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Strengthening climate transition planning: Revising the ResponsibleSteel Production Standard
Last year marked a decade since the signing of the Paris Agreement and six years since the launch of the ResponsibleSteel Production Standard. In that time, expectations on climate action have shifted dramatically. Global emissions continue to rise, and the 1.5°C warming threshold is now projected to be breached by 2034. To remain on a 1.5°C pathway, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that global CO₂ emissions must fall by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Yet progress in the steel sector is lagging. According to the Mission Possible Partnership’s Global Project Tracker, only 9% of the required operational or committed near-zero steelmaking capacity was in place by the end of 2024.
Against a backdrop of rising global emissions and growing awareness of the consequences of inaction, ResponsibleSteel is undertaking a timely and necessary revision of its climate-related requirements, specifically criteria 10.1 (corporate commitment to the Paris Agreement), 10.2 (corporate climate-related financial disclosure), 10.5 (site-level emissions targets and planning), and 10.7.1 (GHG disclosure and reporting).
A collaborative revision process
From October to January, ResponsibleSteel convened five Working Group (WG) and Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meetings, bringing together 23 representatives from 15 member organisations across certification bodies, civil society, steelmakers, and the wider steel value chain.
As a participant from SteelWatch noted during the process, “Having a diverse group of members involved in the revision process of the standard helps to achieve a balance between what steelmakers deem feasible and where the standard needs to set the bar to trigger ambitious action. ResponsibleSteel has done well navigating and drawing on different perspectives, turning them into concrete proposals that can be submitted for the next steps of the revision process.”
Three guiding principles framed these discussions:
- Ambition: ensuring alignment with global climate goals and science-based pathways
- Feasibility: recognising real-world constraints, particularly in the near term
- Simplicity: avoiding unnecessary complexity while improving clarity and accountability
A key theme that emerged was the foundational importance of credible transition plans that move beyond aspiration and, at the same time, are grounded in realistic assumptions about technology readiness, capital investment cycles, and enabling conditions. As noted by SteelWatch, “Aligning corporate- and site-level requirements is essential in ensuring that top-level corporate ambition and targets translate into actual investment decisions today, and subsequent material transformation and emissions reductions on the ground.”
Moving beyond outdated decarbonisation roadmaps
Under the current Production Standard, certified sites must demonstrate that they have a decarbonisation roadmap aligned with an existing model. However, the WG and TAG agreed that many of these models have not been updated in recent years and no longer reflect technological, economic, or policy realities. As a result, they risk undermining rather than strengthening transition planning. The revised approach moves away from a prescriptive reliance on external models and instead proposes to introduce an explicit requirement for a climate transition plan at the corporate and site level.
A participant from EMSTEEL, a ResponsibleSteel member and certified site, commented, “Revising the ResponsibleSteel Standard is an important step in strengthening the steel sector’s collective transition journey. The process provides members with a valuable opportunity to contribute practical insights, share operational experience, and help shape a standard that is both ambitious and implementable. ResponsibleSteel has done an excellent job in creating an inclusive and transparent revision process, encouraging constructive dialogue among members and ensuring diverse industry perspectives are reflected in the development of a stronger and more credible framework.”
What’s proposed to change in the Production Standard?
The proposed revisions strengthen and connect key elements of Principle 10, with a clearer and more coherent architecture across corporate and site levels.
Key improvements include:
- Quantitative, time-bound emissions reduction targets, covering Scope 1 and 2 emissions and material Scope 3 emissions
- Stronger links between corporate- and site-level planning, ensuring that corporate ambition translates into real investment decisions and on-the-ground transformation
- Improved intensity-based disclosures to support comparability, directly aligned with ResponsibleSteel’s broader harmonisation work
- Alignment with leading frameworks, such as IFRS S2 (International Financial Reporting Standards), while retaining flexibility for different regional and operating contexts
- Clearer guardrails for credibility, moving beyond temperature labels alone
There was strong agreement across the WG that clearer wording and guidance are essential to support consistent interpretation and implementation by sites and auditors alike.
Connecting the dots between the Production Standard’s criteria
One of the most important outcomes of the revision process so far has been a clearer set of connections between criteria that, while related, have not previously been well integrated.
In the current Production Standard:
- Corporate transition planning (10.1) is weakly connected to climate-related financial disclosures (10.2)
- Site-level transition planning (10.5) is not sufficiently aligned with corporate-level strategies
- Public GHG emissions disclosure requirements (10.7.1) are limited, focusing mainly on a site’s medium-term reduction target
The proposed changes aim to address these gaps by:
- Requiring climate transition plans to include climate-related financial risks and opportunities, including dependencies that may impose structural barriers, planned changes to business models and strategy;
- Aligning corporate- and site-level planning approaches to reduce carbon leakage risks and ensure consistency across operating boundaries; and
- Strengthening public disclosure requirements to better support accountability, comparability, and progress tracking over time.
Flexibility, credibility, and the reality of steelmaking
The WG and TAG discussions also surfaced a shared understanding of the structural barriers currently slowing decarbonisation in the steel industry. These include:
- Limited technology maturity at scale
- Supply chain and infrastructure constraints
- Energy availability and cost
- Inconsistent or insufficient policy support
- Weak demand signals for low-emission steel
- Trade and competitiveness pressures
Given the long investment timelines and asset lifetimes involved, feasibility in the near term is particularly critical. As such, there was strong support for a flexible, disclosure-driven approach that pairs quantitative targets with qualitative indicators of progress, allowing ResponsibleSteel to uphold high ambition and transparency while recognising that steelmakers cannot address systemic barriers alone.
As ResponsibleSteel’s Decarbonisation Analyst, Melav Salih observed, “A robust climate transition plan must embed decarbonisation within broader strategic and financial planning. It needs to recognise that steelmakers’ transition pathways are shaped by long-lived assets, billion-dollar investment decisions, and dependencies on an ecosystem of change that includes energy systems, infrastructure, policy, and markets.”
Looking ahead
As the Paris Agreement enters its second decade, and as legal, financial, and societal expectations on climate accountability intensify, ResponsibleSteel’s role as a credible, independent standard for the steel industry has never been more important.
By strengthening climate transition planning across corporate strategy, site-level action, financial disclosure, and public reporting, revisions to the Production Standard aim to support steelmakers in navigating this transition transparently and at pace.
Together with parallel work on harmonisation and disclosure alignment, the revisions to climate transition planning requirements represent a critical step toward turning climate commitments into credible, comparable, and feasible transition pathways for the global steel industry.
Learn more about the revision of ResponsibleSteel’s International Production Standard here.
Going beyond decarbonisation: Key insights into delivering a just transition for steel and mining sectors
As the global decarbonisation effort has advanced, actors in the mining and steel sectors are under pressure to transform production processes, supply chains, and energy systems to meet climate goals. But alongside these changes lies an essential question: how do we ensure that the transition to a low-carbon economy is fair for the workers, communities, and regions that depend on these industries?
ResponsibleSteel and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) set out to tackle this question in a joint project bringing together perspectives from across the mining and steel value chains. Together, in a recently published report, 'Driving just transitions in the steel and mining sectors', we explore how voluntary sustainability standards can help guide and support just transitions in two of the world’s most critical industries.
Putting people at the centre of the transition process
One of the strongest and most consistent key messages from the project and stakeholder engagement was the need to keep people at the centre of transition processes. Decarbonisation is often discussed in terms of technology, emissions targets, and industrial transformation. Yet transitions also reshape livelihoods, local economies, and social structures.
The report underscores that strong and inclusive planning is essential to avoid leaving workers and affected communities behind. This is further reflected in stakeholder perspectives, with one of the rights holders noting the disconnect between discussions around just transition and lived experience: “Just Transition is a confusing term. It does not reflect the realities we face.” Throughout the project, stakeholders repeatedly highlighted the importance of ensuring that transitions must not only be fast, but fair. Workers, Indigenous peoples, and affected communities must have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape their futures.
This reinforced an important insight: “just transition is not only about managing economic change. It is also about justice, rights, and participation.”
The power of social dialogue
Another key learning from the project was the central role of social dialogue. Across interviews and workshops, participants emphasised the need for ongoing engagement between workers, communities, companies, governments, and other stakeholders.
Early and inclusive dialogue is particularly critical when major changes are being planned, such as mine closures, technological shifts, or new supply chains. As one stakeholder reflected during the project, standards can help by requiring processes that support “stakeholder engagement and planning,” rather than defining rigid requirements.
Social dialogue is therefore not simply a consultation exercise. It involves sharing information, building capacity among stakeholders, and creating spaces where different perspectives can meaningfully shape decisions.
Voluntary sustainability standards can play an important role by creating frameworks that encourage transparency, accountability, and structured engagement.
One of the central questions of the project was how standards systems such as ResponsibleSteel and IRMA can contribute to just transitions in practice.
The Just Transition Framework for Voluntary Sustainability Standards
The focus of this project was the question of how VSSs such as ResponsibleSteel and IRMA can best contribute to driving just transitions in practice.
The project confirmed that many elements of existing standards already address issues relevant to just transition, including human rights due diligence, occupational health and safety, grievance mechanisms, and environmental management. At the same time, the project highlighted areas where further development may be needed. These include supporting worker retraining and skills development, strengthening value-chain-wide due diligence, and ensuring equitable access to the benefits of the low-carbon transition.
To help understand and identify the key elements for a just transition, the project undertook a literature review, mapping exercises of existing standards, key informant interviews, and two in-person workshops. Each activity provided valuable insights and information, which together formed the foundation of a framework that defines principles related to human rights, social equity, inclusive governance, and protections for workers and communities.
Significantly, the framework is not intended to be prescriptive or define minimum requirements. Instead, it serves as a reference point to help VSSs integrate just transition considerations in a way that reflects and is shaped by the realities of each region, industry, and community.
The value of collaboration
Transitions in mining and steel do not happen in isolation. They unfold across interconnected supply chains, regulatory systems, and communities. As a result, no single actor can drive meaningful progress alone.
Achieving a just transition requires coordination between many different actors, including companies, workers and unions, governments, civil society, investors, and standards systems. Collaboration between standards organisations themselves can also play an important role by aligning approaches, sharing knowledge, and creating stronger incentives for responsible practices across industries.
The concept of just transition continues to evolve. While there is growing recognition of its importance across governments, industries, and civil society, there is still uncertainty about what implementation looks like in practice and what responsibilities different actors should carry.
This project represents a strong joint effort with key stakeholders and an important step toward understanding how voluntary sustainability standards can contribute to that conversation.
Achieving just transitions will require sustained commitment, continuous learning, and inclusive engagement. Standards alone cannot deliver just transitions, but they can provide practical tools and shared frameworks that help stakeholders navigate complex transitions.
For ResponsibleSteel and IRMA, this work reaffirms our shared commitment to ensuring that the transformation of heavy industries supports not only climate goals, but also fairness, dignity, and opportunity for the workers and communities most affected by change.
Read ResponsibleSteel's and IRMA's joint report, 'Driving just transitions in the mining and steel sectors' here.
This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, which is supported by the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO and UK International Development.
The March edition of the ResponsibleSteel Newsletter is out!
The March edition of the ResponsibleSteel Newsletter is out!
This month, we share the publication of a major joint report with Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) – the first collaboration between voluntary standards in the mining and steel sectors focused on a just transition. With these industries each responsible for around 10% of global energy-related emissions and supporting millions of workers and communities, the report highlights the need to accelerate fair and inclusive approaches to decarbonisation.
We also share the latest developments from our interoperability work with CISA and Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS), an upcoming guest webinar from RMI, and opportunities to join our growing Membership and Programmes teams.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find:
- Our just transition report and key recommendations
- Updates on interoperability with CISA and LESS
- Welcome to our newest member
- Four new vacancies across ResponsibleSteel
- International Women’s Day team spotlight
… and more.
Read the full March newsletter here.
ResponsibleSteel’s Principle 10: A checklist to assess steel industry progress on fossil fuel phase-out
As global emissions continue to rise, the need to rapidly scale up clean solutions and phase out fossil fuels to align with a 1.5°C pathway has never been greater. For the steel industry, one of the world’s most complex and emissions-intensive sectors, this raises critical questions around how progress should be driven, assessed, and reported transparently.
Real change is reflected not only in boardrooms and corporate strategies, but in the day-to-day operations and decisions at individual production sites. Yet the granular detail that truly reflects the asset-level investments happening at site level is often missing. Without a comprehensive and consistent approach to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions assessment, comparing progress across sites, regions, and production routes becomes nearly impossible. That’s why global standards, and the rigour to apply them consistently, are essential to understanding where the industry stands today and how far it still needs to go.
Principle 10 of ResponsibleSteel’s International Production Standard, which addresses GHG emissions and climate change, is ideally placed to assess the credibility and implementation of a steelmaker’s fossil fuel phase-out strategy. It provides independent, third-party verification of climate performance, demanding a holistic approach to fulfilling climate commitments and effectively bridging the gap between corporate pledges and site-level action.
Certification against ResponsibleSteel’s International Production Standard supports steel procurers and specifiers, financiers, and policymakers among others, by providing verifiable evidence that a steelmaker has, and is effectively implementing, a credible strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.
Integrating renewable energy is increasingly central to the business case for decarbonised steelmaking. This has formed a major part of discussions with ResponsibleSteel stakeholders and was a key theme at ResponsibleSteel’s policy convenings in Delhi and Brussels last year. ResponsibleSteel members are also already beginning to deploy increasing amounts of renewable energy in the production of steel. But to build clean industries of the future, this needs both augmentation and acceleration through both public and private sector initiatives. An example is the work of a member of ResponsibleSteel, We Mean Business Coalition (WMBC), which launched a ‘Fossil to Clean’ campaign, working with companies to phase out fossil fuels by 2040 and to advocate for a well-managed and just transition globally.*
For Certified Steel, ResponsibleSteel applies a fair and consistent approach to calculating GHG emissions, including emissions associated with renewable energy use. Our methodology incorporates specific safeguards for the use of market-based electricity instruments like Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Guarantees of Origin (GOs), as well as bio-based fuels, as set out in our “Fundamentals for GHG Emissions Accounting and Classification”.
As part of our mission - to be a driving force in the socially and environmentally responsible production of near-zero steel - we have mapped the requirements of the Production Standard against the Fossil to Clean campaign’s focus areas and developed a checklist which can be used as a tool for steelmakers to not only demonstrate alignment with the a ‘Fossil to Clean’ campaign, but also for broader industry stakeholders to recognise and track progress towards a clean industrial transformation.
Decarbonisation and Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Checklist
The checklist is available for download here.
Advancing expectations to demonstrate commitment to climate action
ResponsibleSteel is currently in the process of revising Principle 10’s approach to climate transition plans, under the three guiding principles of ambition, feasibility and simplicity. Based on recent stakeholder consultations, including extensive meetings with a member-based Working Group and independent Technical Advisory Group, Version 3.0 of the Production Standard will likely see a reshaping of the related requirements at corporate (criterion 10.1) and site (criterion 10.5) levels to strengthen credibility.
Credible climate transition plans, as defined by ResponsibleSteel, must include several components to ensure a comprehensive plan, assessment and ongoing management of emissions that balances decarbonisation ambition and investment feasibility, both in the near and long-term. The strategy must be driven by the corporation, cascade down to production sites, and integrate feedback loops to ensure decarbonisation outcomes are realised over time.
The credibility framework for climate transition plans is presented in the following figure:
Beyond the presented credibility framework, the revision of Principle 10 will likely include a more holistic and systematic approach to climate transition plans, including improved clarity in how to demonstrate corporate-level ambition, greater alignment across emissions measurement methodologies, and clearer expectations for material scope 3 emissions inclusion.
ResponsibleSteel holds steelmakers accountable whilst celebrating decarbonisation progress
ResponsibleSteel continues to push the industry towards more ambitious decarbonisation outcomes, not only through the Production Standard’s Core requirements, but also through the Decarbonisation Progress Levels, a market mechanism for the trade of low- and near-zero-emissions steel products.
ResponsibleSteel Certification gives civil society organisations, steel buyers, financial institutions, and policymakers the confidence that a steelmaker has a credible transition plan in place, and that meaningful progress is being made towards its implementation. Now, this checklist provides steelmakers with another practical tool to effectively demonstrate progress on decarbonisation and fossil fuel phase-out.
*WMBC’s ‘Fossil to Clean’ campaign aims to catalyse and guide the shift from fossil fuels to clean solutions, calling on companies to phase out fossil fuel use (especially coal); electrify operations where possible; switch to 100% renewable electricity; eliminate new fossil fuel infrastructure; align climate action with a 1.5°C pathway; and use purchasing power and policy advocacy to accelerate the transition. We Mean Business funded ResponsibleSteel’s policy project in 2025.
Celebrating International Women's Day: In conversation with the women shaping ResponsibleSteel
In recognition of International Women’s Day, we’re proud to spotlight some of the women who are helping shape a more responsible steel industry through their work at ResponsibleSteel.
Steel has historically lacked diversity, and inclusive perspectives are still underrepresented across the sector. Yet expanding gender diversity is essential—not only for building a stronger and more resilient industry, but for accelerating the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
“For me, the solutions we need to foster a strong, clean steel industry fit for the 21st century lie in foresight, insight, and a strong collaborative ethos. That has been my focus at ResponsibleSteel, and it is a focus shared by dozens of women across the sector, bringing both fresh perspectives and skills. That’s not something you could have said 10 years ago. There is a seismic shift happening in steel, and women should be very proud of the unique roles they are playing to keep the industry focused where it needs to be—on developing sustainably. Let’s keep at it, re‑imagining the industry, connecting ideas and plans, and finding the way forward so that together we ensure we only move ahead.” - Annie Heaton, CEO, ResponsibleSteel
In this video, members of the ResponsibleSteel team share their roles, their journeys into the organisation, and their hopes for the future of responsible steelmaking.
Top image courtesy of ArcelorMittal Brasil.
New report outlines key considerations for a just transition for mining and steel
Today, ResponsibleSteel and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) published a landmark report, ‘Driving just transitions in the mining & steel sectors: The role of voluntary sustainability standards’, outlining how voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) can help deliver fair and inclusive transitions as heavy industries globally move to decarbonise. It is the first report of its kind, jointly authored by VSSs from the mining and steel sectors.
Developed by ResponsibleSteel and IRMA, the report demonstrates how collaboration across the supply chain provides the necessary understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by both sectors to achieve a truly just transition for mining and steel. ‘Driving just transitions in the mining & steel sectors: The role of voluntary sustainability standards’ introduces nine key principles and five recommendations to help VSSs integrate just transition into their frameworks.
The report also reveals a significant gap—despite commitment at both government and corporate levels to just transition principles, implementation remains slow and inconsistent. With mining responsible for up to 10% of global energy-related emissions and steel also accounting for around 10%, accelerating decarbonisation in these sectors is critical. But without deliberate action, workers and communities most affected by these transitions risk being left behind.
ResponsibleSteel CEO, Annie Heaton, commented, “Decarbonisation is one of the most pressing global issues we face today. But if we ignore its social impacts, we risk serious unintended consequences. With around six million people employed in steel and another 20 million in mining—plus millions more in supply chains and communities that depend on these industries—industry must work together with workers, communities and governments to consider how to plan the transition to benefit people as well as the planet.”
Stakeholders involved in the project—including industry leaders, supply chain actors, academia, governments, trade unions, civil society organisations, local communities, and Indigenous groups—emphasised that these transitions must not only be fast, but fair, putting justice at the heart of industrial change.
IRMA Executive Director Aimee Boulanger observed, "This research shows that for voluntary standards to succeed, they must be structured to improve justice and inclusivity as they decarbonise and protect the environment."
Key findings from the report included:
- Justice at the centre: Stakeholders recognised the urgent need to decarbonise but stressed that justice must guide transition planning.
- Inclusive process: The specific definition of “Just Transition” is highly contested, with varying interpretations. Engaging stakeholders is key to effectively defining the transition scope, identifying social impacts, and shaping mitigation actions.
- Restorative justice challenges: Addressing restorative justice remains complex, requiring deeper collaboration among governments, companies, VSSs, and historically impacted communities.
- Flexibility: Just transitions will differ across contexts and sectors. Principles must remain adaptable to be effective.
Funded by the ISEAL Innovations Fund with support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the report draws on international principles from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the UN Working Group on Human Rights, academic justice theory, interviews with 35 stakeholders, and two in-person workshops held in Brussels and Johannesburg.
This work highlights the unique role VSSs can play in providing practical frameworks for implementation, accountability, and verification, setting a clear reference point for steel and mining companies to plan transitions in a way that is equitable and fair. Both ResponsibleSteel and IRMA will continue to engage with stakeholders to discuss the best way to integrate just transition principles into their respective systems.
Read the full report here.
For more information, please contact:
ResponsibleSteel: communications@responsiblesteel.org
Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA): info@responsiblemining.net
The February edition of the ResponsibleSteel Newsletter is out!
The February edition of the ResponsibleSteel Newsletter is out!
Multistakeholder engagement is at the heart of ResponsibleSteel’s work, and this month we’re excited to launch our new quarterly all-member webinars. We are also drawing attention to our member commitments and inviting members to share examples of progress in action.
Other highlights from this month’s newsletter include progress on the revision of the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard, the launch of our new Resources Hub and more ways for members to get involved.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll also find:
- Dates for the Q1 all-member webinars and reference group meetings
- Membership commitments and leadership opportunities
- Updates on the ResponsibleSteel Standard Revision process
- Introduction to our new Resources Hub
… and more.
Read the full February newsletter here.
The January edition of the ResponsibleSteel Newsletter is out!
As we begin 2026, the year ahead promises to be an exciting and productive one for ResponsibleSteel and the global steel sector. Building on the momentum of 2025, we are continuing to work with our members and partners to advance credible, internationally aligned pathways for responsible low-emission steel.
This month’s newsletter highlights several strands of work beginning to shape our priorities for the year ahead. From progress on our interoperability work with CISA, to key developments in the revision of the International Production Standard, plus new opportunities for members to get involved, 2026 is already off to an exciting start for ResponsibleSteel.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll also find:
- An update on our interoperability work with CISA
- A call to join our Just Transition working group
- Updates on the ResponsibleSteel Standard Revision process
- An introduction to our newest steelmaking member and an approved Certification Body
- Upcoming audits details
… and more.
Read the full January newsletter here.
Reflections from China: ResponsibleSteel's CEO Annie Heaton discusses building interoperability across global standards
Interoperability: Building a bridge between global standards
ResponsibleSteel's quest for a coherent market for decarbonised steel in 2026 got off to a constructive start this month. Following the announcement of our landmark agreements with the Chinese Iron and Steel Association (CISA) and the Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS) at COP30, ResponsibleSteel was in China in January to kick off our work on interoperability with CISA. This work in China complements our parallel project with Brussels-based LESS.
The goal? To build trusted data and claims on decarbonisation.
During our trip, our Director of Programmes, Amy Jackson, our Decarbonisation Lead, Alli Devlin, and myself had the opportunity to:
- Present to the Chinese steel value chain our C2F (China's low-carbon emission steel standard) interoperability MoU at CISA's annual LCA conference.
- Connect with our Chinese members, including SKF, World Resources Institute (WRI), Climate Group, VAMA (Valin ArcelorMittal Automotive JV), Penglai Dajin, and some of our certification bodies working in China, including Afnor and China Quality Certification Centre (CQC).
- Get to work on our C2F-ResponsibleSteel Interoperability Project, structuring the discussions around our Framework for Credible Interoperability.
- Visit the 15mtpa Zhanjiang steel plant, where a new DRI-EAF line was launched in Dec 2025. This has involved the production to date of iron reduced with hydrogen in a 1mtpa DRI plant. Whilst this is currently produced from refined coke oven gas, the project is a hugely significant demonstration of the potential to produce hydrogen-based DRI at an industrial scale.
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What do ResponsibleSteel's interoperability projects look like in practice?
In short, interoperability means measuring emissions using rules that are as aligned as possible, and recognising the differences, to enable comparison on a like-for-like basis. Imagine the benefit this would bring for anyone wanting to distinguish what good looks like, for example, procurement teams, investors, and policymakers.
But making interoperability work in practice requires a lot more if we want a reliable, credible and sustainable system that generates high-quality, comparable data.
We've outlined the key components of this in our Framework for Credible Interoperability, which will inform both our work with LESS and CISA:
- Aligned GHG accounting rules
- A reliable calculation tool
- A robust assurance mechanism
- Credible claims protocols
- Good governance, oversight and resourcing
- Appropriate data management
- Strong operations management systems
This is how markets are built: first with innovation, then with the necessary rules and systems that enable good information to flow – so that steel buyers can understand, investors can evaluate, and steelmakers can compete, based on emissions performance that everyone can trust.
Evolving for Impact: Why We’re Revising the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard
The ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard is the global benchmark for sustainable steelmaking, but a benchmark only matters if it keeps pace with change. Steelmakers face evolving challenges, including increasingly ambitious climate targets, shifting regulations, and rising expectations on social and environmental responsibility.
That’s why ResponsibleSteel is committed to continuous improvement, ensuring our Production Standard remains relevant and effective in driving progress towards the responsible production of near-zero steel.
What is the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard?
The ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard consists of 13 Principles containing over 500 requirements for the responsible sourcing and production of steel, including some of the most challenging areas of sustainability for steelmakers, such as decarbonisation. However, responsible steelmaking goes beyond climate change mitigation. That’s why the Production Standard also lays out requirements on labour, human rights, water, biodiversity, and more.
How was the Production Standard developed?
The Production Standard was developed through a process that uses the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for standard-setting as a reference. The first Standard was developed over two years with input from over 70 organisations and 180 individuals. Since then, the Standard has continued to evolve with the needs of the industry. Read more about the evolution of ResponsibleSteel and the development of the Standard here.
Collaboration and transparency sit at the heart of our Standard. Our extensive multi-stakeholder development process involving the steel industry, upstream and downstream stakeholders, and civil society is what makes the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard the most trusted standard for steel globally.
Why are we revising the Production Standard?
Since the launch of the first Standard in 2019, ResponsibleSteel has established itself as a leader on steel sustainability. As the global industry landscape continues to evolve, driven by shifting regulations, emerging ESG reporting requirements, technological innovation, and growing expectations to address social and climate issues, the Production Standard must also evolve.
As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, ResponsibleSteel reviews the Production Standard to assess whether revision is needed at least once every five years. This way, we ensure the Production Standard remains effective in supporting ResponsibleSteel’s mission to drive the responsible production of near-zero steel.
What is the standard revision process?
The revision process is outlined as part of ResponsibleSteel’s Standards Development Procedures. The process consists of five overarching stages:
- The ResponsibleSteel Secretariat reviews the Standard and holds a public consultation to determine topics for revision. Based on these inputs, the Secretariat makes a recommendation to the ResponsibleSteel Board of Directors, which decides whether or not to revise the Standard.
- Terms of Reference are developed, then approved by the Board of Directors, defining the scope of the revision and outlining the revision process.
- Topic-based Working Groups provide input on revision areas, and Technical Advisory Groups are convened to review and oversee Working Group outcomes.
- A draft of the revised Standard undergoes public consultation to get stakeholder feedback. If there is substantially new content, or extensive changes or feedback, there is a second round of public consultation. Once the revised Standard is finalised, it is reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors before being voted on by ResponsibleSteel’s membership.
- The revised Standard is published, and a transition period is determined (usually lasting 6 to 12 months) before the new Standard comes into effect for existing certificate holders, however, it could be used earlier for new sites or if preferred by existing certified sites.
Currently, the revision process is in stage three.
What is being revised in the Production Standard?
The revision process focuses on ensuring the Production Standard reflects the latest sustainability priorities and realities of steel production. So far, discussions have commenced on aspects of Principle 10: Climate Change and GHG Emissions, Principle 6: Labour Rights, ensuring a just transition, and increasing alignment with emerging regulations and other standards (e.g. CRSD, ISSB).
Additionally, the revision will include the incorporation of urgent revisions, interpretations and clarifications previously issued, and necessary amendments identified during the review process (e.g. typos).
Who can get involved?
Driving the socially and environmentally responsible production of near-zero steel is a challenge that no single organisation can achieve on its own. Over 180 voices contributed to the development of the first ResponsibleSteel Standard, and this spirit of multi-stakeholder collaboration continues to be the backbone of our standards development process.
ResponsibleSteel members have a unique opportunity to contribute to the revision of the Production Standard and are invited to join our Working Groups to discuss topics for revision. Please get in touch with us to learn more.
Members and wider stakeholders are also encouraged to contribute feedback during public consultations in 2026. Keep an eye on our website, LinkedIn, and our monthly newsletter to find out about upcoming public consultations.
Learn more about the revision process and get involved here.
December Newsletter
The December edition of the ResponsibleSteel Newsletter is out!
As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on a year of both challenge and progress for the global steel sector. Amid a rapidly evolving policy and market landscape, ResponsibleSteel has continued to work alongside its members and partners to advance credible, internationally aligned pathways for responsible and low-emission steel. We would like to thank our members, stakeholders, and supporters for their continued commitment and engagement throughout the year.
To mark the end of the year, our CEO Annie Heaton has shared a reflection on ResponsibleSteel’s progress in 2025 and the momentum building across interoperability, standards, policy, collaboration and more. You can read Annie’s end-of-year letter here.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll also find:
- An introduction to our new Business Board Director
- Updates on recent and upcoming audits, alongside new training opportunities
- A round-up of policy convenings in Europe and India, with insights feeding into our forthcoming policy paper
- A welcome to our newest ResponsibleSteel member
- Key developments from the ResponsibleSteel Standard Revision process
Read the full December update here.
A landmark year for ResponsibleSteel: Reflections from our CEO
Dear Members, Partners and Friends,
Just under a decade ago, ResponsibleSteel began with a bold vision: to unite the steel industry around a shared commitment to sustainability. As we stand on the threshold of our tenth year, that vision matters more than ever.
You, our members, have championed ResponsibleSteel and its evolution over the years, and driven real progress across the steel industry. I thank you for your continued commitment, even amid complex global challenges.
Mounting pressure to stay competitive while delivering on climate commitments underscores why credible, coherent standards and collaboration across the steel value chain must remain a priority. They are essential to ensure that policy, finance and demand side dynamics shape the future of the industry in a fair and effective way.
Leading the way: Thought leadership and interoperability
This year, ResponsibleSteel took a decisive step forward in shaping the future of low-emission steel. Our leading work on interoperability moved from concept to reality, sending powerful signals to governments, markets, civil society, and investors that global alignment on steel decarbonisation is not only possible, but already underway.
At COP30, we announced landmark agreements with the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) and the Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS), to develop conversion tools for stakeholders to claim equivalency of their decarbonisation progress under the different schemes. Together, membership of the three organisations represents around 60% of the world’s steel production.
These agreements show that pragmatic, plurilateral solutions can deliver real progress, even when global consensus is challenging. By enabling comparability across standards, these agreements provide a foundation for trade, procurement and investment in cleaner steel. It has clearly bolstered stakeholders’ resolve to build further solutions for the transition to low-emission steel.
In a further significant announcement in December, ResponsibleSteel worked with CARES, CISA, GSCC, LESS, RMI and Worldsteel to jointly commit to the Steel Standards Principles (SSPs) Transparency Criteria for GHG reporting. These criteria outline the key measurement rules behind any carbon intensity disclosure, and their disclosure will enable stakeholders to understand the data they are given and drive standards initiatives closer to achieving clarity, transparency and interoperability. These milestones towards comparable, transparent emissions reporting build on the technical groundwork we have laid, including the publication of our Fundamentals for GHG Emissions Accounting and Classification and verified greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data from ResponsibleSteel Certified Sites.
They represent important steps towards transparent and consistent emissions accounting and data disclosure across the steel industry and mark a real turning point in how standards can support action at scale.
Policy: Engaging government and policymakers to support the transition
Policy is undeniably one of the most powerful levers for driving sustainability, which is why policy engagement has been another cornerstone of our work in 2025.
We began by publishing The Steel Decarbonisation Scale, a joint policy briefing with LESS, urging European policymakers to adopt a realistic approach to steel decarbonisation - recognising scrap supply limits and incentivising genuine emissions reductions across all production routes.
We convened stakeholders in Brussels and Delhi to explore how standards can inform policy mechanisms such as lead market labels, carbon pricing schemes, including cross-border mechanisms, green procurement frameworks and national decarbonisation pathways. I want to thank all our contributors; your insights will shape our global policy paper, which will be published in early 2026.
Progress on our programmes: Standards, certification and member impact
Despite setbacks to wider industry progress, ResponsibleSteel has strengthened its role as the leading global standard for responsible steelmaking. Our Standard Revision process is well underway, ensuring the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard remains effective, relevant and fit for purpose. Alongside this, our Just Transition project continues to explore how standards can support a fair and inclusive shift to low-emission practices across steel and mining.
Certification remains at the heart of our mission, allowing steelmakers to demonstrate measurable progress across key social and environmental issues. In 2025, major certification milestones included thyssenkrupp Steel’s Duisburg site, the largest in Europe, and EMSTEEL, the first site in the MENA region, bringing the total to 90 Core Site Certifications covering 142.436 Mtpa capacity.
Certifications and recertifications this year spanned eight countries and five regions: Europe, South America, Oceania, Asia and the Middle East. Over 80% of sites due for renewal chose to recertify, with additional recertifications already underway for next year. These certifications prove that, even in a complex global environment, organisations continue to step up in order to build a more responsible steel value chain.
Another compelling example of the practical progress certified steelmakers are making is our case study with SIJ Group, whose SIJ Acroni and SIJ Metal Ravne sites achieved ResponsibleSteel Core Site Certification in 2024. SIJ outlines why they undertook certification and how it has enhanced their credibility within the market and laid the foundation for continuous improvement across their operations.
Finance and demand: Driving investment and the right market signals
The key to the success of any certification scheme is the value it delivers to the certificate holder. Our Certified Steel Campaign helped demonstrate the credibility of ResponsibleSteel certification to investors and customer networks, showing how it can support procurement and investment decisions, mitigate supply chain risk, and strengthen their market position. By engaging finance, automotive, construction, infrastructure, and beyond, we worked to drive stronger market signals for Certified Steel and showcase the progress certified steelmakers are making towards responsible, near-zero steel.
We have convened lenders and investors both in New York in May and via our online Finance Working Group, bringing together finance sector representatives with steelmakers and civil society to explore how certification can inform investment decisions and be seen as an indicator of risk readiness.
With steel company testimonies, these sessions highlighted the benefits of ResponsibleSteel certification and prompted discussion of how credible standards can mobilise capital toward low-emission steel.
Moving forward: Accelerating the responsible steel transition
The urgency of our mission cannot be overstated. Scientists now expect the world to reach 1.5°C warming by 2030, not 2050. There is growing recognition that credible, transparent, comparable standards must sit at the heart of policy, finance and demand mechanisms if we are to deliver real progress on climate and social issues affecting workers and their communities.
ResponsibleSteel will continue to lead this work, but success depends on all of you, steelmakers, buyers, material suppliers, civil society, investors, and policymakers, working together to urge and support steelmakers to use the ResponsibleSteel system as their reference.
In the upcoming year, we will revise our strategy and focus on our Value Activation Plan, including revisions to our Claims guidance to enable greater market access for those actively driving responsible, low-emission practices. Our goal is to ensure that you, our members and supporters, clearly see the value of your continued commitment to ResponsibleSteel and the tangible impacts we are having across the sector.
Thank you once again for your contribution and dedication throughout this year.
With best wishes for the year ahead,
Annie Heaton
CEO, ResponsibleSteel
The Standard Revision: What has been achieved so far?
The ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard sets the benchmark for steel sustainability, supporting our mission to be a driving force in the production of responsibly produced steel. At least every five years, ResponsibleSteel reviews the Production Standard to determine whether revision is needed, ensuring it remains relevant and fit for purpose in a changing industry.
We kicked off the review process in October 2024 with a public consultation calling for feedback on the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard V2.1.1, and, following approval from the ResponsibleSteel Board of Directors, the Secretariat commenced the revision process earlier this year.
Over the course of 2025, the Secretariat conducted topical research and collected background data and information to inform the revision. Through reference group calls, one-on-one meetings, and various other platforms, we engaged with different stakeholder groups to prioritise the topics for revision. This formed the basis for the development of terms of reference for the inclusion of topics in the scope of the standard revision across 2025 and 2026.
Since September, the working groups (WG) and technical advisory groups (TAG) have been continuously meeting to discuss the various topics for revision.
Update on revisions to Principle 10: Climate Change and GHG emissions
One of the topics in Principle 10 (P10) is related to climate transition plans on a corporate and site-level, inclusive of the emission reduction targets, decarbonisation strategy, risk & opportunities assessment, and GHG data for disclosure. 15 members were active in the WG with an almost equal distribution of business and civil society members. As stakeholder engagement continues to finalise the proposal, some of the outcomes with support so far include removing temperature alignment and instead focusing on net zero by 2050 as the long-term corporate-level ambition; adding/modifying definitions of key terminology such as near-term, long-term and portfolio of sites to the glossary and guidance material; and revising the structure of P10 to clarify the requirements.
An upcoming priority revision topic in P10 will be regarding the harmonisation of criteria 10.3 and 10.4 for the measurement of GHG emissions at the site. The intention is to increase the utilisation of ResponsibleSteel’s comprehensive crude steel emissions accounting methodology, thereby driving more transparent and comparable GHG data disclosure across Core Site Certification. In addition to reviewing the harmonisation criteria for steelmakers, the scope of review will especially include considerations for value chain members operating upstream or downstream of the steelmaking site, as well as the review of Annex 5’s default embodied GHG values for imported materials and fuels.
The last P10-related topic is related to high-alloy and stainless steels. Currently, the ResponsibleSteel Decarbonisation Progress Levels (DPLs) account for carbon steels (with <8% alloy inputs). To enable Steel Certification for high alloy and stainless steels, we are in the process of developing specific DPLs for this sub-sector of the steel industry. ResponsibleSteel and SMR Group (Steel & Metals Market Research) have partnered on the development of a stainless steel GHG emissions model at mill level. Recently, the stainless steel emissions model architecture was presented by SMR to the WG for their feedback.
Now, with further robust data and assumptions underpinning the model, it will cover over 80% of global stainless steel production. Subject to funding, next steps include a dynamic material flow analysis assessment and mapping of near-zero stainless steel emissions potential, which will feed into the development of the emissions thresholds.
Update on revisions to social topics: Labour rights and Just Transition
The key areas of focus for Principle 6: Labour Rights relate to the annual leave requirement and policy requirements. The revision was triggered by a stakeholder request to change the Production Standard, followed by further discussion as part of a working group in 2024. Currently, the TAG is discussing the working group’s previous recommendation, evaluating a proposed approach and next steps.
On Just Transition, the working group has been discussing and sharing views on how the concepts should be incorporated into the revision of the Production Standard. These discussions will continue into 2026. The Secretariat is in the process of planning additional meetings in 2026 and is seeking additional members to join the WG to ensure broad perspectives and improved representation.
Get involved
If you are interested in adding your voice to the standard revision in relation to any of the aforementioned topics, or beyond, please get in touch with us here.
Visit our new webpage to find out more about the revision process
We’re also pleased to launch our new webpage for the revision of the Production Standard, where you can now find all information relating to the revision timeline, working groups, topics under revision, and how to get involved.
Visit the Standard Revision webpage here.
