for the survival of species and habitats, the planet and people. We have a long history of working with businesses, supporting them to put biodiversity at the heart of decision-making.
Being a member of ResponsibleSteel enables us to come together with other stakeholders to influence the industry’s commitment to biodiversity and help drive the development of the standards necessary for sector-wide change.
We are encouraged by the significant steps the industry is already taking to protect nature. At an operational level, steel companies are developing biodiversity plans, aiming to minimise negative impacts on biodiversity and to restore sites no longer used. Some are investing in reforestation and habitat restoration projects locally to offset residual impacts on biodiversity, and are seeking to reduce their supply chain impacts through the sustainable sourcing of raw and recycled materials.
As companies invest in reducing their carbon emissions and transitioning to more sustainable energy sources, this also brings positive benefits for biodiversity. In addition, we’ve seen how some are engaging in sectoral and company-specific partnerships, to share good practice and create consistency across the industry.
Achieving our 2030 ambitions for nature: what next for the steel industry and biodiversity?
If the steel industry is to build on this progress and continue to push boundaries, companies need to further integrate biodiversity into core business practices, and commit to becoming nature positive. Companies need to go beyond mitigation and identify opportunities to invest in habitat restoration where mining has caused damage, and to support conservation initiatives in regions of high biodiversity value. Importantly, companies must be transparent about their impact on biodiversity and support progress towards conservation goals.
If we are to spearhead the transformational change so urgently needed, companies should use their influence to engage and educate employees, customers and other stakeholders on the importance of protecting and restoring nature and the role they can play.
If we are to reverse nature loss at the scale and pace needed, progress should be underpinned by collaboration – with other businesses, government, civil society and local communities – to exchange knowledge and identify solutions to our shared challenges.
By Anne-Sophie Pellier, Senior Programme Manager in Corporate Sustainability, Fauna & Flora
Anne-Sophie Pellier works in partnership with businesses to bring about positive change for biodiversity, providing them with best practices for avoiding and mitigating their impact on nature’s assets. She has worked in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development for local communities for 13 years in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Europe, during which she developed her expertise on ecosystem services and natural capital. She joined the ResponsibleSteel Board in 2022.
New ResponsibleSteel 'meet the expert' webinar series
We're delighted to invite members to the first two in a new series of ResponsibleSteel’s ‘Meet the Expert’ webinars.
Our series will kickoff on Friday, May 26th with a deep dive briefing by the International Energy Agency (IEA) industrial decarbonisation team on the latest IEA report to the G7 on ‘Emissions Measurements and Data Collection for a Net Zero Steel Industry.’
Webinar: Emissions Measurements and Data Collection for a Net Zero Steel Industry
Date: Friday, May 26th
Time: 7:30 EDT (NYC)/ 12.30 BST (London) / 20:30 JST (Tokyo) / 21:30 AEST (Melbourne)
In addition, the World Steel Association (worldsteel) will share their plans to review their own CO2 methodology, and ResponsibleSteel CEO Annie Heaton will outline ResponsibleSteel’s work on furthering GHG alignment as part of the Steel Breakthrough Agenda.
This webinar will be an exclusive opportunity for ResponsibleSteel members to hear from the IEA, worldsteel, and ResponsibleSteel on building a robust, globally aligned framework for measuring progress towards a net zero steel industry.
Our second member-only webinar on Tuesday, May 30th in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), will explore labour standards in the steel industry, particularly the implementation of the ResponsibleSteel International Standard across different labour contexts.
Webinar: Labour Rights and the ResponsibleSteel International Standard
Date: Tuesday, May 30th
Time: 8:00 EDT / 1:00 BST / 14:00 CEST / 17:30 IST / 21:00 JST / 22:00AEST
Representatives from ArcelorMittal Brazil and Borçelik will also join to discuss potential challenges to implementing the Standard which is based on the ILO Core Conventions.
This webinar will be an exclusive opportunity for ResponsibleSteel members to hear from the ILO, ResponsibleSteel and two ResponsibleSteel members on the importance of ensuring robust labour standards in the industry and the role the ResponsibleSteel Standard plays in this.
Both webinars will include Q&A sessions following the speaker presentations and ample opportunity for a broad and dynamic discussion with members.
If you are interested in participating please contact us.
Working together to ensure the health and safety of workers in an evolving steel industry
Industrial processes can be inherently hazardous, and when accidents or work-related illnesses occur they can have serious consequences. Consequently, the first priority of any steel site should be the health and safety of workers. That is why Occupational Health and Safety is a crucial component of the ResponsibleSteel International Standard. Patrick Correa, Director for Base Metals and Mechanical Engineering for IndustriALL Global Union, discusses how we must work together to continue to ensure the health and safety of workers in an evolving industry.
The Global Day for Safety and Health at Work is an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of workplace safety and health for employees across all industries, not least in the steel sector, where workers face a variety of hazards and risks.
Steel production is a complex and demanding process that involves exposure to high temperatures, heavy machinery, hazardous chemicals, and other physical and environmental hazards. Steelworkers face a range of potential health and safety risks, including burns, cuts, respiratory problems, hearing loss, and more.
To address these risks and promote a safe and healthy workplace for all, robust occupational health and safety (OHS) measures are essential. This can include implementing safety protocols and guidelines, providing training and education on workplace hazards, conducting regular safety inspections, and ensuring workers have access to appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Unions play a key role in advocating for health and safety. By joining a union, workers can leverage collective bargaining power to negotiate for safer working conditions, better PPE, and other crucial protections.
But despite improved OHS in the sector, increasing automation, changing job requirements, evolving health and safety risks and a lack of investments from companies to ensure adequate OHS policies and resources, pose new challenges.
As more tasks become automated, the nature of steelworkers’ jobs will change and with that, the risks and hazards they face. Unions and employers must work together to identify and address emerging OHS concerns, like potential risks associated with robotic machinery.
As our understanding of workplace hazards and their impact on worker health and well-being continues to evolve, it is critical that OHS measures keep pace. This means that workers, unions, and employers must remain vigilant and proactive in identifying and addressing emerging risks, such as those associated with new chemicals or materials.
The Global Day for Safety and Health in the workplace is an important reminder of the critical importance of occupational health and safety in the steel sector. By promoting robust OHS measures together with the unions and addressing emerging challenges and opportunities, we can ensure a safer and healthier workplace for all steelworkers.
By Patrick Correa, Director for Base Metals and Mechanical Engineering, IndustriALL Global Union
Patrick Correa has worked in international trade unionism for 25 years, including as International Director of the CGT Métallurgie in France. He has been a member of the executive committee of IndustriALL Global Union and IndustriALL Europe and European trade union coordinator for Renault, GE Power, Engie, Nexans and Lisi. Patrick has a Master 2 degree in labour law from the University of Paris II Pantheon-Assas.
April 2023 Newsletter
Please view the April 2023 newsletter by clicking the link below:
Collective Creativity will Strengthen Sustainability
The United Nations designated 21 April as World Creativity and Innovation Day, citing that the “concept of creativity is open to interpretation, from artistic expression to problem-solving in the context of economic, social and sustainable development.” Dietmar Grimm, Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Sustainability Solutions for Trimble, discusses why we urgently need to capitalise on today’s innovations to drive future change.
Now, more than ever, creativity and innovation are needed to accelerate efforts to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Trimble is committed to ensuring that our mission, solutions, and initiatives align with and support the objectives of the SDGs. And joining forces with industry initiatives like ResponsibleSteel underscores that alignment.
Innovation has always been and always will be at the heart of Trimble. For almost 50 years, the company has pushed the boundaries of technology to help our customers work better, faster, safer, cheaper, and greener across the industries we serve. These are not separate goals, but actually five, highly intertwined principles. Trimble’s contribution toward helping customers operate more efficiently enables them to operate more sustainably. Examples include reducing idle time on machinery, lowering fuel consumption and emissions and reducing construction waste – all through data driven insights and decisions.
In the world of steel, our design software has enabled some of the most intriguing and intricate designs for buildings, bridges, and other structures. Technology provides endless possibilities to architects to come up with designs that really push the limits. That same technology now needs to give us the input to drive down carbon emissions across all of the construction continuum. All phases that make up an asset’s lifecycle – design, build, operate – carry emissions. That’s why our Sketchup design software portfolio includes tools that help designers make the most environmentally-friendly design decisions at the earliest possible stage, taking into consideration the effects of a building’s orientation, the local climate, the use of materials, the number and type of windows, and the application of HVAC technology. All with an eye to creating designs with the smallest environmental footprint over the long term.
We incorporated a carbon calculator in our Tekla structural design software and worked with the One Click LCA automated life cycle emissions assessment software to offer our users enhanced visibility of the environmental impact of their structural designs. And it is also why Trimble strives to connect the traditionally separated workflows within the construction industry: to make data flow across projects to provide short- and long-term insights.
With the wider steel and construction industries being some of the largest industrial emitters of CO2, industry-wide sharing of data is crucial. With more data availability, designers can more readily come up with awe-inspiring and creative designs that still ensure our cities’ livability for decades to come. Working together with the wider industry in bodies like ResponsibleSteel has the potential to spark some interdisciplinary thinking. Many solutions to the global sustainability challenges are still years out. But we have opportunities to drive real emissions down already today if we build on the successes we already accomplished to make even more deliberately sustainable choices in all aspects of business operations. We need to challenge ourselves — on this day even more than on others — to dig deep into our collective wells of innovation and creativity and find new and lasting solutions together.
By Dietmar Grimm, VP Corporate Strategy & Sustainability Solutions, Trimble Inc.
As VP Corporate Strategy and Sustainability Solutions at Trimble, Dietmar Grimm is helping the company drive profitable systems change across industries to a more productive, efficient, and sustainable, low-carbon, diverse, and equitable future for all communities.
Harassment has no place in a ResponsibleSteel-certified site: Jana Loos on ArcelorMittal Bremen’s zero tolerance for harassment
ArcelorMittal Bremen in Germany was one of the first sites to become certified against the ResponsibleSteel Standard. As part of the certification process, the site had to address issues involving workplace harassment which had been raised by several female employees. Jana Loos, leader and spokesperson for ArcelorMittal Bremen’s anti-harassment project explains how the site tackled these issues and why it is so important to be vigilant and help to empower and support those who might be at risk.
A female worker received feedback from her team leader: “I like how you told the whole team that you won’t continue to tolerate their sexist comments towards you. However, my wife would never have allowed this to happen in the first place.”
Oftentimes, sexual harassment in the workplace does not constitute an overt criminal offence but is more subtly pervasive. In many cases, clumsy communication crosses the boundaries of what is appropriate in a professional environment. Or it transforms a normal social situation into an awkward one – simply because of one word too much, one touch in the wrong place or too long a gaze.
A while back, several women working at ArcelorMittal Bremen’s steel factory had the courage to disclose their experiences and seek help. A group of health experts, working council members and labour union members found the official processes wanting and united to tackle the issue. Shortly after, ArcelorMittal Bremen founded a project group to implement the social management standards required to obtain certification against the ResponsibleSteel Standard. This was the deciding factor that gave the topic the significance it needed.
The ResponsibleSteel Standard includes requirements which ensure a site identifies any risks, takes the necessary action to address such risks, and monitors the outcomes to determine where improvement is needed. Principle 6 of the recently updated ResponsibleSteel International Standard V2.0 specifically aims to make sure that “certified sites respect the rights of workers and support worker well-being.” Certified sites make the commitment to uphold labour rights and human rights, including maintaining a zero-tolerance policy for workplace harassment. Furthermore, certified sites must have effective procedures in place to understand and address any concerns raised by workers or their representatives.
Now, a few years later, ArcelorMittal Bremen has a contact person and a broad communications campaign on harassment. Trainings on the topic are implemented at all levels – comprising a seminar for new apprentices, leadership training and an awareness guide for all employees.
However, the path has not been smooth. With female staff making up only 8.6% of the workforce, some employees do not understand and even ridicule the topic. One male employee commented: “I, for my part, would like to be harassed one day!” The project team often need to stand up to such uninformed or hostile attitudes and provide basic education around these issues. The most important aim is a respectful working environment. There is no need to slander a specific person for a rude comment. Instead, the project group focuses on the empowerment of women – their approach is to equip women with the knowledge and training they need to tackle harassment situations confidently as well as raise overall awareness of the situation.
Since the beginning of the project, a noticeable change has taken place. Sexual harassment is a topic that is being talked about – even by the management board during official staff meetings with around 1,000 attendants. The goal is not “zero cases reported” – because this does not equal “zero cases” in actuality. In an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement, people experiencing harassment will have the courage to speak up and talk about their experiences. Therefore, the goal must be “as many cases reported as possible”.
We encourage any other organization to walk a similar path and provide their staff with all they need to tackle harassment situations. We firmly believe that this is a very important aspect of producing “responsible steel.”
By Jana Loos, Project Leader, ArcelorMittal Bremen
Please note: In the text, we only mention women being harassed by men, because this is the only constellation, we have come across so far in our organization, but we are fully aware that members of the LGTBQ+ community are exposed to similar harassment and of course, men might be harassed as well.
