This summary presents the key findings and recommendations from ResponsibleSteel’s analysis of the comparability of GHG emissions data used in steel procurement. Drawing on real, independently verified site-level data, it highlights the importance of transparency, comparability and consistency in identifying genuine low-emissions steel.

This report examines how effectively Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) reflect genuine differences in steelmaking emissions and support credible low-emissions steel procurement. Drawing on real, independently verified site-level data from steelmakers, the analysis highlights how methodological differences can significantly affect reported product-level GHG values and identifies three foundations for more credible and comparable emissions data: transparency, comparability and consistency.

ResponsibleSteel’s 2026 Progress Report captures a year marked by deepening global alignment and strengthened member commitment to building the ecosystem that enables responsible, low‑emission and near‑zero steelmaking to thrive.

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.

This paper offers a global review of steel decarbonisation and related policies, focused on an analysis of policies in two of the world’s three largest steelmaking regions and consumer markets: India and the European Union (EU). The paper highlights missed opportunities for synergies between policies and outlines the necessary steps towards increased policy coherence.

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 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.