ResponsibleSteel for Investors
This guide explains how ResponsibleSteel certification equips investors with credible, globally consistent sustainability data and site‑level assurance to assess risk, governance, and progress toward near‑zero steel.
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ResponsibleSteel provides an independent multi-stakeholder standards and certification programme, setting the global benchmark for responsibly produced near-zero steel. Our membership of over 160 businesses and civil society consists of representatives from across the steel value chain, including steelmakers, NGOs, trade associations, and other organisations with an interest in a more responsible future for steel.
How can ResponsibleSteel support investors?
ResponsibleSteel certification offers universally consistent metrics for investors to evaluate a steelmaker’s management of sustainability topics. Core Site Certification supports investors to monitor steelmakers in their portfolio, at corporate and site level, in terms of:
- Risk mitigation
- Reporting requirements
- Alignment with international norms
ResponsibleSteel’s Progress Levels form part of advanced recognition, Steel Certification, which offers investors and buyers a consistent, equitable and comparable means of tracking progress toward responsible near-zero steel, providing the confidence that a steel site is delivering on its decarbonisation commitments and mitigating supply chain risks. The Decarbonisation Progress Levels are designed to incentivise all steelmakers, regardless of their existing technology, location, or scrap availability, to invest in decarbonised production processes. All sites are required to disclose actual emissions intensity irrespective of feedstock so buyers can make informed choices.
ResponsibleSteel works with other actors in the finance industry to foster more consistent approaches to decarbonisation assessment at corporate and site level, including the Institutional Investor Group on Climate Change, Rocky Mountain Institute, Climate Bonds Initiative, and Ceres. Its Finance Working Group is open to asset managers, banks and framework initiatives.
What can investors do?
- Request investees to receive a briefing from ResponsibleSteel
- Invite your investees to assess and certify their sites’ operations using ResponsibleSteel’s International Production Standard as part of their business as usual governance approach
- Use ResponsibleSteel certification as a framework of common indicators to assess the management of sustainability risks and opportunities of steelmakers in your portfolio
