This report presents the outcome of a joint initiative between ResponsibleSteel and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) exploring how voluntary sustainability systems (VSSs) can support a just transition in the mining and steel sectors. It aims to capture emerging expectations, highlight areas of alignment and disagreements, and provide a practical foundation for integrating just transition considerations into standards and assurance systems.

This joint briefing from ResponsibleSteel and the Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS) outlines a practical approach for designing a fair and effective EU label for low-emission steel. The paper highlights that while steel recycling rates are high, global scrap availability is fundamentally limited, meaning scrap cannot be treated as an unlimited decarbonisation lever.

The 2025 Progress Report highlights the continued expansion of ResponsibleSteel’s global network and the growing impact of its International Production Standard. The report reviews major milestones achieved throughout 2024, including new site certifications, strengthened collaboration with industry partners, and progress across climate, social and environmental performance areas.

Using two base scenarios – the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero Emissions by 2050, and the Mission Possible Partnership’s (MPP) Carbon Cost – this report offers a detailed mapping of the progress needed for the global steel industry to achieve climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The 2024 Progress Report marks ResponsibleSteel’s first comprehensive account of the industry’s progress toward responsible and low-emission steelmaking. It reflects on more than a decade of work establishing the Production Standard, expanding membership and building the foundations for global certification.