

ResponsibleSteel™ assurance programme gains momentum
The assurance programme is well underway with two certification bodies approved, two auditor training sessions delivered, and the first audit site visit completed.
Certification bodies: Two certification bodies have been approved to carry out ResponsibleSteel audits – AFNOR Certification and GUT Certifizierungsgesellschaft für Managementsysteme mbH. More details here.
Auditor training: The second auditor training took place on 11-13 February in London. The next auditor training is scheduled for 30 March – 1 April at the DNV GL offices in London.
Audit site visit: The first audit site visit was completed in February, for the Belgium sites of ArcelorMittal. More details here.
Photo credit: worldsteel library


Russia’s leading mining and metallurgical companies discuss sustainable practices
On 27 February 2020, over 60 representatives of leading metallurgical and mining companies in Russia, attended a seminar at KPMG Russia, introducing best practices for sustainable development.
The seminar participants focused on the issues of certification of metallurgical sites to comply with the ResponsibleSteel Standard, as well as how to reduce the carbon footprint of businesses, including through the implementation of forest and climatic projects.
Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, presented an update on the current development of the ResponsibleSteel Standard, certification and assurance programme, including news of the first site audit completed at ArcelorMittal in Belgium.
Andrey Ptichnikov, a representative of ResponsibleSteel member Institute of Geography, spoke about a number of pressing certification issues, such as the demand for certified low-carbon steel in a number of market sectors. The participants showed a keen interest in the ResponsibleSteel Standard, and the dialogue with Russian businesses will continue.


ResponsibleSteel™ is looking for a new CEO
ResponsibleSteel is recruiting a New CEO to take the organisation into its next exciting phase of growth.
Our current Executive Director, Matthew Wenban-Smith who has been the driver of our success and growth over the last two years has signalled his wish to focus on the policy and standards development of ResponsibleSteel. With this in mind he has asked to transition his contribution from full time Executive Director to Policy Director, with an extended handover period this year.
Therefore we are on the look-out for a new CEO, who will play a critical commercial role building ResponsibleSteel into a global entity recognised and respected as a leader in the sustainability performance of global steel producers. The new CEO will be working closely with an experienced and collegiate Board, to develop and execute the strategy, identify and secure funding and membership in relevant sectors and geographies, and represent the initiative to public, private and civil society stakeholders in an international setting.
This position represents a unique opportunity to play a key role in furthering the sustainability performance of the world’s largest materials industry, ultimately providing businesses and consumers worldwide with confidence that the steel they use has been sourced and produced responsibly at all levels of the supply chain.
We are considering candidates who are able to work in either the UK or Australia (London, Sydney or Melbourne)
If this is of interest to you or you would like more information then please contact our recruitment specialists Acre here.
Photo credit: WorldSteel library


A thank you to our technical partner DNV GL
We have been proud to work with DNV GL as our technical partner for the last two years.
ResponsibleSteel wants to take the opportunity as this formal partnership comes to an end to thank them for their support of ResponsibleSteel, which has been hugely appreciated as we have developed and grown our programme.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with DNV GL and all of our members and stakeholders on many aspects of the steel standard and certification system over the coming years.


Lloyd’s Register Germany joins ResponsibleSteel™
ResponsibleSteel welcomes Lloyd’s Register Germany as an Associate Member. Lloyd’s Register employs hundreds of auditors and operates worldwide with a number of standards in areas including health-care, management systems and sustainability.
Starting out in 1760 as a marine classification society, Lloyd’s Register is today one of the world’s leading providers of professional services for engineering and technology – improving safety and increasing the performance of critical infrastructures for clients in over 75 countries worldwide. Lloyd’s Register is committed to help find sustainable solutions and therefore sees joining ResponsibleSteel as a logical step.
Lloyd’s Register’s profits fund the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a charity which supports engineering-related research, education and public engagement, and supports its purpose of working together for a safer world. Lloyd’s Register also meets the Foundation’s charitable objectives through its work in assuring the safety of critical infrastructure worldwide.
Lloyd’s Register’s work to create a sustainable future includes the areas of sustainable decommissioning, food safety, low carbon power, digital innovation, and cyber security. In 2018, Lloyd’s Register became a signatory of the UN Global Compact and a founding member of the UN’s Sustainable Oceans Action programme.
James Sutcliffe, Group Sustainability and Environment Manager at Lloyd’s Register, said: “Sustainability is no longer a side issue and we can all make a difference by taking collective action to address planetary-scale challenges and achieve a more sustainable world.”
Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, said: “We welcome Lloyd’s Register Germany as a new Associate Member. As the first audits against the ResponsibleSteel Standard will be carried out very soon, we will benefit from Lloyd’s Register Germany’s expertise in auditing, as well as the company’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure.”


Steel Research & Technology Mission of India joins ResponsibleSteel™
ResponsibleSteel welcomes Steel Research & Technology Mission of India (SRTMI) as an Associate Member. SRTMI is a Government-Industry initiative with an objective to spearhead R&D programmes of national importance, in collaboration with industry, national R&D laboratories and academic institutes. SRTMI works closely with the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, especially in relation to fulfilling India’s National Steel Policy 2017.
Its vision is to develop an industry – institution interface for making the iron and steel industry globally competitive, by utilizing expertise from academic and research institutes, collaborating with international organizations to develop cost effective, environment friendly, state-of-the-art-technologies for optimum utilization of natural resources, and strengthening design and equipment manufacturing capability in the country.
SRTMI’s sustainability initiatives include minimizing CO2 emissions in iron and steel manufacture; 100% utilization of waste and by-products through the 6Rs principle of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Redesign and Remanufacture; and zero discharge through 100% recycling of waste water by effective waste water treatment solutions.
Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Director, Steel Research & Technology Mission of India, said: “Keeping in view the new age obligations of ensuring safe industrial working, resource conservation, energy optimization and environmental sustainability, there is a need to develop radically-new, disruptive and path-altering technologies in-house, which are more attuned to the country’s resources and capabilities. Association with ResponsibleSteel shall enable us to hold continued focus and share innovative ideas on developing future-ready capabilities in identified areas of national importance for iron and steel manufacture.”
Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, said: “We are pleased SRTMI is joining ResponsibleSteel as an Associate Member, and are particularly interested in this government-industry approach to increasing responsible steel production in India.”


International Manganese Institute joins ResponsibleSteel™
ResponsibleSteel welcomes the International Manganese Institute (IMnI) as an Associate Member. IMnL is a not-for-profit industry association that represents 83 major manganese producers and consumers in 30 countries.
Founded in 1975, with headquarters in Paris, France, IMnI’s mission is to provide vision and guidance to the manganese industry by promoting economic, social and environmental responsibility and sustainability to all stakeholders.
Currently the IMnI provides the manganese industry with the ability to: anticipate and track major regulations worldwide; develop economically sound industry safety standards; study and limit occupational health effects; and quantify and evaluate environmental life cycle and risk.
The Institutes sees sustainability and circularity as being vital for the success of the manganese industry. As such, IMnI supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals and works with key leaders to ensure that the manganese industry obtains the highest standards of sustainability within the industry and its communities.
Brandon Cline, HSE & Regulatory Affairs Manager, International Manganese Institute (IMnI), said: “Responsible Steel is a natural partner, not only to achieve sustainability for the steel industry, but also for the manganese industry. Steel is manganese’s primary downstream customer and we are excited to join a platform that can close the circularity loop within our industries.”
Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, said: “We are proud to have members from every stage of the steel supply chain and welcome IMnl as an Associate Member. Collaboration between all stakeholders within the steel supply chain will help us fulfil our mission of maximising steel’s contribution to a sustainable future.”


ResponsibleSteel™ seeks Assurance Panel members
Help us make sure that ResponsibleSteel certificates are credible and justified
The first audits against the ResponsibleSteel Standard will be carried out very soon. Third party auditors will conduct steel site assessments, consult with external stakeholders and make certification decisions. However, before they can make such decisions, their audit report will be reviewed by an independent Assurance Panel. Only if that Panel is satisfied with the quality of the audit report and its conclusions, can the auditors decide whether the site should be certified or not. The Assurance Panel thus plays an important quality control function in the ResponsibleSteel programme.
We are in the process of recruiting Assurance Panel members and are inviting applications from individuals that meet the following criteria:
• Long-standing expertise in one or more of the following areas: steel making, environmental or social issues in heavy industries, certification and auditing
• Not working for a steel company or a steel sector association, to avoid conflict of interest.
Assurance Panel members will be trained on the ResponsibleSteel system and on their role, and will be paid a fixed fee for each audit report they review. We expect the time requirement to be about 0.5 to 1 day per month. If you are interested, please send an expression of interest email and full CV to assurance@responsiblesteel.org.


Update on new ResponsibleSteel™ Working Groups
ResponsibleSteel is convening three new Working Groups on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Raw Materials and Steel Product Claims. Participants are being invited to join the Working Groups, with initial briefings starting in March.
The Working Groups Terms of Reference are:
1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG)
• To agree a standard to measure and report the GHG emissions intensity for crude steel production consistently for all steel producers, as the basis for subsequent claims about the GHG emissions associated with ResponsibleSteel certified steel products.
• To agree one or more performance levels in relation to the GHG emissions intensity of steel production that will need to be met in order to make claims about the ResponsibleSteel certified status of steel products.
2. Raw Materials
• To agree the criteria for recognition of mine level assurance programmes by ResponsibleSteel.
• To agree the requirements to be met for the sourcing of the raw materials for steelmaking, in order to make claims about the ResponsibleSteel certified status of steel products.
• To agree one or more performance levels in relation to raw material sourcing, that will need to be met in order to make claims about the ResponsibleSteel certified status of steel products.
3. Steel Product Claims
• To agree the framework for making claims about the ResponsibleSteel certified status of steel products, that will drive the greatest improvements in social and environmental performance related to the sourcing and production of steel.
Photo credit: worldsteel image library


ResponsibleSteel™ Members Meeting to be held on 25-26 June 2020 in Europe
Save the Dates – 2020 Working Group Meetings and 2020 Members Meeting
ResponsibleSteel Members and Associate Members are invited to a Members Meeting on 25-26 June 2020. The meeting will take place in Europe, with the location to be confirmed.
Working Groups on raw materials, greenhouse gases, and steel product claims will meet in person on 22 and 23 April, and then again on 24 June immediately prior to the Members Meeting itself. A further meeting is expected to take place in September, with the date to be confirmed. More information on the working group schedule and participation will be circulated shortly.
The 2020 ResponsibleSteel Members Meeting will take place on 25 and 26 June. The programme will cover more technical issues on the 25 June, including discussion of the draft standard for Steel Product Claims. The programme for the 26 June will include review of ResponsibleSteel’s revised constitution.
Please save the dates in your diaries. More details, including locations, will be communicated in due course.
Photo credit: worldsteel image library


Applications invited for certification bodies and auditors for ResponsibleSteel™ Standard
Following the launch of the ResponsibleSteel Standard, the world’s first international, multi-stakeholder standard for responsible production for steel making and processing, ResponsibleSteel is pleased to introduce the next steps to support implementation of the Standard.
Assurance Manual: Primarily for certification bodies and their auditors, the Assurance Manual covers topics such as eligibility to assess sites against the Standard, assessing conformity and issuing certification. It can be found here (https://www.responsiblesteel.org/certification/)
Implementation Instructions and guide ‘ResponsibleSteel Certification for Sites’: These tools must be used by companies seeking to conform to the Standard, and by auditors verifying performance, and can be found here (https://www.responsiblesteel.org/certification/).
Applying to be an approved certification body and auditor: Certification bodies and auditors that meet the requirements described in the Assurance Manual can now apply to assess and certify sites against the Standard. To apply, complete the application form in the Assurance Manual, and send it together with the requested documentation to assurance@responsiblesteel.org. Certification bodies will also need to transfer a fee to ResponsibleSteel. The application will be reviewed and, if successful, the certification body will be approved. Auditors will be approved only after participation in a training workshop (see below).
Auditor training: Participation in a training workshop is mandatory for auditors to become approved. The next auditor training workshops will be held on 11-13 February 2020 and 30 March-1 April 2020 at the DNV GL office, Stamford Street, London. We invite auditors to apply for approval (see above) and to register for a training workshop by sending an email with their preferred workshop date to assurance@responsiblesteel.org. Places are limited to auditors associated with certification bodies that intend to seek approval to be an approved certification body for the Standard and become an Associate Member. The deadline for registering for the February session is 28 January, and the deadline for the March session is 16 March.
Photo credit: WorldSteel library


ResponsibleSteel™ Introduces the ResponsibleSteel Programme in China with CBMM
ResponsibleSteel held its first meeting in Asia, on 10th December 2019, in association with CBMM and presented its Standard for the sustainable sourcing and production of steel.
As the world’s largest steel producer, representing 38% of global output, China will play a central role in the evolution of the global steel industry. The meeting provided a first opportunity for participants to learn about ResponsibleSteel and how its Standard can support a sustainable global steel industry.
The ResponsibleSteel Standard was approved in November, and the first certificates are expected to be issued next year. The world’s largest materials industry, the steel sector generates a turnover of 1 trillion US dollars and accounts for between 7% and 9% of direct emissions from the global use of fossil fuel. A key goal of the new Standard is to support the transition to lower emissions, in support of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
CBMM is the world’s leading supplier of niobium and niobium technologies to the steel and other industries. Niobium alloying makes stronger and more formable steels that enable the production of lighter and safer cars, taller wind towers, higher skyscrapers and safer energy infrastructure amongst other things. Use of niobium containing steels also creates direct environmental benefits as it reduces emissions in all phases of production and use.
To learn more about Niobium, visit: Niobium.tech
Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director at ResponsibleSteel, commented: “ResponsibleSteel developed its Standard through a process of discussion and collaboration with stakeholders from across the steel supply chain and around the world. We are delighted to have met with a number of important players in the Chinese steel industry today and we will incorporate their valuable feedback as the Standard continues to evolve over the coming years.”
Photo credit: Chrion Zhao