ResponsibleSteel is a global multi-stakeholder initiative for sustainability standards and certification involving diverse stakeholders in the steel industry. The initiative wants to be a driving force worldwide for socially and environmentally responsible production of climate-neutral steel. The membership augments the existing sustainability management at SHS with the companies Aktien-Gesellschaft der Dillinger Hüttenwerke (Dillinger) and Saarstahl AG.
“Our membership in ResponsibleSteel shows what motivates us: responsibility for sustainable steel production entirely in line with Pure Steel+,” says Stefan Rauber, Chairman of the Management Board of SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar. “The initiative’s multi-stakeholder concept emphasizes that to achieve a sustainable value creation process, all levels of the steel supply chain must contribute.” Rauber adds: “It is also one more signal to our customers that our concept for the transformation to carbon-reduced steel and its implementation is holistic.”
ResponsibleSteel contains over 130 members worldwide, including steel producers and buyers as well as mining companies and civil society organizations. Among other things, the non-profit organization has grown an independent certification program for the steel value chain that can be used to certify companies.
As part of joining the initiative, SHS has committed to and is actively supporting the 13 principles of the first global standard for responsible production and processing. The ResponsibleSteel International Standard was announced in a revised version in September 2022 and includes principles applying to the following topics:
- Corporate Leadership
- Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Management Systems
- Responsible Sourcing of Input Materials
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Employee Rights
- Human Rights
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Local Communities
- Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Noise, Emissions, Effluents and Waste
- Water Stewardship
- Biodiversity
- Decommissioning and Closure
“We’re delighted to have SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar join ResponsibleSteel,” states Annie Heaton, CEO of ResponsibleSteel. “It is crucial that we encourage the rollout of the ResponsibleSteel International Standard across steelmaking sites globally to accelerate the responsible production of net-zero steel. SHS’s two steel companies, Dillinger and Saarstahl, collectively produce over 5 million tons of steel every year and are key players in Europe’s steel industry. SHS is already taking significant steps to reduce emissions and is planning to introduce new innovative processes and to switch to using natural gas and hydrogen as reductants in place of coal. We look forward to working with them to accelerate the transition to net zero.”
