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

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.”

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.

ResponsibleSteel held its 2020 AGM on 13^th May at 19:00 Melbourne time. The annual financial report and Director’s & Co Chair’s Report were unanimously approved.

A notice of resignation of Directorship was received from Matthew Wenban-Smith effective 14 May 2020.

The following were voted in as Directors of the ResponsibleSteel Board:

Alan Knight – ArcelorMittal

Gerry Tidd – BlueScope Steel

Francis Sullivan – HSBC

Andrew Marjoribanks – Independent Board Member

Giulia Carbone – IUCN

Matthias Hartwich – IndustriALL

Thomas Maddox – Fauna & Flora

With the following elected Office Bearers:

Alan Knight as Co Chair

Gerry Tidd as Co Chair

Francis Sullivan as Deputy Chair

The Secretariat would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the Directors on their elections and we look forward to working with them over the coming year.

If you have any questions or would like access to the detailed minutes, please get in touch with George Deslandes – gdeslandes@responsiblesteel.org

As announced in our last newsletter, ResponsibleSteel is in the process of developing additional requirements in relation to raw materials and greenhouse gas emissions. While meeting the requirements published in November 2019 will allow steel sites to make claims about the way their site is operated, meeting the additional requirements will enable sites to also make claims about their steel products.

In developing the additional requirements, we held working group meetings and discussed the received input with our Board. Over the next weeks, we will revise our draft requirements before publishing them for stakeholder consultation. ResponsibleSteel stakeholders are advised that the first public consultation will take place between late July and late September.

Further information on the working groups are available on the Resources page.

If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch with George Deslandes – gdeslandes@responsiblesteel.org

The ResponsibleSteel Members’ Meeting is taking place this year on 24^th and 25^th June.  This will be a chance for our members – full members as well as associate members – to discuss ongoing ResponsibleSteel developments.

The meeting this year focuses on two specific issues: the requirements that steelmakers will need to meet to make claims about the steel products they produce and sell; and the development of the new ResponsibleSteel constitution.

Restrictions to control the coronavirus pandemic mean that the meeting will be virtual, rather than in person.  Since we want to cover multiple time zones we cannot do full day sessions. Instead, we will hold 2-hour sessions and will repeat them so that all our members have an opportunity to participate.

On the 24th June, we will focus on the additional requirements in relation to GHG and raw materials that we are currently developing.  The ResponsibleSteel Board has decided to give Members more opportunity to engage in the development of these additional requirements before they are launched for public consultation and we want to use the Members meeting to provide that opportunity.  Draft proposals will be circulated in advance of the meeting, and the formal public consultation process will take place after the Members’ have had the opportunity to review and comment.

On 25th June ResponsibleSteel will seek feedback from members on a new draft constitution.

There is still time to join ResponsibleSteel in advance of the Members’ Meeting.  If you would like to know more, please look at the membership pages of our website, or contact George Deslandes at gdeslandes@responsiblesteel.org for more information.

On 31st March ResponsibleSteel board members from IUCN, IndustriALL, ArcelorMittal and BlueScope Steel took part in an on-line panel to reflect on how the coronavirus crisis was affecting them personally and professionally, and to consider potential long-term effects.

The breadth and depth of impacts across such diverse organisations and across all geographies was striking. Giulia Carbone of IUCN noted that 2020 was to have been a ‘super year’ for biodiversity. But the pandemic has disrupted the quadrennial World Conservation Congress, the meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the launch of a new global framework to protect life on earth. Alan Knight and Gerry Tidd, of ArcelorMittal and BlueScope Steel considered that while steelmaking is used to economic cycles, the severity, suddenness and global nature of the crisis created by the coronavirus is unprecedented. Markets are drying up and companies are fighting for survival. And Matthias Hartwich of IndustriALL observed that the crisis has put workers’ health at risk as companies try to continue to operate, and yet also threatens workers’ rights as businesses lay workers off without proper consultation or provision.

But perhaps just as striking were the personal commonalities. All four speakers were speaking from their homes. All four organisations were having to cope with new ways of working, trying to keep staff safe while maintaining core tasks, and having to deal with restrictions on travel and meetings.

And all four drew attention to surprising linkages – the impacts on small NGOs as their partnerships with businesses are affected, just as small and large businesses are struggling financially with knock on effects through global supply chains. The fact that 80% of the oxygen supplied to hospitals in New South Wales is a by-product of BlueScope’s steelmaking. Or that ArcelorMittal’s 3D printing capacity has been repurposed for the manufacture of ventilators.

Looking to the future Alan Knight reflected on what the crisis may mean for sustainable development and the climate debate. While it is too early to know, he hoped that there would be recognition of the deep connections between different systems, and the strength and resilience of governments, NGOs and businesses working together towards common social and environmental goals.

Thank you to all our speakers.

Please follow these links for more insight into how ArcelorMittal, BlueScope Steel, IndustriALL and IUCN are responding to coronavirus covid-19.

ERM CVS is the independent Certification and Verification business within the ERM global sustainability services group with access to a network of 5500 practitioners in 40 countries to deliver innovative 3rd party assurance to manage sustainability challenges.

ERM CVS’ 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 CVS is a long standing provider against many schemes related to the Responsible Steel Standard with access to 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.

Mick Jenkins, Managing Partner at ERM CVS, said: “We are very pleased to be able to make an active contribution to the responsible steel market through our independent and impartial services. The scheme links intentionally with our other certification and assurance services towards fuller sustainability sourcing and social balance through the value chain.”

Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, said: We are delighted to welcome ERM CVS as a Responsible Steel Associate Member. Ensuring we have a range of certification and verification organisations within our membership is crucial to ensure we get expert input to help us continue to develop the highest quality standard for the steel sector.”

“SteelZero”, brought to you by The Climate Group and ResponsibleSteel held its first workshop on April 16th. SteelZero is an initiative to drive a major shift in the global market for the responsible sourcing and production of steel. SteelZero provides a forum for leading steel buyers across multiple sectors to co-create and support a powerful commitment to sourcing steel in a net zero economy, alongside a roadmap of action.

This first workshop was attended by a total of 46 individuals, representing 14 demand side businesses and business associations across the following sectors: construction & property, consumer products, automotive, finance and renewable energy. Additionally, 9 civil society organisations were represented to contribute to the conversation.

Key focus areas of the workshop were to explore what a commitment around the procurement of responsible low/zero carbon steel may look like and discuss if there are specific workstreams a group could take on to help make the procurement of responsible low/zero carbon steel a practicality. All participants had the opportunity to actively contribute to smaller group break-out discussions exploring commitments and workstreams.

A number of presentations were given by stakeholders to help shape the discussions. Presenters included the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) on their Net-Zero Steel Initiative and the World Green Building Council on their Advancing Net Zero project, specifically covering the work both organisations have done regarding demand signals. ArcelorMittal presented the producer’s perspective of issues that need to be overcome to bring responsible low/zero carbon steel to the market and the importance of the demand signal from steel buyers.

There was a very high level of engagement during the workshop from both business and civil society participants. The SteelZero project team gained a clearer understanding of what is required by participants. The next stage is for the project team to have a series of follow up conversations with businesses to shape a formal commitment to the procurement of responsible low/zero carbon steel.”

More to follow on this project as it develops, in the meantime please feel free to have a look through a presentation that can be found here on the ResponsibleSteel website.

The Nickel Institute is the global association of leading primary nickel producers. Their mission is to promote and support the appropriate use of nickel in appropriate applications. One of the main applications being its use in the production and strengthening of stainless steel.

While its role is often hidden, nickel is an enabler of many technologies required for sustainability. Nickel contributes to various of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Thanks to its outstanding physical-chemical properties, nickel makes articles more durable, ensures an increased lifetime and results in less maintenance. Due to the high economic value, nickel is moreover a metal with highest recycling efficiencies and contributes therefore to a circular economy.

The nickel value chain is also a significant contributor to economic development. And the science and technical know-how shared freely by the Nickel Institute contribute knowledge to enable nickel to be used safely and efficiently.

“We appreciate the opportunity to join the ResponsibleSteel initiative as an Associate Member. Stainless steel accounts for more than two third of all nickel uses globally. It is therefore important for us – on behalf of our member companies – to closely cooperate with the carbon and stainless steel industry in view of responsible sourcing” said Dr Veronique Steukers, Global Director Public Policy.

Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, said: “Having the Nickel Institute as a new Associate Member of ResponsibleSteel is extremely good news – both for the organisation as a whole but also for all of our other members who will greatly benefit from the input and experience that the Nickel Institute will bring to our projects and programmes.”

The Climate Bonds Initiative is an investor-focused not-for-profit, promoting large-scale investment in the low-carbon economy. Climate Bonds carries out market analysis, policy research, market development; advises governments and regulators; and administers a global green bond Standards and Certification Scheme. Please visit http://www.climatebonds.net. ”

“Transitioning to low carbon operations is one of several challenging, but unavoidable sustainability objectives for the global steel industry. ResponsibleSteel is taking a lead in supporting positive change in multiple companies across the sector. Climate Bonds Initiative is happy to join ResponsibleSteel and looks forward to working cooperatively in the future on sustainability projects.” said Sean Kidney, CEO, Climate Bonds

Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, said: We are excited to welcome the Climate Bonds Initiative as an Associate Member to ResponsibleSteel. Focusing on the investment and financing opportunities for the steel sector in the transition to a low-carbon economy is a priority for us as we continue to expand our work on our standard and certification programme and associated projects.”

Established in 2002, the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is the nation’s authority on sustainable buildings, communities and cities. Our vision is for healthy, resilient and positive places for people. Our purpose is to lead the sustainable transformation of the built environment. The GBCA represents more than 550 member companies including major developers, professional services firms, banks, superannuation funds, product manufacturers, retailers, utilities and suppliers. We also work with 35 local government members, 25 state government departments and land organisations, and 22 universities.

Jorge Chapa, Head of Market Transformation said: “ResponsibleSteel is doing some inspiring work to ensure steel is contributing toward a more sustainable built environment. We’re pleased to work with them as we lead the sustainable transformation of buildings, cities and communities.”

Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, said: We are extremely pleased to welcome GBCA as an Associate Member of ResponsibleSteel. So much of the work that we are involved in will directly benefit from the GBCA’s specialist experience and expertise in the built environment and we are really looking forward to having GBCA participate in our ongoing work programme and projects.”