News

ResponsibleSteel: A key pillar of Maxion Wheels’ Responsible Sourcing Policy

At Maxion Wheels, our commitment to sustainability is deeply embedded in our business strategy. As a leading global manufacturer of both aluminum and steel wheels, we understand the critical role we play in the automotive industry and the broader societal impact of our operations. Our annual steel requirement amounts to 800,000 tons, covering our operations across North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Scope 3 emissions from the steel we purchase make up the largest share of our total emissions at 56%. Reducing these upstream emissions is strategically important to Maxion Wheels’ goal of becoming a net-zero operation by 2040. To this end, we have entered into future partnership agreements with selected steel manufacturers that offer a green vision and a solid decarbonisation strategy. We actively encourage our steel suppliers to offer more sustainable options, enabling Maxion Wheels to develop solutions that fulfil our customers’ expectations.

Strong industry standards and frameworks help unify the supply chain around shared sustainability values. They also make supply chain sustainability governance more efficient and less resource-intensive. The ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard provides a benchmark on sustainable best business practices for the steel industry, and ResponsibleSteel’s Principles align with our own values as well as the expectations we have of our supplier network.

Our responsible sourcing policy reflects this commitment by awarding credit points to steel suppliers in their annual performance rating, if they are members of ResponsibleSteel. We collaborate with steel manufacturers who are committed to reducing their emissions and implementing closed-loop systems. These manufacturers are not only dedicated to minimising their environmental footprint but also to enhancing the overall sustainability of their operations. By targeting these forward-thinking steel producers, we ensure that our supply chain supports our sustainability goals.

Our ResponsibleSteel membership is a testament to our commitment to sustainability and responsible sourcing. With our holistic supply chain risk management, we continuously monitor and evaluate our suppliers, recognising and rewarding those who excel in responsible practices.

At Maxion Wheels, we are proud to be at the forefront of this important movement, leading the way towards a sustainable, net-zero future as a proud member of ResponsibleSteel.

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EMSTEEL Achieves ResponsibleSteel Core Site Certification – A First for the MENA Region

Emirates Steel Industries Co. PJSC (EMSTEEL) has earned Core Site Certification under the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard, introducing ResponsibleSteel certification to the MENA region and establishing a key benchmark for the region’s steel sector.

Located in the Abu Dhabi Industrial City, EMSTEEL operates a fully integrated facility producing 4.2 million tonnes of direct reduced iron annually and over 7 million combined tonnes of steel products such as billets, beam blanks, blooms, and reinforcing bars. The audit, conducted by CARES, assessed performance against more than 300 social, environmental, and governance requirements.

Annie Heaton, CEO of ResponsibleSteel, said,“The certification of EMSTEEL marks the arrival of ResponsibleSteel certification in the MENA region and sets an important benchmark for the region’s steel industry. The site certification recognises EMSTEEL’s established governance systems, as well as transparent engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. As a region that plays a growing role in the global steel supply chain, the MENA region is poised to become an important piece of the puzzle in the industry’s transition. This certification not only shows that sustainability standards can be applied effectively across different regions but also reflects the sustained progress being made by companies like EMSTEEL. We look forward to continuing our work with EMSTEEL and other regional leaders on the journey to a more responsible steel value chain.”

EMSTEEL's decarbonisation strategy aims to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 40% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline, more than double the UAE’s 19% reduction requirement, and to achieve net zero by 2050. The company’s five-pillar plan involves carbon capture, 100% clean electricity by 2030, enhanced energy efficiency, increased scrap use, and the adoption of green hydrogen having launched the region’s first hydrogen-based steel pilot project with Masdar in 2023.

Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group Chief Executive Officer, EMSTEEL, commented, “Achieving the ResponsibleSteel™ certification is a proud milestone for us and is a testament to our relentless commitment to sustainability, innovation and responsible growth. As the first company in the MENA region to meet this global benchmark, we’re proud to continue driving national advanced manufacturing goals, while setting industry benchmarks for decarbonising the steel value chain.”

With over 2,700 employees and contractors, EMSTEEL plays a key role in the UAE’s industrial landscape and supports a broad network of stakeholders. Representatives from government agencies, academic institutions, and the local community were consulted as part of the audit, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement across the steel value chain.

Take a look at the certificates and public audit summaries here.

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SKF: Advancing decarbonisation through ResponsibleSteel

At SKF, we believe that the journey to net zero must be a collective one, built on shared standards, collaboration across the value chain, and a commitment to continuous improvement. As a global industrial technology leader and significant buyer of steel, purchasing more than half a million tons annually, we recognise the important role we play in supporting the transformation of the steel industry.

Steel is a critical material in our products and represents around 70% of our upstream carbon footprint. In recognition of this, we’ve made the decarbonisation of our steel supply chain a strategic focus. However, we also recognise that genuine progress needs more than internal ambition; it requires industry-wide alignment and credible frameworks to guide action.

That’s why SKF joined ResponsibleSteel. We see ResponsibleSteel as a vital platform for advancing a shared understanding of what responsible steel production looks like - one that integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles with robust standards for emissions and broader sustainability performance. The initiative’s multi-stakeholder governance and assurance frameworks provide the transparency and consistency needed to support informed decision-making and accelerate change.

We are proud to have contributed to the development of ResponsibleSteel’s International Production Standard, which provides a much-needed framework for measuring and improving the climate performance of steel producers. We actively encourage our steel suppliers to engage with the ResponsibleSteel Standard and consider how it can support their own sustainability journeys. Through SKF’s Sustainability Standard for Suppliers, we promote alignment with ResponsibleSteel’s 13 Principles and reporting expectations with steel and steel component suppliers. We believe that by raising awareness and fostering dialogue around ResponsibleSteel’s approach, we can help build momentum for more sustainable practices across the value chain.

In parallel, we are working closely with selected steelmakers to explore and scale low-carbon technologies. This includes partnerships to develop steel made from recycled content and hydrogen-reduced iron (H-DRI), as well as pilot projects that demonstrate the feasibility of greener steel in industrial applications. These collaborations are helping to demonstrate what’s possible and inspire broader adoption across the sector.

We also use our voice to advocate for systemic change. Through our involvement in initiatives such as ResponsibleSteel and SteelZero, we support the development of policy and market mechanisms that can accelerate the transition towards a net-zero steel industry. We believe that demand-side signals from buyers, combined with clear standards and supportive policy, are key to unlocking investment and innovation.

At SKF, we see responsible steel not only as a material choice but as a strategic lever for climate action, resilience, and long-term value creation. We’re proud to stand with ResponsibleSteel and its members in advancing this vision, and we look forward to continuing the journey together.

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ResponsibleSteel publishes verified emissions data: The next step towards transparent, consistent emissions accounting and disclosure

ResponsibleSteel has published verified greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data from Certified Sites as part of its members’ commitment to transparent emissions accounting and data disclosure.

As pressure for credible climate action grows, clear, consistent and comparable emissions data is essential. It enables steel buyers, investors, policy makers and other stakeholders to effectively assess the emissions performance of steel production sites and make informed decisions, helping to drive progress on industry decarbonisation.

Today, we mark an important early milestone on the journey towards transparent and consistent emissions accounting and data disclosure. Following multi-stakeholder agreement on what is necessary for credible data disclosure as part of the development of the Production Standard, we are now publicly disclosing these GHG data points. But this is just the beginning.

Moving forward, we aim to see wider adoption of ResponsibleSteel’s accounting methodology for the globally comparable metric of cradle-to-crude steel GHG emissions intensity at site level, and more sites working toward achieving ResponsibleSteel Certified Steel. With this shift, we will move towards being able to compare data reliably, enabling like-for-like assessments of emissions performance.

Whilst we are already seeing incremental emissions reductions across some steelmaking sites, in the coming years, we hope to celebrate deeper emissions reductions, verified based on robust, comparable data.

What data are sites required to disclose?

Under Principle 10 of the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard, sites are required to disclose emissions data depending on their level of certification:

Core Site Certification

Sites certified against ResponsibleSteel’s Core requirements must measure, record and verify their total site-level GHG emissions using a regionally or internationally recognised methodology. The site may choose to use the ‘cradle-to-crude’ emissions accounting methodology developed by ResponsibleSteel, but it is not mandatory. Core   Site Certification can apply to steelmaking sites as well as upstream or downstream manufacturing sites in the value chain.

Certified Steel

Sites that have achieved certification against ResponsibleSteel’s Progress Level requirements to market and sell products as Certified Steel must use the consistent ‘cradle-to-crude’ emissions accounting methodology developed by ResponsibleSteel. This enables like-for-like comparison of crude steel GHG emissions intensity across sites globally. Only steelmaking sites can be certified to sell Certified Steel. These sites must disclose their:

  • Crude steel emissions intensity;
  • Proportion of scrap used as metallic input;
  • The Decarbonisation Progress Level achieved; and
  • Product-level carbon footprint data.

All data published on ResponsibleSteel’s website has been independently verified by third-party auditors to ensure accuracy, which is then also reviewed by ResponsibleSteel’s Assurance Panel and Secretariat.

It’s important to note that while disclosing emissions at site level aids in the comparability of data, the Production Standard also permits the disclosure of a weighted average across a portfolio of sites instead, provided the portfolio meets the requirements for a ‘strategic business unit’ as defined in the ResponsibleSteel Glossary.  In some cases, due to the nature of the business unit, a portfolio may consist of both certified and non-certified sites.

Disclosure of portfolio-level data on the ResponsibleSteel website represents a valuable next step and in time, we anticipate more steelmakers will opt to publish site-level data to strengthen transparency, enable clearer insights, and support decarbonisation progress.

Why are there gaps in the data?

It’s important to note that not all data is available yet. This could be because:

  • A site is preparing for an upcoming surveillance or re-certification audit, after which the most recent data will be published; or
  • A site was certified under an earlier version of the Production Standard. Public disclosure of GHG emissions data became a formal requirement with the publication of Version 2.0 of the Production Standard in September 2022. Sites certified under an earlier version are not obliged to publish this data on ResponsibleSteel’s website until it comes time for re-certification.

Working towards transparent, comparable emissions data measurement and reporting

Comparability of GHG emissions data is only meaningful when consistent measurement methodologies are applied. This includes (but is not limited to) aligning on emissions boundaries, the types of GHGs included, the use of default data, and the allocation methods for scrap and co-products.

For this reason, data from Core Site Certifications, while valuable, is not directly comparable across sites, as each may use different recognised methodologies.

To obtain certification to sell Certified Steel, however, sites must use ResponsibleSteel’s methodology to calculate their data, allowing for clear and consistent comparisons between steelmaking sites worldwide.  

To strengthen comparability and accelerate the industry’s transition, ResponsibleSteel encourages all steelmaking sites, whether pursuing Core Site Certification or not, to adopt its emissions accounting methodology and to publish their data.  

Learn more about ResponsibleSteel’s emissions accounting methodology here.  

To explore the data disclosed by ResponsibleSteel Certified Sites, visit our new webpage.

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ResponsibleSteel: How did we get here?

Steel is everywhere. It’s in the buildings we live and work in, the cars we drive, and the wind turbines we’re relying on for a low-carbon future. It’s strong, versatile and essential. But it also comes with a heavy social and environmental footprint, having a profound impact on people and the planet.

As global attention increasingly began to zero in on climate and sustainability issues, industries like agriculture, textiles, and timber began developing standards to measure and improve their impacts. But steel, despite being one of the most widely used and most carbon-intensive materials globally, remained largely outside this conversation. There was no common language, no shared benchmark, and no way of independently measuring industry progress.

An idea takes shape

The concept for a global standard for steel started to take shape between 2011 and 2015, developed initially by the Australian Steel Stewardship Forum. The foundations were laid for an international, non-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation to tackle the most pressing sustainability issues in the steel industry.

By 2015, industry stakeholders, including BlueScope and ArcelorMittal, began coming forward to support the initiative, recognising the need for an independent initiative to drive and measure industry progress. In 2016, the first face-to-face council meetings were held, and the organisation was incorporated as the Steel Stewardship Council.

ArcelorMittal Ghent, image credits to Joe Woodruff

The development of the first Standard

Developing a sustainability standard for one of the world’s most complex industries was no small task. But by 2017, the first working draft of ResponsibleSteel’s Production Standard had been developed using ISEAL’s Codes of Good Practice as a reference.

Over the next two years, input from over 70 organisations and 180 individuals helped shape and strengthen the standard. In 2019, the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard Version 1.0 was approved by both business and civil society members, marking a critical milestone in making responsible steel a global reality.

The first certificates presented to ArcelorMittal sites in Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg

The first ResponsibleSteel Certified Sites

Within two months of launching the Standard, the first steel sites began the audit process. Despite setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the world’s first ResponsibleSteel certifications were awarded in 2021 to four ArcelorMittal sites in Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg.

Momentum quickly grew. By 2022, sites in Australia, North and South America, and Asia were certified, and by November, ResponsibleSteel Certified Sites spanned five continents and covered over 100 million tonnes of steel production.

Annie Heaton, CEO of ResponsibleSteel; David Burritt, CEO of U. S. Steel; and Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group at Climate Week NYC 2024. Image credit to Joe Woodruff

Raising the bar: Certified Steel

Even before the first certificates were issued, work had already begun on a more ambitious task to define what truly low-emission, responsibly sourced steel should look like.

This led to the development of rigorous requirements on decarbonisation and materials sourcing. These requirements were refined through member working groups, public consultations, and a 12-month test phase, before being finalised as part of the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard Version 2.1, published in 2024.

Version 2.1 marked the green light for steelmakers ready to take their ResponsibleSteel journey to the next level: Certified Steel. In September 2024, at Climate Week NYC, U. S. Steel’s Big River Steel was unveiled as the first site globally to market and sell Certified Steel.

What’s next?

What began as a small initiative has become a global multi-stakeholder movement. Today, the ResponsibleSteel community numbers over 160 members from across the steel value chain and civil society organisations.

With the support of our members and partners, we continue to work to improve our standards and certification programmes. This includes work on the revision of the Production Standard to ensure it remains aligned with the needs of the industry and our planet, and the development of a Chain of Custody Standard to enable downstream buyers to make credible claims relating to the amount of Certified Steel in their products.

Together, we’re striving to construct an ecosystem to support a positive industry transition by engaging the full value chain, as well as policymakers and finance institutions, and by championing consistent, comparable emissions measurement to support alignment across standards and build a market for low-emission and near-zero steel.

Join the Movement

Steel is at the heart of the global economy – and the climate challenge. The work we do now will shape the industry of the future.

Find out how you can get involved here.

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Holding steel to a higher standard: What is ResponsibleSteel?

Steel is everywhere. It’s in the buildings we live and work in, the cars we drive, the bridges we cross, and the products we use every day. It's an essential material in the modern world and critical to the renewable energy transition.

But steel also comes with a cost. It’s a major source of emissions, contributing to 10% of global energy-related emissions, and the way it’s produced can have serious impacts on local communities and ecosystems. With growing pressure to reduce emissions, improve supply chain practices, and meet evolving regulations, the steel industry faces a huge challenge.

That’s where ResponsibleSteel comes in.

We're a global not-for-profit organisation created to maximise steel’s contribution to a sustainable world. Our mission is to be a driving force in the production of socially and environmentally responsible near-zero steel, steel that buyers and investors can get behind.

ResponsibleSteel supports:

  • Steelmakers to demonstrate good practice on social and environmental issues, and measurable progress on decarbonisation
  • Steel buyers and investors to make informed decisions and reduce risk in their supply chains and portfolios

Together, we have the opportunity to do things differently and support the industry's transition to a responsible, low-emission future.

What we do

ResponsibleSteel is the global standards and certification initiative for the steel industry. Working collaboratively with over 160 members from across the steel supply chain and civil society, we have developed the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard via a process that uses the ISEAL Codes of Good Practice as a reference.

The ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard contains 13 Principles covering key environmental, social and governance issues identified and agreed upon by our members for the responsible production of steel. The Production Standard evaluates the full picture—not just carbon emissions, but also labour rights, human rights, water use, biodiversity, raw material sourcing, and other key issues that affect people and the planet.

Certification against the Production Standard combines all the complexities of good social and environmental performance in one indication. Steelmaking sites must undergo rigorous, third-party audits to become certified, ensuring that a site is meeting the highest environmental and social standards.

Certification provides steelmakers with a clear framework for improvement and helps buyers, investors, and other stakeholders understand whether a site is operating responsibly.

How it works

Certification is broken down into Core Site Certification and Steel Certification, or ‘Certified Steel’.

Core Site Certification against the Production Standard is the first step sites can take on their ResponsibleSteel journey. Sites undergoing Core Site Certification are evaluated against over 300 core requirements, covering the key social and environmental aspects of steelmaking such as pollution, biodiversity, water stewardship, labour rights and local communities. Core Site Certification is a major achievement, requiring commitment at the corporate level and across all of the site’s operations.

Now, steelmaking sites can build on their Core Site Certification, pursuing certification against the Production Standard’s Progress Level requirements for decarbonisation and responsible materials sourcing. The Production Standard defines four Progress Levels for the measurement of decarbonisation and responsible materials sourcing. Steelmaking sites that achieve at least Progress Level 1 for both are able to market and label their products as ‘Certified Steel’.

Why it matters

The need for reliable, consistent, comparable data in the steel industry has never been greater. Governments are introducing stricter climate disclosure regulations. Steelmakers and buyers are under pressure to reduce emissions and meet consumer demand for more sustainable products. And investors want to know which steelmakers are producing responsibly and planning for the future.

Certified Steel helps steelmakers show progress, build trust, and stand out in a competitive market. And it gives buyers and investors the confidence that a site has not only met the strong environmental and social criteria required for Core Site Certification, but is also making measurable progress on decarbonisation and materials sourcing. Certified Steel:

  • Assures that steelmakers are meeting the highest social and environmental standards
  • Offers credible, comparable emissions data to simplify decision-making
  • Reduces supply chain and financial risks, protecting reputation and value

Working together to shape steel’s future

The industry will not transform overnight. And the transition cannot be left to steelmakers alone. Driving progress in the industry will require clear demand signals from steel buyers and backing from investors. That’s why we are working closely with buyers and investors to forge a path to a sustainable future for steel. Together, we’re helping to build a global market that is better for people, for business, and for the planet.

If you want to learn more, get involved, or see how ResponsibleSteel could support your work, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s take steel from strength to strength.

Learn more about ResponsibleSteel standards and certification here.

Are you a steel buyer or investor? Find out how you can get involved here.

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ResponsibleSteel publishes fundamentals for GHG emissions accounting and classification to drive transparency, comparability, and decarbonisation progress

To help improve the accessibility of ResponsibleSteel’s emissions methodology and accelerate robust emissions accounting and reporting, ResponsibleSteel has today published extracts from Principle 10 of the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard relating to Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions.

Importantly, this is not an independent standard against which steelmakers can make certification claims. Instead, ResponsibleSteel's Fundamentals for GHG Emissions Accounting and Classification is designed as a valuable resource for steelmakers, steel buyers, policymakers, investors, and civil society organisations to use as a reference to measure and track progress as the global industry transitions to lower-emission production practices.

The document aims to improve the comparability, consistency and transparency of emissions accounting and reporting across the global steel industry by outlining three of Principle 10’s fundamental components:

  1. ResponsibleSteel’s methodology for the calculation and disclosure of crude steel GHG emissions intensity at the site level.
  2. ResponsibleSteel’s classification system to assess a steelmaking site’s decarbonisation progress.
  3. ResponsibleSteel requirements for GHG emissions intensity declarations at product-level.

ResponsibleSteel’s “Decarbonisation Scale” approach enables all steelmaking sites, globally, to be compared on a like-for-like basis, based on transparent and fair accounting rules. By adopting this approach, the industry has the opportunity to increase the transparency and consistency of emissions data across the value chain, reducing administrative burdens and enabling more effective implementation of decarbonisation policies and mechanisms.

This new publication will be particularly valuable for stakeholders either looking to align with ResponsibleSteel’s approach or to build interoperability between GHG-specific frameworks, regulations, and procurement systems.

It is important to note that no claims relating to ResponsibleSteel certification, or its equivalency, or Decarbonisation Progress Level achievement, can be made based on this document alone. The document only represents a subset of Principle 10, which in full also addresses corporate commitments to the Paris Agreement, climate-related financial disclosures, and additional site-level emissions reductions. Nor does it include any of the other 12 Principles outlined in the Production Standard relating to the responsible production of steel.

We believe that truly responsible steel production requires steelmakers to go beyond decarbonisation and take steps to mitigate other social and environmental impacts. But amidst the growing urgency of the climate crisis, ResponsibleSteel remains committed to supporting global steel decarbonisation through practical tools developed with multi-stakeholder support. This latest publication reflects that commitment to offering robust, credible, scalable tools to accelerate emissions reductions at scale.

For any questions about the use or development of ResponsibleSteel’s Emissions Metrics, please contact standards@responsiblesteel.org.

Learn more about ResponsibleSteel’s Fundamentals for GHG Emissions Accounting and Classification here.

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ResponsibleSteel and LESS aisbl urge robust, scrap-conscious approach to effective European steel decarbonisation 

ResponsibleSteel and the Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS aisbl) today jointly release a new policy briefing, ‘The Steel Decarbonisation Scale’, urging European policymakers to adopt a more robust and realistic approach to steel decarbonisation—one that recognises the physical limits of scrap supply and incentivises genuine emissions reductions across all steel production routes.  

The study highlights that Europe’s steel industry, as the world’s second-largest producer, is responsible for 6% of the European Union’s total emissions. With ambitious EU targets aiming for a 55% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050, the way steel decarbonisation is measured and incentivised is of critical importance.  

A key finding of the study is that current policy discussions, including the European Steel and Metals Action Plan (ESMAP) and proposals for voluntary carbon labels for steel, risk undermining climate goals if they fail to account for the fundamental constraints on scrap availability. Despite a high global steel recycling rate of 85%, only about 32% of the world’s demand for new steel can currently be met with recycled scrap due to the long lifetime of steel products, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). While the amount of available scrap is set to increase, the IEA estimates that scrap will still only be sufficient to meet 46% of steel demand by 2050.

“Steel decarbonisation requires an appropriate base for comparing steel products in terms of their global climate impact,” said Dr. Martin Theuringer, Secretary General of LESS aisbl. “Scrap is a valuable and limited resource. Any label or standard that ignores this risks distorting markets and ultimately slowing down the transition to truly low-emission steel. Our approach ensures that both primary and scrap-based production are incentivised to decarbonise, not just to compete for a fixed pool of scrap.”  

ResponsibleSteel and LESS propose the adoption of a “steel decarbonisation scale” that complements traditional carbon footprinting by explicitly accounting for the ratio of scrap and primary iron used in steelmaking. This approach, already recognised by the G7 and incorporated into international standards, would:  

  • Prevent fruitless competition for a limited scrap supply  
  • Incentivise decarbonisation across all steel production routes  
  • Promote technology-neutral, WTO-compliant solutions  
  • Support the competitiveness of European industry while advancing global climate goals  

“A European label for steel is a great opportunity to incentivise steelmakers to become globally competitive on their real decarbonisation progress,” said Annie Heaton, CEO of ResponsibleSteel. “A well-designed classification system will do this by taking into account scrap content in addition to the measurement of steel‘s carbon intensity, recognising that scrap will at best provide half of the world’s steel by 2050. As a result, this ‘steel decarbonisation scale’ approach incentivises investments that drive progress in the steelmaking process itself, whether in primary or secondary iron and steel making.”  

The two organisations call on the European Commission to integrate the steel decarbonisation scale into the development of voluntary labels, lead markets, and investment support mechanisms, ensuring that future measures are effective, fair, and aligned with Europe’s climate ambitions.

Download the briefing here.

Access ResponsibleSteel’s approach to GHG emissions metrics here.

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ResponsibleSteel publishes second annual Progress Report

ResponsibleSteel is fast becoming the reference tool to drive the demand, policy, and finance levers necessary for the steel industry’s transition, providing a sustainability roadmap that customers, communities, investors, and workers can all get behind.

ResponsibleSteel’s annual Progress Report provides an opportunity to measure and report on the progress of our programmes, celebrating our milestones and identifying areas for learning and improvement.

In this second ResponsibleSteel Progress Report, we track the development of new work undertaken in 2024, the growth of ResponsibleSteel's membership, and the progress of our certification programme as we look toward 2030 and beyond.

2024 was a challenging year for the industry, but despite setbacks, we continued to see real determination and progress.

In 2024, we saw a 34% increase in the number of Certified Sites, bringing the total up to 87. And we saw the first sites complete re-certifications, a true testament to the enduring value of ResponsibleSteel certification. Critically, the first Certified Steel was also launched on the market – 2.4 million tonnes produced by U. S. Steel’s Big River Steel site – marking a new era of progress.

This Progress Report examines the growth of ResponsibleSteel’s certification programme and membership in 2024, as well as featuring other highlights from the year, including:

  • The launch of the International Production Standard Version 2.1
  • The launch of a draft Chain of Custody Standard
  • The publication of our report, Charting Progress to 1.5°C through certification
  • Insights into the value of ResponsibleSteel membership and certification from our 2024 Membership Survey

Looking to the future, we continue to build on work begun in 2024 to build a market for responsibly produced, near-zero steel by engaging with and mobilising policymakers, investors, and buyers of steel.

Read the full report to find out more about our progress in 2024 and plans for 2025.

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Global architecture firm Grimshaw joins ResponsibleSteel™

Grimshaw was founded by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw in 1980. The practice operates worldwide, across all major sectors, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Dubai, Melbourne and Sydney, employing over 500 staff.

Grimshaw’s mission has always been to deliver lasting, meaningful design that brings value and joy to clients and users. With each project Grimshaw delivers, there is an innate respect of the fragility of the planet and its depleting resources. Building on this history, the practice’s future global objectives are to design net zero carbon ready buildings and infrastructure by 2025 and to deliver socially and environmentally regenerative buildings by 2030.

Dr. Paul Toyne, Practice Leader for Sustainability at Grimshaw said: “To address the climate emergency, we need participation from all parts of the construction supply chain. Steel contributes to global greenhouse gas pollution, so we are proud to join ResponsibleSteel in their efforts to support the steel sector to reduce emissions and ensure sustainability and responsibility in every stage of steel’s value chain.”

“It is very exciting to welcome our first member from the Architecture/Design sector to ResponsibleSteel.” said Ali Lucas, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel.  “Working with, and learning from an organisation like Grimshaw, with their wealth and depth of experience globally in designing socially and environmentally sustainable buildings, will bring a new level of insight into our programme and project planning and discussions.  I am sure that other ResponsibleSteel members will also benefit greatly from having Grimshaw participate and share their expertise.”

September 14, 2020
2020
News
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New forestry initiative Emergent is holding its first New York Climate Week event

We wanted to take this opportunity to do something different and invite you to Emergent’s New York Climate Week webinar: Every Tool We’ve Got, on Friday, September 25th from 2-3PM EST. Emergent is linked to a couple of our Civil Society members and sustainable forestry is a passion for all of ResponsibleSteel’s secretariat.

Emergent is a non-profit organization with the sole mission of accelerating the speed and scale of tropical forest conservation to combat the climate crisis. With an international team of world-class climate experts and a board with deep private and public sector experience, Emergent is supported by a coalition including the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Norwegian government’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI).

Addressing the current climate and deforestation emergencies require systemic and transformative solutions. Emergent was created to catalyze this type of action by supporting countries that successfully reduce deforestation, delivering climate impacts and other vital benefits for the people and animals that call the forest home.

The private sector has the potential and opportunity to mobilize its power to halt and reverse deforestation. But it’s not happening fast enough. The world loses 7 million hectares of tropical forest annually — the equivalent of 40 football fields a minute, every minute. And once it’s gone, it’s gone.

If interested please sign up as soon as possible, as the deadline is looming.

September 14, 2020
2020
News
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GHG and Steel: mapping the landscape of initiatives

Steel’s contribution to – and potential role in reducing – the world’s emissions of greenhouse gases is shooting up the global agenda. ResponsibleSteel welcomes this recognition and growing sense of urgency. But it brings challenges. One of those is the proliferation of initiatives, projects, programmes and calls for action that affect the steel sector.

The context and overall goal for all of these is the same, but the very number of initiatives makes it hard to engage effectively. Steel’s ubiquity as material means that is affected by a multitude of different efforts – whether they are focussed on leveraging finance and investment, materials for low carbon buildings and infrastructure, steel for automotive manufacturing, or new policy initiatives focussed on public procurement, the ‘Green Deal’ or post Covid-19 support for industry. And steel also has a role as the major customer for mined materials, including iron ore and coking coal.

ResponsibleSteel and its steelmaker and civil society members are at the heart of many of these initiatives. The first ResponsibleSteel standard was published in November 2019, and steelmaking sites are currently undergoing assessment. The Climate Group’s ‘SteelZero’ project, in collaboration with ResponsibleSteel, aims to build momentum and help align demand for ‘low GHG emission’ steel. We are active supporters of the We Mean Business Coalition and we and many of our members are involved with and support the work of ETC. But how do all these initiatives fit together?

On 29th September ResponsibleSteel will be hosting two member webinars – one at 09.00 BST, and then repeated at 17.00 BST – to present and discuss the results of a mapping exercise we are carrying out to better understand the landscape of GHG initiatives that affect the sector and ResponsibleSteel’s role and relationships with those initiatives. This will be the first of our series of ResponsibleSteel Member webinars. We will be sending out invitations this week – Members and Associates, please mark your schedules if you would like to attend.

September 14, 2020
2020
News
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Stakeholder Q&A on draft ‘GHG Emission Requirements for the Certification of Steel Products’

ResponsibleSteel is hosting two Q&A sessions for stakeholders interested in the draft ‘GHG Emission Requirements for the Certification of Steel Products’, to take place on Wednesday 30th September, and Wednesday 7th October, with both sessions repeated at 09.00 and 17.00 BST.

At the beginning of the month we launched a 60-day public consultation on draft requirements to allow ResponsibleSteel certification of steel products: You can find the draft requirements, background information, options and consultation questions here.

The Q&A sessions will give stakeholders the opportunity to seek clarification on the intent or meaning of the draft requirements, in advance of any written feedback.

The sessions will include a short presentation followed by questions from participants.  The sessions on 30 September will focus on Criterion 8.6, and the sessions on 7 October will cover the remaining criteria.

Participation is by invitation.  ResponsibleSteel Members, Associates and Working Group members will receive their invitation in the coming days.    If you are not a Member, Associate or currently participating in a working group but would like to attend please contact George Deslandes (gdeslandes@responsiblesteel.org) as soon as possible.

September 14, 2020
2020
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Audit of ArcelorMittal Bremen and Bottrop sites announced

ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel producer, seeks ResponsibleSteel certification of two of its sites in Germany, namely its steel mill in Bremen and its coking plant in Bottrop.

Certification body GUTcert will assess both sites against the ResponsibleSteel Standard version 1-0 and invites stakeholders to announce if they are interested in providing input to the audit. Stakeholder engagement is an important feature in ResponsibleSteel audits as it supports the collection and review of information from rich and varied sources, strengthening the credibility of audit results.

The ArcelorMittal Bremen and Bottrop audit will take place between 07 and 10 September. Stakeholders can find further information here.

August 20, 2020
2020
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ERM Joins ResponsibleSteel™

ResponsibleSteel is proud to announce that ERM has joined as an Associate Member.

ERM is one of the world’s leading sustainability services consultancies with more than 5000 practitioners in over 40 countries and territories that help address many of the sustainability challenges their clients face. This ranges from managing issues in facing the transition to a low carbon economy, to the operational issues such as health and safety in mining and manufacturing.

ERM’s relationship with the metals, mining and manufacturing sectors cuts across all types and size of business and has created an informed and client driven approach.  ERM has helped clients on many schemes related to the Responsible Steel Standard providing technical, sustainability and social experts to ensure our outputs reflect the goals of our clients in driving improvements in systems implementation and performance through the value chain.

“ERM’s broad and deep experience in working globally with businesses along the steel supply chain will be a great asset in helping ResponsibleSteel and our members develop relevant and groundbreaking solutions towards achieving low carbon steel in the future” said Ali Lucas, Executive Director or ResponsibleSteel, “we are delighted to welcome ERM as an Associate member and benefiting from their insight and experience.”

Dirk Nuyens, global account director steel & mining from ERM commenting on this said : “The steel & mining sectors are currently facing a game changing transition towards a low-carbon economy, the Responsible Steel standard & certification initiative has an important role to play within this context. ERM is looking forward working with Responsible Steel to help drive steel producing companies, their upstream base material suppliers and their customers towards more responsibly sourced and produced steel.”

August 20, 2020
2020
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Responsible Sourcing Consultation Closes Soon

ResponsibleSteel has developed further requirements for the responsible sourcing of input materials used for steel making and steel processing. Meeting these requirements in addition to the already approved ResponsibleSteel Standard will allow steel sites to not only make claims about the way their site is operated, but also about their sourcing of input materials and the steel products they sell. The new requirements will be important to push demand for credible third-party verification of suppliers such as mine sites.

We are keen to receive your feedback on our proposals!

Consultation is open until 02 October and you can find the draft requirements, background information, options and consultation questions here.

Please provide your feedback by 02 October 2020 via the form provided on https://forms.gle/RbS1rT2F7i3sA11K7.

Make use of this opportunity to help shape the steel sector of the future and create responsible supply chains!

August 19, 2020
2020
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Consultation on Standard Interpretations – Now Open

In November 2019, the ResponsibleSteel Standard was launched, covering 12 Principles on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues associated with the steel sector. Over the last few months, we have received enquiries from stakeholders, asking us to interpret some of the criteria and requirements in the Standard. Interpretation might be necessary because a criterion or requirement can be read in different ways, or because a certain situation was not considered when drafting the Standard.

The ResponsibleSteel team has drafted interpretations that we are now publishing for stakeholder feedback. Because our interpretations will become binding for all steel companies and auditors applying our Standard, it is important that we agree with stakeholders on what our requirements mean.

The consultation is open until 02 October 2020 and you can find further information here.

August 19, 2020
2020
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Reminder: ResponsibleSteel auditor training session still has spaces available

Being trained and approved as an auditor is a prerequisite for conducting certification audits against the ResponsibleSteel Standard. The next online auditor training, being the last one in 2020, will take place from 29 September to 01 October 2020 with sessions each day from 14:00 CET to 19:00 CET. The participation fee is 300 USD per auditor.

Auditors wanting to participate in the online training, must:

  • Review the auditor approval and qualification requirements in the ResponsibleSteel Assurance Manual to ensure they meet our requirements (chapter 1.5 and Annex 3)
  • Complete the auditor application form in the Assurance Manual (Annex 2)
  • Send the completed application form, a full and up to date CV and all mentioned documentation to assurance@responsiblesteel.org by 15 September
  • Prior to the training, study the ResponsibleSteel Standard and Assurance Manual, which can be accessed via https://www.responsiblesteel.org/certification/.

Only auditors that are affiliated with a certification body who is an Associate Member of ResponsibleSteel and has been approved by ResponsibleSteel may carry out audits against the ResponsibleSteel Standard.

The first certification bodies to become approved were AFNOR Certification and GUTcert.

They have recently been joined by ERM CVS, the independent certification, verification and assurance business of ERM Group. ERM CVS provides clients with a full suite of certification & assurance services, assuring & verifying corporate sustainability reports, GHG inventories and footprints, as well as certifying EHS management systems and programs. ERM CVS has been an Associate Member of ResponsibleSteel since March 2020, in a move that now sees them add the ResponsibleSteel Standard (RSS) to a growing suite of Metals & Mining services, including the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) and the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI).

August 17, 2020
2020
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Out for Consultation: Draft Requirements for Responsible Sourcing

The existing ResponsibleSteel Standard with its 12 Principles covering environmental, social (ESG) and governance issues allows certified steel sites to claim that their site is operated in a responsible manner. While the approved Standard asks for a high-level commitment to responsible sourcing and for evidence that this commitment is being implemented, it does not provide incentives to steel companies and their suppliers to work towards high levels of ESG performance in supply chains.

ResponsibleSteel is in the process of defining further requirements for the responsible sourcing of input materials used for steel making and steel processing. Meeting these requirements in addition to the already approved Standard will allow steel sites to not only make claims about the way their site is operated, but also about their sourcing of input materials and the steel products they sell.

Following plenty of discussion with our Members and our Board, we have now published a draft version of the responsible sourcing requirements and are keen to hear your views on them. These requirements will be important to push demand for credible third-party verification of suppliers such as mine sites.

You can find the draft requirements, background information, options and consultation questions here on our website.

Please provide your feedback by 02 October 2020 via this google documents form.

Make use of this opportunity to help shape the steel sector of the future and create responsible supply chains!

August 3, 2020
2020
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ResponsibleSteel™ is Kicking off the Benchmarking of Mine Level Verification Programmes

Mining is a key supplier of materials to the steel sector and part of ResponsibleSteel’s mission is to ensure that certified steel sites source mined materials in a responsible manner. We aim to achieve this by recognising mine sites that demonstrate high levels of environmental, social and governance performance according to credible verification programmes. Building on joint work by ResponsibleSteel together with our associate members the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) and Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining programme (TSM), we are now launching the development of a methodology to benchmark mine site verification programmes. Recognition by ResponsibleSteel will help raise the market profile and drive demand for credible mine site verification programmes.

The ResponsibleSteel certification programme is being developed to cover the entire steel supply chain from mine site or scrap collector through to the steel end user (e.g. the car, construction or white goods manufacturing company).  The ResponsibleSteel Standard (version 1-0) can be applied directly at sites where raw materials are processed, and at steel making and steel processing sites.    Upstream supply chain activities, such as mining or the collection of scrap, will be covered wherever possible through the recognition of existing programmes that set a similarly ambitious standard and run an equally robust assurance programme to ResponsibleSteel’s.

ResponsibleSteel has been working with IRMA and TSM to determine how ResponsibleSteel could use the outputs of their respective mine level verification programmes as the basis for such recognition.  IRMA, TSM and ResponsibleSteel are also working with the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), with the support of the ISEAL Innovations Fund which is resourced through the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), on the application of a ‘joint audit protocol’ to facilitate recognition across different programmes.

These efforts are now extended and ResponsibleSteel will soon present draft recognition criteria and a proposed assessment methodology to its members and stakeholders for feedback.  Recognition of credible verification programmes is expected to include an assessment of:

  • the standard(s) against which sites supplying material are assessed, for example mine site standards, or processing site standards, including consideration of the extent to which the standard addresses and aligns with the issues covered by the ResponsibleSteel principles and criteria;
  • the system for determining whether the requirements of the standard have been met (verification), including consideration of the systems for resolving complaints or disputes in relation to such assessments;
  • the extent to which the system and its outputs are transparent and accessible to stakeholders, and claims are clear and credible;
  • the potential for multiple stakeholders to participate in the programme’s governance;
  • commitment to ResponsibleSteel’s mission and vision, for example through ResponsibleSteel associate membership.

IRMA, TSM, International Tin Association (ITA) and Bettercoal have written to indicate that as soon as the criteria and process for ResponsibleSteel recognition have been finalised they will apply for formal assessment. The assessment methodology will be objective and transparent, and recognition is not guaranteed.

ResponsibleSteel welcomes expressions of interest from any additional programmes interested in applying for assessment.

July 23, 2020
2020
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ResponsibleSteel™ Welcomes ‘The Energy and Resources Institute’ (TERI) into Membership

ResponsibleSteel would like to welcome The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) into membership.

TERI is an independent, not-for-profit research organization working in the fields of energy, environment, and sustainable development. TERI has pioneered conversations and activities in these areas for over four decades, having a transformative impact on industries and communities. TERI’s headquarters are located in Delhi, with most of their work focused in India, although their work also covers the broader South Asia, South East Asia, Middle East, and African regions. For more information, please visit: https://www.teriin.org/

Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General of TERI has said “TERI has been working on improving the energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions of the steel sector in India for many years already. It is clear that greater international collaboration on technology innovation, policy development and, importantly, standard setting are required to accelerate further decarbonisation of this sector. To this end, TERI welcomes an opportunity to work with ResponsibleSteel to drive further action.”

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome TERI as an Associate member of ResponsibleSteel” said Ali Lucas, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel. “Having TERI’s formidable and comprehensive knowledge of the energy sector, and their deep experience of working with a wide range of organisations across South and South East Asia will be incredibly helpful as we work to expand our work across these regions.”

July 23, 2020
2020
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