Revision of the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard

ResponsibleSteel is currently recruiting expert members to join the new Social Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) to support us with the upcoming revision of the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard (V2.1.1). This revision will cover key social topics, including annual leave, wage deduction as a disciplinary measure, non-discrimination in wage setting, and a just transition.

The Social TAP will play a critical role in helping us navigate regional challenges, enhance the Production Standard's application, develop new requirements, and ensure alignment with ILO conventions and global best practices.

ResponsibleSteel also invites all interested members to join the Climate Transition Planning Working Group, which will lead the revision of climate-related requirements in the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard (V2.1.1). This revision will cover science-aligned target setting, transition pathways, action plans, and disclosure requirements (covering Criteria 10.1, 10.2, 10.5, and 10.7).

The aim of the working group is to ensure the Production Standard is aligned with best practice, consistent with existing leading global frameworks, driving meaningful emissions reductions, and supporting the sector’s transition to net zero. We especially welcome CSOs to sign up, as a number of business members have already expressed interest.

Earlier this year, ResponsibleSteel started the standard revision procedure for the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard (v2.1.1). This revision will cover aspects of Principle 10: Climate Change and GHG Emissions, Just Transition, and incorporating urgent revisions (on wage deduction 6.8.2) and provisional interpretation (on non-discrimination 6.2).

Two working groups - Just Transition and Principle 10 (focusing on climate transition plans and target setting) - are now in full swing with continuous meetings running over the next few months. Seventeen member organisations are participating across the two working groups..

These organisations include a range of steelmakers, civil society organisations, and certification bodies across North & South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Following every working group meeting, there is a technical advisory group meeting to gain external feedback on the outcomes of the working group meetings. You can find the members of the technical advisory panel here.

In 2024, ResponsibleSteel began the standard revision process for the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard (V2.1.1) in accordance with ResponsibleSteel’s Standards Development Procedures. So far, discussions have commenced on aspects of Principle 10: Climate Change and GHG Emissions, Principle 6: Labour Rights, and Just Transition. The revision will also incorporate urgent revisions and provisional interpretations.

The most recent working group meeting on Principle 10 was held on 21 October, followed by a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meeting a week later. Discussions focused on corporate alignment with the Paris Agreement and corporate-level climate transition plans (10.1), corporate climate-related financial disclosure (10.2), site-level GHG emissions reduction targets and planning (10.5) and GHG emissions disclosure and reporting (10.7). A survey was also recently sent to ResponsibleSteel business members to collect data on how they currently measure and disclose climate-related information to inform the discussions.

In the coming weeks, the Secretariat will consolidate the outcomes from these meetings into a proposal for changes to the Production Standard to be reviewed by the working group and TAG.  

The Just Transition working group has been exploring the drivers for inclusion and is considering whether integration of this topic into the Production Standard (as part of Principle 4) is appropriate. The TAG for social topics has also begun reviewing the outcomes of last year's working group on annual leave (related to Principle 6).

ResponsibleSteel members are invited to join working group meetings, even if they haven’t participated previously. Meeting minutes and presentations from previous discussions can be found under Resources.

Over the last few weeks, the Secretariat has been consolidating the outcomes from the meetings held with the working groups (WGs) and technical advisory groups (TAGs) to address aspects of Principle 10: Climate Change and GHG Emissions, Principle 6: Labour Rights, and Just Transition. For Principle 10, this will soon be formulated into a proposal for changes to the Production Standard to be reviewed by the WG and TAG. For Principle 6, the focus is on Criterion 6.9.1: Working Time, and policy requirements, where the WG has been investigating different approaches to the revision.

For Just Transition, there are ongoing discussions on the inclusion of the topic directly in the Standard, but ensuring that much of the terminology and concepts remain and are represented through non-mandatory mechanisms.

Once the proposals for the aforementioned topics are ready for public consultation (scheduled for mid-2026), the team will focus on developing other topics in the Standard Revision, such as the harmonisation of 10.3 & 10.4 around the determination of site-level GHG emissions.

ResponsibleSteel members are invited to join WG meetings, even if they haven’t participated previously. By contributing to the revision process, members have a unique opportunity to contribute to a global standard that is shaping the future of the industry, not just for steelmakers, but for the entire value chain.

This year, the Secretariat has been busy analysing the overall revision scope while initiating discussion on key topics with the relevant Working Groups and Advisory Group Panels later this year.

Working groups and technical advisory groups have been formed to consult on aspects of Principle 10: Climate Change and GHG Emissions, Principle 6: Labour Rights, and Just Transition. Once the proposals for these are ready for public consultation (scheduled for mid-2026), the Secretariat will shift focus to other priority revision topics.

ResponsibleSteel members are invited to join working group meetings, even if they haven’t participated previously. By contributing to the revision process, members have a unique opportunity to contribute to a global standard that is shaping the future of the industry, not just for steelmakers, but for the entire value chain.

Over the past few weeks, the Secretariat has continued updating the scope and timeline for the revision of the Production Standard.

On social topics, draft proposals revising the annual leave requirement have been prepared for review by the Technical Advisory Group. The Just Transition Working Group also welcomed four new members and is progressing discussions on how to take key elements forward, potentially through adjustments to the Production Standard, a new guidance document, or both. A draft proposal will follow for review by the Working Group.

On Principle 10, a draft proposal revising requirements on target-setting and climate transition plans (10.1, 10.2, 10.5, and aspects of 10.7) is being prepared for review by the Principle 10 Working Group. Further upcoming work will focus on GHG emissions accounting methodologies, upstream scope 3 default values in Annex 5, and revisions to related requirements (10.3, 10.4, 10.6).

The Standards Team has begun the year with working group (WG) and technical advisory group (TAG)* meetings across different standard revision topics.

In their last meeting, the Just Transition WG reviewed what the Standard already covers and discussed potential gaps. The key takeaway was that several elements are already addressed, even if the term ‘just transition’ isn’t used explicitly. Proposed changes therefore, aim to clarify certain requirements rather than introduce major new changes. Regarding annual leave, the Secretariat has built on previous discussions and drafted proposed changes for TAG discussion at their next meeting.

The current Principle 10 revision workstream is on harmonising site-level GHG emissions accounting (Criteria 10.3 & 10.4) and product-level footprint requirements (Criterion 10.6). The WG and TAG have met weekly since February 10 for a planned five weeks, to enable more accurate data for credible comparable emissions intensity declarations across all certified sites. Initial discussions considered the implications of the ResponsibleSteel methodology on sites upstream and downstream of the crude steel cut-off. The Secretariat is continuously consolidating the feedback from the TAG and WG into a proposal to be ready for public consultation around September.

* Each Working Group (WG) has a corresponding Technical Advisory Group (TAG). All TAGs together form the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP).

We have progressed working groups on revisions to annual leave, just transition, and greenhouse gas emissions calculations.

The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) reviewed the draft language for the annual leave requirement to define intent and allow alternative ways of demonstrating how it is met. The Just Transition Working Group (WG) reviewed the draft language on Principle 4 and suggested alternative approaches to the inclusion of the concepts. The Secretariat is now reflecting and preparing further plans based on the feedback received.

For Principle 10 (P10), we have held the final WG and TAG meetings on harmonising site-level GHG emissions accounting methodologies (across Criteria 10.3 & 10.4), and product-level footprint requirements (within Requirement 10.6.4). Clear support has been demonstrated for enhanced use of the ResponsibleSteel methodology for crude steel emissions intensity declarations for all Core Site Certifications. Work is ongoing to determine whether there is a need to adjust the emissions boundary for different value chain members.  

The final P10 revision workstream will commence in April, which will consider further flexibility of emissions boundaries for Decarbonisation Progress Level determination across sites, products and production lines (related to Criterion 10.6).