ResponsibleSteel Certification for Sites V2.0

The ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard, initially launched in November 2019 with 12 Principles and about 370 individual requirements, sets the benchmark that sites need to achieve to call themselves a 'Core Certified Site'. In 2024, the ResponsibleSteel Production Standard was updated to include new requirements related to responsible sourcing, and to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. The Production Standard now contains 13 Principles and approximately 530 requirements. Sites meeting the ‘Progress level’ requirements can now claim ‘Certified Steel’ certification status.

Conformity with the ResponsibleSteel Production Standard is verified by certification bodies and auditors that are approved by ResponsibleSteel. Audits against the ResponsibleSteel Production Standard are third-party audits, a type of audit that is recognised as providing the highest levels of independence. ResponsibleSteel audits are different from other audits such as ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. They give external stakeholders the opportunity to provide input to the audit and include a considerable number of interviews with workers, meaning they draw on a broader set of information than these other audits. They also require that an independent Assurance Panel reviews a sample of audit reports with a positive certification recommendation. Some of the audits are also witnessed by ResponsibleSteel or by an expert body contracted by ResponsibleSteel. In addition, a summary of each audit is made available to the public through the ResponsibleSteel website. These key aspects are meant to instil trust and credibility in ResponsibleSteel certificates and the ResponsibleSteel programme overall.

This guide has been written for sites that aim to achieve 'Core Certified Site' status. It explains the ResponsibleSteel audit process. The guide:

• Contains a general introduction on how audits against the ResponsibleSteel Production Standard are conducted
• Is built in a checklist style so that it can be used as a working document that helps sites identify whether they have completed all necessary steps for achieving certification
• Is supplemented with Notes (written in italics) that give direction and advice so that the audit process can run smoothly.

Image courtesy of thyssenkrupp.