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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Maximising Circular Economics for Decarbonising Steel
The climate challenge for the steel industry is now well-established. Steelmaking currently accounts for between 7% and 9% of global CO2 emissions. We have not only the opportunity to do things differently across the industry, but it is vital if we are to drastically reduce the amount of emissions emitted from the steel value chain, and so have a real and lasting impact on people and the planet.
Steel is often talked about as the world’s most circular material. Maximising the recovery and use of recycled steel (i.e. scrap steel) is a critical lever and the most natural way to drive decarbonisation in the steel industry. The rates of scrap recovery today are extremely high – the highest of all materials. Worldsteel estimates that steel is recovered at a rate of 85% on average – far more from some product markets. Still, there is always opportunity for further progress. And yet, frustratingly, scrap alone is just not sufficient to meet global steel demand, and even if the use of scrap was maximised, published models tell us that it won’t provide more than half of what we need to get us to net zero by 2050 (International Energy Agency, 2020).
Clearly, as more and more buildings, cars and washing machines reach the end of their useful life, we must ensure that every last tonne of scrap is recovered, in order to produce lower-footprint steel products. But this alone will not be enough if we are serious about net zero by 2050.
It is absolutely vital that we also incentivise the decarbonisation of the only other alternative, the reduction of iron ore, however this is done, and however much scrap is available to complement it. And this is why the ResponsibleSteel International Standard adopts a ‘sliding-scale’ approach to incentivise decarbonisation across all steelmaking, regardless. In effect, our thresholds provide an equitable and effective mechanism for assessing progress on core decarbonisation across the sector and have been echoed and endorsed in numerous reports, proposals and schemes, by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), the Sustainable Steel Principles, the German Steel Federation and the Australian Green Buildings Council.
There is also a third dimension here. Let’s not forget that to maximise the progress to a net zero world, we need product design to create more value from every tonne of steel we produce and so reduce demand overall. A car made with stronger steel requires less material. Ball bearings that last longer will not need to be replaced so often. In each market, therefore, policymakers will need to reward product design that lengthens the product lifetime, reduces the amount of steel needed for a given purpose, and rewards the reuse and remanufacturing of steel products.
All these three elements – scrap recycling, demand efficiency, and decarbonisation progress – will be needed to get the steel sector to net zero within the next three decades. But how much the first two of these levers can contribute will be critical to understanding the scale of the decarbonisation progress challenge. In the coming months, ResponsibleSteel will be publishing further analysis of both scrap availability and steel demand to shed further light on what is undoubtedly the industry’s biggest challenge.
ArcelorMittal Vega Becomes ResponsibleSteel Certified
ArcelorMittal Vega in São Francisco do Sul, Santa Catarina, has recently been successfully audited and certified against the ResponsibleSteel International Standard, recognising not only the site’s efforts to implement responsible production processes, but also efforts to implement social and sustainability transformations and encourage diversity and inclusion.
The certification’s rigorous auditing process lasted around a year and took place during the largest expansion works completed in Vega’s history, requiring an investment of US$350 million. The audit was performed by the independent consulting firm DNV (Det Norske Veritas). Auditors observed the processes implemented onsite and interviewed a range of company leaders, employees, suppliers, third parties, and representatives from the government and entities and institutions from within the local community.
ArcelorMittal Vega is the group’s third Brazilian unit to receive ResponsibleSteel certification, ArcelorMittal Tubarão and ArcelorMittal Monlevade having obtained certification in 2022. ArcelorMittal aims to have all of the group’s production units in Brazil certified in the coming years.
For Jorge Oliveira, CEO of ArcelorMittal Aços Planos LATAM, this achievement demonstrates the company’s commitment to responsible and sustainable steel production and its respect for individuals. “ResponsibleSteel certification also reinforces our main purpose, which is to manufacture smart steels for people and the planet, and represents a milestone in Vega’s history, given that this year marks two decades of operations,” Oliveira affirmed.
ResponsibleSteel’s CEO, Annie Heaton commented, “This is the third certification of ArcelorMittal’s operations in Brazil and highlights the growing momentum in the sector to produce responsibly sourced net zero steel in South America. ArcelorMittal Vega has produced a clear roadmap to achieving their target of net zero emissions by 2050. And it’s critical that the responsible production of steel goes beyond decarbonization, ensuring effective management of resources and respect for workers and local communities. This certification demonstrates ArcelorMittal Vega’s commitment to meeting ResponsibleSteel’s broad set of ESG requirements. An example of this is their commitment to greater gender equality, with a goal of achieving up to 25% women in leadership positions by 2030. This is a significant adjustment in a traditionally male-dominated industry.”
The report by DNV highlighted the site’s Environmental Management System and the site’s commitment to preserving biodiversity in the region by promoting the identification and continuous monitoring of species of fauna and flora present in its Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN), which occupies one third of the industrial site, in addition to the preparation of a Biodiversity Master Plan. Through means of its Water Master Plan, Vega also seeks to guarantee a reduced impact on public water sources by reusing an average of 98% of water collected onsite.
“Receiving this global certification in a year that marks 20 years of operation at the Vega unit as we move towards our largest expansion efforts to date demonstrates that we remain steadfast in our objective for sustainable steel production and commitment to community development, individual safety and respect for the environment,” Sandro Sambaqui, General Manager of ArcelorMittal Vega, stated. The expansion, which began in 2021, is expected to expand the site’s annual production capacity from 1.6 million to 2.2 million tonnes.
The audit report also recognised initiatives implemented to promote inclusion, diversity and social transformation. For example, the site has introduced incentive to increase representativeness among the female workforce in positions that were previously largely held by men. The Technical Sustainability Program, which, since 2018, has aimed to train, place value and offer qualifications to young people living in São Francisco do Sul within the region’s labor market, has contributed to achieving gender equity. Approximately 89% of the students participating in the program are employed at ArcelorMittal Vega or other companies in the region – a development opportunity that has also benefited female professionals. All of ArcelorMittal’s Brazil units have set targets to increase the number of women throughout all areas of the company, including operational, administrative and leadership positions, to 25% of the workforce by 2030.
Read the audit summary here.
Trimble Joins ResponsibleSteel
Trimble has become the first Building Information Modeling (BIM) software technology provider to join ResponsibleSteel. Trimble’s Tekla software is one of the construction industry’s most widely used software product suites for the design, engineering, fabrication and detailing of steel structures.
With owners and operators of both building and infrastructure assets increasingly expecting their construction partners to choose sustainably sourced materials, there is a growing opportunity and urgency for the steel industry to minimize its environmental impact. With Trimble’s Tekla software solutions, engineering, detailing and construction firms and fabrication workshops can more effectively calculate and plan the use of steel in steel structures and in steel reinforcement in concrete structures.
Tekla’s Embodied Carbon Calculator enables designers and detailers to assess the potential environmental implications of designs to quickly compare various structural options’ carbon impact. Additionally, a plugin to Tekla Structures enables the upload of material quantities in a design to One Click LCA, a lifecycle assessment software that helps users calculate and reduce the environmental impacts of their designs.
“Thanks to its industry-wide nature, ResponsibleSteel has the ability to bring about impactful change to the way steel is created, sold, sourced and applied,” said Päivi Puntila, director, Business Development and Sustainability Lead for the Structures Division at Trimble. “As one of the key players in design software for steel structures, Trimble solutions have contributed to making construction more sustainable by raising efficiencies, helping avoid waste during construction, and enabling data reporting on the climate impact of projects. Our membership of ResponsibleSteel is further proof of our commitment to helping protect and build a better world to drive a sustainable future.”
Annie Heaton, ResponsibleSteel’s CEO, commented, “As the only global multi-stakeholder initiative for the responsible production of steel, we have created a platform where companies from across the steel value chain can come together to learn and work together to shape the future of the industry. Trimble, as a leading software supplier for the construction industry working to improve productivity, safety, transparency, and sustainability, will be a valuable addition to the ResponsibleSteel membership community. Buildings and construction make up around 39 percent of global carbon emissions, 11 percent of which is from construction and the manufacture of building materials such as steel. Tekla software allows engineers to measure and compare the carbon footprint of different structural designs, helping to reduce their environmental impact.”
“Companies, through industry associations, are uniting to advance sustainability to empower collective action. Associations provide opportunities to share best practices, collaborate on challenges important in their industries and set standards on GHG emission and the sourcing of input materials,” said Dietmar Grimm, vice president, Trimble Corporate Strategy and Sustainability. “By aligning with ResponsibleSteel, Trimble and Trimble technologies can play an important role in helping to drive the production and use of low-carbon steel as well as help position the construction industry as a sustainability innovator.”
In 2022, Trimble received approval for its emissions reduction targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a coalition of the CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wide Fund for Nature, joining a growing number of companies taking urgent action on climate change. Trimble has also joined forces with other companies and climate leaders in the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign, the We Mean Business Coalition and the Race to Zero Campaign.
March 2023 Newsletter
Please view the March 2023 newsletter by clicking the link below:
Climate Leaders to Drive Decarbonisation in South Korean Steel
On Thursday March 23rd, the Climate Group (SteelZero), ResponsibleSteel and Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) held a special multi-stakeholder industry seminar to discuss decarbonisation of the steel industry and pragmatic solutions to tackle climate change. The event, “Decarbonising South Korean Steel – Aligning Customer Demand and Production Pathways” is the first of its kind to be held in South Korea.
Industry experts and practitioners across the steel value chain gathered to share their expertise on steel decarbonisation pathways and corporate climate leadership. The event brought together corporates with investors and civil society to discuss the most effective and pragmatic routes to rapid decarbonisation, technical breakthroughs and the role companies across the steel value chain can play to support the growing sustainable steel market in South Korea.
South Korea’s steel industry is a major domestic industrial and economic sector, and a dominant player on the world stage. In 2021, South Korea ranked as the world’s 6th largest steel-producing country, with 71.4 million tons of crude steel accounting for a 3.8% share of global production. Additionally, the South Korean steel industry is an important material supplier for major related industries such as automotive, construction and shipbuilding, with a huge inter-industrial linkage.
Attendees included some of the leading players in the steel industry – both steel producers and downstream customers such as POSCO, Hyundai Steel, SeAH Steel, SeAH Besteel, Donguk Steel, Hyundai Motor Group, Schneider Electric, WSP, A.P. Moller Maersk, Ørsted and others.
Annie Heaton, CEO at ResponsibleSteel said, “In 2022, POSCO together with ResponsibleSteel announced the certification of Pohang and Gwangyang Steelworks against the ResponsibleSteel Standard – one of the biggest steel sites in the world to achieve this accolade. This event will build on this momentum, create new partnerships and accelerate steel decarbonisation in South Korea and across the global steel value chain.”
Jen Carson, Head of Industry, Climate Group said, “All players right across the steel industry have a key role to play in accelerating decarbonisation. That’s why it’s incredibly important that steelmakers, steel consumers, policy makers, investors and civil society come together and take action on net zero steel. This conference is a pivotal moment in building a shared understanding of the current progress on lower emissions steel production in South Korea. And crucially, the opportunities for net zero steel production and procurement.”
Anna Song, Lead – Steel, Industry, SFOC said, “The steel industry around the world plays a vital role in curbing industry emissions to be on track with the 1.5 degree Paris Agreement, and Korean steel is no exception. The steel buyers on the demand side will play an especially significant role this decade because they create the business need for a rapid transition towards decarbonisation of the Korean steel industry.”
The event signalled an important exchange of ideas between key global and Korean industry players across the steel value chain. Momentum on steel decarbonisation is expected to continue building in the coming months, with the annual SteelZero Summit set to take place in Singapore on June 8, as part of the broader Climate Group Asia Action Summit. The Summit will focus on bringing together decision makers and business leaders from the steel and energy sectors to accelerate Asia’s role as an economic, green powerhouse – with a clear path to net zero. It’s part of the roadmap to Climate Group’s flagship event Climate Week NYC.
Celebrating Women in Steel: Gender equity, slow but steady steps
To celebrate International Women’s Day, Sofia Trombetta, Director of People, Health and Wellness at ArcelorMittal Long Steels LATAM and a global sponsor of diversity and inclusion for ResponsibleSteel Member ArcelorMittal, explores the slow but steady progress being made in the company as well as the wider industry to promote gender equity.
Despite advances in women’s rights and the greater occupation of spaces in the public and private spheres, society remains unequal in gender issues. In the global steel industry, the scenario is not different. We are a company of a traditional and mostly male sector. Aware of our responsibility, ArcelorMittal leads this transformation to build a more equitable community.
According to the World Economic Forum, gender inequality at work will only end in 253 years. Companies play an essential role in accelerating this process of social evolution. Research shows that more diverse teams (with more women and people with different backgrounds and profiles) bring better results to companies. In the case of its Brazilian operation, ArcelorMittal joined UN Women in 2020 and launched the goal of having 25% of women in leadership positions in its workforce by 2030.
To move in this direction, the company has adopted Woman Career Pathing, which focuses on mentoring and developing women in leadership with the goal of career acceleration. Another initiative is STEAM Girls, aimed at girls from 13 to 18 years old, with the objective of contributing to the improvement of teaching and learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. And the project “Elas na Siderurgia” aims to train women who were apprentices.
In addition, ArcelorMittal’s Tubarão unit – located in the municipality of Serra (ES) and the first steel plant in the Americas to obtain certification of its operations against the ResponsibleSteel Standard – is also aligned with this purpose. The plant, together with the unit of Vega (SC), held the 2nd edition of the Woman Award last year. The trophy was created to identify and recognize women, in various areas of activity, who are at the forefront of business or transformative social projects in the States of Espírito Santo and Santa Catarina, and for its third edition this year, will launch a public notice at national level. The action reinforces the company’s commitments to encourage female empowerment.
At the steel plant in Monlevade (MG) – another unit in Brazil to receive ResponsibleSteel certification – the company’s specific goal for women in leadership positions gained the attention of auditors during the certification process. The company has about 14,000 employees, approximately 14% of whom are women and 21% of those hold leadership positions. A breakthrough that already demonstrates the effect of our gender-inclusive actions.
Diversity and Inclusion is a theme that has been on the agenda at a global level since the creation of the ArcelorMittal Group’s Gender Diversity Steering Committee. In 2019, with the constitution of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee in the Brazilian operation, the company began the effective design of a program that supports the definition of the strategy and the setting of metrics and KPIs. In this way, ArcelorMittal in Brazil promotes respect, acceptance and appreciation of diversity not only as concepts, but as values in daily practice.
And the initiatives that support these values are not restricted to ArcelorMittal’s internal workforce. We have revisited several programs to promote greater representation of women in the company. The I AM Qualificar program offered technical training and qualification courses in steel processes for residents of Itatiaiuçu, Itaúna, Mateus Leme and the wider region. At the time, campaigns were created to specifically attract the female population of these locations. In another program, called I AM Expert, there was an increase in applications from women for the vacancies offered. The last cycle of the Apprentice program had countless girls interested in entering the industrial sector.
The company wants to create a more welcoming, fair and plural environment for women. We understand this is a challenging journey, but we are committed to achieving this goal by 2030.
By Sofia Trombetta, Director of People, Health and Wellness at ArcelorMittal Long Steels LATAM
Sofia Trombetta is Director of People, Health and Wellness at ArcelorMittal Long Steels LATAM and a global sponsor of diversity and inclusion in the ArcelorMittal Group.
Decarbonising South Korean Steel: Aligning Customer Demand and Production Pathways
On Thursday March 23rd, the SteelZero, ResponsibleSteel and Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) will be hosting a special multi-stakeholder industry seminar in Seoul to discuss decarbonisation of the steel industry and pragmatic solutions to tackle climate change.
The event will bring together industry experts, businesses across the steel value chain, investors, and civil society to share their expertise on steel decarbonisation pathways and discuss the most effective and pragmatic routes to rapid decarbonisation, technical breakthroughs and the role companies across the steel value chain can play to support the growing sustainable steel market in South Korea.
South Korea’s steel industry is a major domestic industrial and economic sector, and a dominant player on the world stage. In 2021, South Korea ranked as the world’s 6th largest steel-producing country, with 71.4 million tons of crude steel accounting for a 3.8% share of global production. Additionally, the South Korean steel industry is an important material supplier for major related industries such as automotive, construction and shipbuilding, with a huge inter-industrial linkage.
The event will feature an important exchange of ideas between key global and Korean industry players across the steel value chain. Momentum on steel decarbonisation is expected to continue building in the coming months, with the annual SteelZero Summit set to take place in Singapore on June 8, as part of the broader Climate Group Asia Action Summit. The Summit will focus on bringing together decision makers and business leaders from the steel and energy sectors to accelerate Asia’s role as an economic, green powerhouse – with a clear path to net zero. It’s part of the roadmap to Climate Group’s flagship event Climate Week NYC.
Contact us to find out more.
Aperam Earns Second ResponsibleSteel Certification for Aperam South America
Following a rigorous audit process by AFNOR lasting around 12 months, Aperam South America has achieved certification against the ResponsibleSteel Standard Version 1.1.
According to Aperam South America’s CEO, Frederico Ayres Lima, the site decided to pursue certification against the ResponsibleSteel Standard to further strengthen its commitment to sustainability and, strategically, to promote and make corporate responsibility more widely recognised.
Lima commented, “ResponsibleSteel is critical to our goal of striving for leadership in environmental excellence. We have one of the smallest carbon footprints in the industry and strive to adopt best practices in terms of ethics, governance, community engagement and corporate citizenship.”
He added, “This certification reinforces our commitment to sustainability, since it is part of our mission to offer the market steel solutions produced in a responsible manner.”
To obtain certification, the auditors interviewed a wide range of stakeholders and conducted several technical visits. In total, the auditors conducted over 60 interviews to map stakeholders’ perceptions of Aperam South America.
For the company’s Executive Manager of Health, Safety and the Environment, Robson Machado, this was a challenge that brought a different perspective on some issues. “It was an opportunity to reflect on our practices and see the improvements we can make,” stated Machado.
Aperam South America is an integrated producer of Flat Stainless, Electric and Special Steel. It has a total production capacity of 900,000 tonnes of steel per year and employs over 4000 workers and contractors.
ResponsibleSteel CEO Annie Heaton commented, “We’re very proud to have Aperam South America join a growing number of sites globally that have been certified against the ResponsibleSteel Standard. It is the second Aperam site to become certified, Aperam Stainless Europe being one of the earliest sites to achieve ResponsibleSteel certification back in 2021. This indicates Aperam’s continued determination to show leadership in each region they operate in. Aperam South America is working to build an inclusive and diverse working environment, one which also aims to give back to the local community. Just one example is the inclusion and diversity plan led by volunteers which the site has put in place to combat discrimination and stereotyping.”
Heaton continued, “The site also set up the OIKOS biological reserve through Aperam’s Acesita Foundation, and this has become not only a thriving hotspot for biodiversity but an important environmental education centre for the area, helping to preserve the nearby habitat for future generations and reflecting the site’s commitment to both people and the planet.”
Read the full audit summary here and watch Aperam South America’s CEO make the announcement here.
February 2023 Newsletter
Please view the February 2023 newsletter by clicking the link below:
ArcelorMittal Warszawa Obtains ResponsibleSteel Certification
We’re proud to announce that ArcelorMittal Warszawa has recently earned ResponsibleSteel Certification. The site, after a successful audit carried out by auditors from DNV (Det Norske Veritas) Poland, received the certificate at the end of January confirming that the site had fulfilled the criteria required to earn certification against the ResponsibleSteel Standard.
ResponsibleSteel CEO Annie Heaton stated, “It’s inspiring to see ArcelorMittal’s continued dedication to achieving site certification for all sites across Europe, reflecting the company’s unswerving commitment to working with ResponsibleSteel to build a sustainable, net-zero industry. ArcelorMittal Warszawa is the 8th electric arc furnace steel site to be certified against the ResponsibleSteel International Standard and has demonstrated a keen sense of responsibility towards the environment as well as to the site’s workers and nearby populations. The site consults regularly with local stakeholders and organises community site visits. The site has also invested significantly in reducing pollution, particularly noise pollution, and has committed to a 35% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. We look forward to supporting them as they work to fulfil this goal.”
ArcelorMittal Warszawa is a state-of-the-art mini mill, located in Poland. It started operations in 1957, becoming a reputed producer of carbon and special steel long products. ArcelorMittal Warszawa’s production cycle is based on Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) scrap recycling. The company is producing increasing volumes of products branded XCarb™ – (an umbrella brand that groups together all of the reduced, low, and zero carbon steel making activity of ArcelorMittal). Products manufactured by ArcelorMittal Warszawa are used in the automotive, machinery engineering, bearing and construction industries.
Commenting on the certification, Artur Gierwatowski, CEO of ArcelorMittal Warszawa stated, “This certificate is a great recognition for us at ArcelorMittal Warszawa but also a commitment to our stakeholders. Our customers, our employees and members of local communities expect us to produce high quality steel respecting the highest social and environmental standards. The ResponsibleSteel certificate recognizes that we are succeeding in doing it. This makes us very proud, and constitutes a commitment to further ArcelorMittal Warszawa’s sustainable development in coming years.”
The certification audits against the ResponsibleSteel Standard were performed between May and September 2022. They were designed to verify that the steel site’s activities meet a set of rigorously defined requirements, which auditors validate not only on the basis of documentation but also via a number of interviews with internal and external stakeholders. They take into account a broad range of social and environmental criteria including business integrity, relations with employees and communities, human rights and labour rights, climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, water management, waste and noise emissions, and biodiversity.
View the certificate here.
January 2023 Newsletter
Please view the January 2023 newsletter by clicking the link below:
JSW Steel Joins ResponsibleSteel
JSW Steel, one of India’s leading steel manufacturers, has today joined ResponsibleSteel, the only global multi-stakeholder standard and certification initiative for responsibly sourced and produced steel.
JSW Steel is the flagship business of the diversified, US$ 22 billion JSW Group, which is expanding across markets with innovation, digitalization, and sustainability as its key anchors. With efficient integrated operations and a clear vision for the future, JSW is executing its strategic growth plan in line with the growing steel demand.
Annie Heaton, ResponsibleSteel’s CEO, commented, “We are delighted that JSW has joined ResponsibleSteel as a member and very much welcome the commitment to sustainability standards this represents. It is another great example of leadership in the steel industry, and particularly important to see this in India given its role in driving decarbonisation both at home and globally. By joining us, JSW is committing to achieving certification against the ResponsibleSteel International Standard, which in the world of decarbonisation and ESG has no equal. Certification of a steelmaking site requires hard work across the board to integrate not only decarbonisation plans into the site’s strategy but all material environmental and social improvements, which means investment and technological know-how plus a strong commitment from the company’s management and its employees. We look forward to working with JSW as they move forward on their journey of decarbonisation and sustainable development.”
Over the last three decades, JSW Steel has grown from a single manufacturing unit to become India’s leading integrated steel company with a capacity of 28.5 MTPA in India and the USA (including capacities under joint control). Its next phase of growth in India will take its total capacity to 38.5 MTPA by FY25. The Company’s manufacturing unit in Vijayanagar, Karnataka is the largest single-location steel-producing facility in India with a capacity of 12 MTPA. JSW Steel has always been at the forefront of research and innovation. It has a strategic collaboration with global leader JFE Steel of Japan, enabling JSW to access new and state-of-the-art technologies to produce and offer high-value special steel products to its customers. These products are extensively used across industries and applications including construction, infrastructure, automobile, electrical applications, and appliances.
Seshagiri Rao, JMD & Group CFO stated, “The move to join ResponsibleSteel is to collaborate and work with other businesses in creating values, tools, and policies, to accelerate the growth of the steel industry in a sustainable manner and enhance sustainability within our supply chain, so that customers are confident that the steel they use has been sourced and produced responsibly at every stage.”
He continued, “At JSW we understand our responsibility towards making our planet better and are happy to join ResponsibleSteel to demonstrate our commitment through participating in the international certification programme.”
JSW Steel has set ambitious sustainability targets including reducing its specific CO2 emissions by 42% by FY2030 from 2005, aligning its target with the Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS) of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and India’s Nationally Determined Contributions.
Read the full press release here.
