The coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic is affecting people, businesses and organisations in every country of the world.

We invite ResponsibleSteel members and stakeholders to hear our board members Alan Knight of ArcelorMittal, Gerry Tidd of BlueScope Steel, Giulia Carbone of IUCN) and Matthias Hartwich of IndustriALL discuss how the crisis is impacting on their own organisations, how they are responding, and their thoughts for the future.

The webinar panel discussion will take place on Tuesday 31st March from 8.00am to 9.00am British Summer Time (9.00am to 10.00am Central European Summer Time).

Call-in details to follow shortly, if you are not a member of our mailing list and would like an invitation please use the contact details below.

If you have any questions please get in contact with George Deslandes (Operations Coordinator), gdeslandes@responsiblesteel.org.

The health and safety of our Members is of utmost importance and so, like many organisations, we are making some changes to our scheduled meetings, to reduce the risk of infection of coronavirus, and in light of travel restrictions.

The Working Group meetings scheduled for 22 and 23 April 2020 will be held virtually, with the meetings on 23 April rescheduled to 24 April. Participants will be advised how to join the meetings. There will be four sessions in total, with a morning and evening session on both days, in order to cover most time zones.

22 April 8:00am – 10:00am UK Summer Time: Three separate working group meetings (GHG, Raw Materials, Steel Product Claims) to take place in parallel, Session 1

22 April 5.00pm – 7.30pm UK Summer Time: Three separate working group meetings taking place in parallel, Session 2, starting with 30 minute resume of Session 1 progress.

23 April: No meeting. The Secretariat will collate and circulate developments from 22 April, for discussion the following day.

24 April 8:00am – 10:00am UK Summer Time: Combined group meetings to take place, Session 1

24 April 5.00pm – 7.30pm UK Summer Time: Combined group meetings to take place, Session 2, starting with 30 minute resume of Session 1 progress.

There will also be a virtual replacement for the Members’ meeting in June. Please keep 24-26 June free for virtual meetings of the Working Groups and Members. More details will be announced in due course.

We are considering organising an in-person Members’ meeting in the second half of the year, and will review and update on the situation as it develops.

We wish all our Members and friends well, personally and professionally, during these challenging times.

Photo credit: worldsteel library

On 27 February 2020, over 60 representatives of leading metallurgical and mining companies in Russia, attended a seminar at KPMG Russia, introducing best practices for sustainable development.

The seminar participants focused on the issues of certification of metallurgical sites to comply with the ResponsibleSteel Standard, as well as how to reduce the carbon footprint of businesses, including through the implementation of forest and climatic projects.

Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, presented an update on the current development of the ResponsibleSteel Standard, certification and assurance programme, including news of the first site audit completed at ArcelorMittal in Belgium.

Andrey Ptichnikov, a representative of ResponsibleSteel member Institute of Geography, spoke about a number of pressing certification issues, such as the demand for certified low-carbon steel in a number of market sectors. The participants showed a keen interest in the ResponsibleSteel Standard, and the dialogue with Russian businesses will continue.

The assurance programme is well underway with two certification bodies approved, two auditor training sessions delivered, and the first audit site visit completed.

Certification bodies: Two certification bodies have been approved to carry out ResponsibleSteel audits – AFNOR Certification and GUT Certifizierungsgesellschaft für Managementsysteme mbH. More details here.

Auditor training: The second auditor training took place on 11-13 February in London. The next auditor training is scheduled for 30 March – 1 April at the DNV GL offices in London.

Audit site visit:  The first audit site visit was completed in February, for the Belgium sites of ArcelorMittal. More details here.

Photo credit: worldsteel library

ResponsibleSteel welcomes Challenge Sustainability as a new Associate Member.

Challenge Sustainability provides consultancy services to international companies on sustainability strategy, reporting and communications. The organisation has extensive experience working in the steel sector and other related industries, and has been involved in the development of the ResponsibleSteel Standard.

Jon Woodhead, Director, Challenge Sustainability, said: “We see the ResponsibleSteel Standard as an important opportunity for steel sector companies to demonstrate how they are working to meet the sustainability challenges associated with the responsible sourcing and production of steel. We expect that the ResponsibleSteel Standard will support core business success for steel sector companies.”

Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, said: “We are delighted to welcome Challenge Sustainability as a new Associate Member and look forward to benefitting from the organisation’s expertise.”

ResponsibleSteel welcomes International Tin Association as a new Associate Member.

The International Tin Association (ITA) is dedicated to supporting discussion and action on important regional and global issues affecting the tin industry. ITA brings together the world’s major tin producers to ensure an innovative, competitive, and sustainable tin supply chain that contributes to sustainable development and improved quality of life.

ITA’s leading responsible sourcing initiatives, including ITSCI and the tin Code of Conduct, help companies source minerals by embedding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations into their decisions and practices.

Kay Nimmo, Head of Sustainability, International Tin Association, said: “Tinplate is an effective packaging material in which tin protects steel against corrosion and contributes to the preservation of food. We are delighted to partner with ResponsibleSteel in its mission to maximise steel’s contribution to a sustainable society. This partnership demonstrates the leadership of both organisations to inspire and drive sustainable and ethical production in the metal sector.”

Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, said: “It is important to collaborate with members from every stage of the steel supply chain and we welcome International Tin Association as a new Associate Member. We recognise ITA’s focus on responsible sourcing initiatives and the Code of Conduct, which complements the ResponsibleSteel Standard.”

ResponsibleSteel is recruiting a New CEO to take the organisation into its next exciting phase of growth.

Our current Executive Director, Matthew Wenban-Smith who has been the driver of our success and growth over the last two years has signalled his wish to focus on the policy and standards development of  ResponsibleSteel. With this in mind he has asked to transition his contribution from full time Executive Director to Policy Director, with an extended handover period this year.

Therefore we are on the look-out for a new CEO, who will play a critical commercial role building ResponsibleSteel into a global entity recognised and respected as a leader in the sustainability performance of global steel producers. The new CEO will be working closely with an experienced and collegiate Board, to develop and execute the strategy, identify and secure funding and membership in relevant sectors and geographies, and represent the initiative to public, private and civil society stakeholders in an international setting.

This position represents a unique opportunity to play a key role in furthering the sustainability performance of the world’s largest materials industry, ultimately providing businesses and consumers worldwide with confidence that the steel they use has been sourced and produced responsibly at all levels of the supply chain.

​We are considering candidates who are able to work in either the UK or Australia (London, Sydney or Melbourne)

If this is of interest to you or you would like more information then please contact our recruitment specialists Acre here.

Photo credit: WorldSteel library

ResponsibleSteel is convening three new Working Groups on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Raw Materials and Steel Product Claims. Participants are being invited to join the Working Groups, with initial briefings starting in March.

The Working Groups Terms of Reference are:

1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG)

• To agree a standard to measure and report the GHG emissions intensity for crude steel production consistently for all steel producers, as the basis for subsequent claims about the GHG emissions associated with ResponsibleSteel certified steel products.
• To agree one or more performance levels in relation to the GHG emissions intensity of steel production that will need to be met in order to make claims about the ResponsibleSteel certified status of steel products.

2. Raw Materials

• To agree the criteria for recognition of mine level assurance programmes by ResponsibleSteel.
• To agree the requirements to be met for the sourcing of the raw materials for steelmaking, in order to make claims about the ResponsibleSteel certified status of steel products.
• To agree one or more performance levels in relation to raw material sourcing, that will need to be met in order to make claims about the ResponsibleSteel certified status of steel products.

3. Steel Product Claims
• To agree the framework for making claims about the ResponsibleSteel certified status of steel products, that will drive the greatest improvements in social and environmental performance related to the sourcing and production of steel.

Photo credit: worldsteel image library

Help us make sure that ResponsibleSteel certificates are credible and justified

The first audits against the ResponsibleSteel Standard will be carried out very soon. Third party auditors will conduct steel site assessments, consult with external stakeholders and make certification decisions. However, before they can make such decisions, their audit report will be reviewed by an independent Assurance Panel. Only if that Panel is satisfied with the quality of the audit report and its conclusions, can the auditors decide whether the site should be certified or not. The Assurance Panel thus plays an important quality control function in the ResponsibleSteel programme.

We are in the process of recruiting Assurance Panel members and are inviting applications from individuals that meet the following criteria:
• Long-standing expertise in one or more of the following areas: steel making, environmental or social issues in heavy industries, certification and auditing
• Not working for a steel company or a steel sector association, to avoid conflict of interest.

Assurance Panel members will be trained on the ResponsibleSteel system and on their role, and will be paid a fixed fee for each audit report they review. We expect the time requirement to be about 0.5 to 1 day per month. If you are interested, please send an expression of interest email and full CV to assurance@responsiblesteel.org.

ResponsibleSteel welcomes the International Manganese Institute (IMnI) as an Associate Member. IMnL is a not-for-profit industry association that represents 83 major manganese producers and consumers in 30 countries.

Founded in 1975, with headquarters in Paris, France, IMnI’s mission is to provide vision and guidance to the manganese industry by promoting economic, social and environmental responsibility and sustainability to all stakeholders.

Currently the IMnI provides the manganese industry with the ability to: anticipate and track major regulations worldwide; develop economically sound industry safety standards; study and limit occupational health effects; and quantify and evaluate environmental life cycle and risk.

The Institutes sees sustainability and circularity as being vital for the success of the manganese industry. As such, IMnI supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals and works with key leaders to ensure that the manganese industry obtains the highest standards of sustainability within the industry and its communities.

Brandon Cline, HSE & Regulatory Affairs Manager, International Manganese Institute (IMnI), said: “Responsible Steel is a natural partner, not only to achieve sustainability for the steel industry, but also for the manganese industry. Steel is manganese’s primary downstream customer and we are excited to join a platform that can close the circularity loop within our industries.”

Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, said: “We are proud to have members from every stage of the steel supply chain and welcome IMnl as an Associate Member. Collaboration between all stakeholders within the steel supply chain will help us fulfil our mission of maximising steel’s contribution to a sustainable future.”

ResponsibleSteel welcomes Steel Research & Technology Mission of India (SRTMI) as an Associate Member. SRTMI is a Government-Industry initiative with an objective to spearhead R&D programmes of national importance, in collaboration with industry, national R&D laboratories and academic institutes. SRTMI works closely with the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, especially in relation to fulfilling India’s National Steel Policy 2017.

Its vision is to develop an industry – institution interface for making the iron and steel industry globally competitive, by utilizing expertise from academic and research institutes, collaborating with international organizations to develop cost effective, environment friendly, state-of-the-art-technologies for optimum utilization of natural resources, and strengthening design and equipment manufacturing capability in the country.

SRTMI’s sustainability initiatives include minimizing CO2 emissions in iron and steel manufacture; 100% utilization of waste and by-products through the 6Rs principle of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Redesign and Remanufacture; and zero discharge through 100% recycling of waste water by effective waste water treatment solutions.

Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Director, Steel Research & Technology Mission of India, said: “Keeping in view the new age obligations of ensuring safe industrial working, resource conservation, energy optimization and environmental sustainability, there is a need to develop radically-new, disruptive and path-altering technologies in-house, which are more attuned to the country’s resources and capabilities. Association with ResponsibleSteel shall enable us to hold continued focus and share innovative ideas on developing future-ready capabilities in identified areas of national importance for iron and steel manufacture.”

Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, said: “We are pleased SRTMI is joining ResponsibleSteel as an Associate Member, and are particularly interested in this government-industry approach to increasing responsible steel production in India.”

ResponsibleSteel welcomes Lloyd’s Register Germany as an Associate Member. Lloyd’s Register employs hundreds of auditors and operates worldwide with a number of standards in areas including health-care, management systems and sustainability.

Starting out in 1760 as a marine classification society, Lloyd’s Register is today one of the world’s leading providers of professional services for engineering and technology – improving safety and increasing the performance of critical infrastructures for clients in over 75 countries worldwide. Lloyd’s Register is committed to help find sustainable solutions and therefore sees joining ResponsibleSteel as a logical step.

Lloyd’s Register’s profits fund the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a charity which supports engineering-related research, education and public engagement, and supports its purpose of working together for a safer world. Lloyd’s Register also meets the Foundation’s charitable objectives through its work in assuring the safety of critical infrastructure worldwide.

Lloyd’s Register’s work to create a sustainable future includes the areas of sustainable decommissioning, food safety, low carbon power, digital innovation, and cyber security. In 2018, Lloyd’s Register became a signatory of the UN Global Compact and a founding member of the UN’s Sustainable Oceans Action programme.

James Sutcliffe, Group Sustainability and Environment Manager at Lloyd’s Register, said: “Sustainability is no longer a side issue and we can all make a difference by taking collective action to address planetary-scale challenges and achieve a more sustainable world.”

Matthew Wenban-Smith, Executive Director, ResponsibleSteel, said: “We welcome Lloyd’s Register Germany as a new Associate Member. As the first audits against the ResponsibleSteel Standard will be carried out very soon, we will benefit from Lloyd’s Register Germany’s expertise in auditing, as well as the company’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure.”