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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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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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Cobalt Institute (CI) joins ResponsibleSteel™

The Cobalt Institute (CI) is a non-profit Association composed of producers, users, recyclers, and traders of cobalt.

They promote the sustainable and responsible production and use of cobalt in all its forms.  The CI acts as a knowledge centre for governments, agencies, academia, the media and civil society on all matters concerning cobalt.  It represents the voice of the cobalt industry on all cobalt related issues and challenges including health, safety and environment, sustainability and responsible sourcing.

President of the CI, Dr Adam McCarthy said: ‘We are delighted to become part of the work of Responsible Steel, cobalt is found as an impurity in many forms of steel and we are committed to helping to ensure the sustainability of our value chain.  The CI looks forward to contributing to this important work.

“Having the Colbalt Institute as an Associate Member of ResponsibleSteel is a really welcome addition” said Ali Lucas, Executive Director – ResponsibleSteel. “We know that the deep and broad knowledge and insight that the Institute has across the Cobalt sector, and the voices it represents will add real value to our work and discussions over the coming months and years.”

July 23, 2020
2020
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ResponsibleSteel™ Auditor Training Session Autumn 2020

Image Source: worldsteel / Seong Joon Cho

We are pleased to announce that we will offer another ResponsibleSteel online auditor training this year. The dates will be 29 September to 01 October 2020 with sessions each day from 14:00 CET to 19:00 CET, including breaks.

Note that participation in a training session is one of the prerequisites for becoming a ResponsibleSteel approved auditor. Only auditors that are affiliated with a certification body who are Associate Members of ResponsibleSteel and have been approved by ResponsibleSteel may carry out audits against the ResponsibleSteel Standard.

If any of your auditors or colleagues would like to register for this online training session, then please:

  • Review the auditor approval and qualification requirements in the ResponsibleSteel Assurance Manual to see if you/they meet our requirements (1.5 and Annex 3)
  • If so, complete the auditor application form in the Annex of the Assurance Manual (Annex 2)
  • Send the completed application form, a full and up to date CV and all the mentioned documentation to mbammert@responsiblesteel.org by 15 September
  • Prior to the training, participants must have studied the ResponsibleSteel Standard and Assurance Manual in full

Note that the training participation fee is 300 USD per auditor.

All the documentation listed above can be accessed via https://www.responsiblesteel.org/certification/.

July 7, 2020
2020
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ResponsibleSteel™ welcomes Heathrow into membership

Heathrow is the UK’s busiest airport, and in 2019 served over 81 million passengers. We pride ourselves on giving excellent service, our vision is to give the Best Airport Service in the World. We want to do this, whilst minimising our carbon footprint and operating as the hub airport for the UK, connecting people, families and businesses across the globe. As we work towards our recovery from the impacts of COVID 19, we are continuing with the activity of maintaining, enhancing and developing the airport, and our capital works programme (2019 capital spend at circa £650m), is highly dependent on key materials such as steel.

Darren Colderwood, Director of Infrastructure at Heathrow, said: “We are striving to develop low-carbon, sustainable solutions, where we use re-use existing hardware, reduce our use of new materials, optimise the materials that we do use, and reduce the carbon footprint of everything that we do, and we are delighted to be joining Responsible Steel. We see this as a key next step in our pursuit of working with sustainably-sourced, low-carbon products that help us to achieve our objectives whilst minimising our impact on the planet.”

“We are delighted to welcome Heathrow – one of the world’s busiest airports – as a business member of ResponsibleSteel” said Ali Lucas, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel. “It is incredibly encouraging to see that companies such as Heathrow who, whilst navigating the challenges of recovering from COVID 19 – recognise that becoming a member of and working together with ResponsibleSteel can help to achieve their objectives of using low carbon, sustainable products.”

June 23, 2020
2020
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MobileGlobal joins ResponsibleSteel™

MobileGlobal operates in Western Australia as a consultancy for Technology, Mining and Energy companies.  We believe that Green Steel provides a significant opportunity for business and the environment. Our philosophy is that Green Steel should be green end to end. Our approach is to apply our skills in equities research, economics, governance, risk and compliance and financial markets to provide a view of possible outcomes and scenarios in this vital and exciting area. We believe that these skills may be of assistance to ResponsibleSteel in future.

“Responsibly produced steel is clearly the future of the industry.  The question is how is it likely to evolve? Economic and financial analysis provides the framework to the answer and MobileGlobal wants to be part of this” said Thomas Picton-Warlow, Managing Director, MobileGlobal.

“MobileGlobal join Responsible Steel at an important time as we continue to develop our certification and standards work.” Said Ali Lucas, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel. “The experience that MobileGlobal bring with their skills in financial and economic analysis will be of real value as we navigate the next stages of this work programme, and we are extremely excited to welcome them as Associate Members.”

June 23, 2020
2020
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Teck joins ResponsibleSteel™ as a new Business Member

Teck is a diversified resource company committed to responsible mining and mineral development with business units focused on steelmaking coal, copper, zinc and energy, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Teck’s approach to business has been guided by its pursuit of sustainability throughout its more than 100-year history, and responsible mining and mineral development has been fundamental to its long-term success.

Teck has recently updated its sustainability strategy to set new goals in eight strategic themes. This includes setting a goal to become a carbon-neutral operator by 2050. Teck is currently amongst the lowest-carbon intensity producers for steelmaking coal in the world, positioning it well for the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Marcia Smith, Senior Vice President, Sustainability & External Affairs, Teck, said: “Steel is an essential building block for society and Teck is committed to responsible production of steelmaking coal and zinc, which are both important inputs to the steelmaking process. Joining Responsible Steel is part of our focus on collaborating with our customers and mining peers to further improve environmental and social performance across the industry.”

“Having significant representation from all parts of the steel supply chain is extremely important to ResponsibleSteel which is why we are so delighted to welcome Teck as a Business Member.” said Ali Lucas, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel.  “Teck joins us at a critical stage in our development, we as an organisation have many projects underway, and having input from Canada’s largest diversified mining company will really strengthen our work programmes.”

June 23, 2020
2020
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An update from Matthew Wenban-Smith

A reflection from Matthew Wenban-Smith on his time as Executive Director:

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I started working for ResponsibleSteel at the end of 2016, with a remit to review the work that had been completed to date on the establishment of the programme, and to propose ways forward.  Three years later I am delighted to be passing on the management of that programme to Ali Lucas, my successor as ResponsibleSteel Executive Director.

I will continue to work for ResponsibleSteel as its Policy and Standards Director, along with my colleague Marnie Bammert in her expanded role as Assurance and Technical Director.

I would like to take a moment though to thank you all – members and non-members alike, and my board and colleagues on the secretariat team – for your help, encouragement and support over the last three years.

ResponsibleSteel is now an active collaboration of more than 60 member organisations, including leading mining companies, steelmakers, car makers, construction companies, civil society organisations, assurance bodies, consultancies and business associations – all committed to maximising steel’s contribution to a sustainable society.  Together, we have developed the world’s first multi-stakeholder approved standard for responsible steelmaking, and we have launched an assurance programme to identify and support steelmakers who meet that standard.

And the most important word is ‘we’.  I am proud to say that ResponsibleSteel is a genuine multi-stakeholder organisation.  We work by bringing diverse organisations together, to create value that our members cannot achieve on their own: business value for our business members, and social and environmental impact for our civil society members and supporters.

There’s a long way to go, but we have made a start, and it has been a privilege to be involved.  I wish Ali all the best in her new role.

And finally – if you believe in what we are doing, and are not yet a ResponsibleSteel member – what are you waiting for?

With my very best regards,  and best wishes in these difficult times,

Matthew

May 27, 2020
2020
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ResponsibleSteel™ welcomes CarbonChain into membership

CarbonChain’s mission is to make supply chains green again. CarbonChain has built technology solutions to enable commodities companies to measure the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in their supply chains. This allows our customers to understand and mitigate the risks they face from carbon pricing and climate legislation, as well as unlock sustainability-linked opportunities such as interest rate discounts and access to green financing.

The CarbonChain platform allows metals traders, mining companies, and manufacturers to receive automated, detailed carbon reporting for their individual trades/transactions. Importantly, the reports include a carbon intensity figure showing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per metric ton of product delivered to their end-customer (e.g. X tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted per Y tonne of steel produced and delivered). This enables customers to compare the carbon emissions intensity of their different supply chains and ultimately take action to mitigate their transition risk to moving to a low-carbon economy carbon risk (i.e., carbon taxes, green borders, etc).

Based in London, U.K., CarbonChain has been supported by the U.K. government’s innovation arm, Innovate UK, The Mayor of London’s Business Launch Program and the London Business School Incubator. In addition to metals & mining, they work with traders, producers, and manufacturers in oil & gas and agriculture sectors.

The CEO of CarbonChain, Adam Hearne, said: “Transparent supply chains are the hallmark of any sustainable businesses. We believe that taking proactive steps in carbon reporting is essential for measuring and managing carbon emissions. Given the importance that steel plays to achieving a low carbon future, we are excited to join ResponsibleSteel and work with its members to manage carbon emission reductions in a fair and responsible manner.”

Executive Director of ResponsibleSteel, Ali Lucas, said: “As ResponsibleSteel is involved more and more in the whole steel supply chain – from mining all the way through to end user – it is a really opportune time to welcome CarbonChain as an Associate Member. We are sure that with their deep skills and expertise in the supply chain arena we, and our other ResponsibleSteel members, will benefit greatly from their participation in our various work programmes and projects over the coming months.”

May 27, 2020
2020
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SCS Global Services joins ResponsibleSteel as an Associate Member

SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development. Its programmes span a cross-section of industries, recognising achievements in natural resource management, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to many environmental NGOs due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. For more information visit www.scsglobalservices.com.

“SCS Global Services has a long history with the Steel Industry which includes conducting Lifecycle Assessments for North American Steel and leading certification audits to standards in the mining and metals sector. Given that iron and steel make up over 90 percent of all the metal produced globally, a concerted effort on improving environmental and social performance in this sector is critical for our planet. SCS is looking forward to a productive partnership with Responsible Steel given the alignment of our missions,” states Stanley Mathuram, Vice President, SCS Global Services.

“This is a perfect time for SCS Global Services to join ResponsibleSteel.  We are delighted to welcome them as an Associate Member, and really look forward to having them participate and share their knowledge and skills in a number of our priority programmes and projects over the coming months and years” said Ali Lucas, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel.

May 26, 2020
2020
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