FAQ zu ResponsibleSteel

ResponsibleSteel (RS) is a non-profit organisation that has published the first comprehensive sustainability standard for the steel industry (ResponsibleSteel Standard). The initiative takes a multi-stakeholder approach. Companies from various areas of the steel value chain, representatives of civil society and other interest groups have participated.

ResponsibleSteel's vision: Maximising the contribution of steel to a sustainable society.

ResponsibleSteel's mission: To promote the responsible sourcing, production, use and recycling of steel by:

• Providing a multi-stakeholder forum to build trust and consensus
• Developing standards, certification mechanisms and related tools
• Driving positive change through the recognition and use of responsibly produced steel.

Demands for greater sustainability are growing louder – and this also affects the steel industry. The RS Standard identifies the most important environmental and social impacts that should be taken into account in the production of steel products and helps companies to position themselves sustainably.

The RS Standard offers the following advantages, among others:

• Risk minimisation through conscious engagement with specific environmental and social issues (e.g. adaptation to climate change, human rights) and greater certainty in complying with relevant laws
• Increased brand value through a clear commitment to greater sustainability
• Preference in the wake of changed specifications of the purchasers of own products (e.g. customer requirements, public procurement)
• Preference of investors with regard to new requirements (e.g. green finance).

All sites of steel producers and sites of companies that carry out related activities and/or manufacture steel products (e.g. processing of raw materials for steel production, surface treatment, hot and cold rolling, production of steel wire, production of steel pipes) can be certified.

Mining companies, service providers and companies that manufacture end products (e.g. car manufacturers) are not eligible for certification.

The ResponsibleSteel Assurance Manual provides the basis for calculating the scope of the audit. The scope of the audit is determined on the basis of two criteria: a complexity assessment (low, medium, high) and the number of FTE employees at the site.

The complexity rating comprises six criteria:

1. Environmental aspects
2. Occupational safety aspects
3. Existing management systems
4. Legal compliance
5. Context
6. Stakeholder complaints

Example:

• A site (e.g. cold rolling mill) with 500 FTEs, complexity rating: medium
• Audit scope Initial certification: 12 days, including approx. 4 days for Level 1 audit, 6 days for Level 2 audit, 2 days for follow-up and reporting
• Recertification: approx. 2/3 of initial certification
• Surveillance audit: approx. 1/3 of initial certification

The audit costs are primarily based on the scope of the audit (see question 4). This is based on a complexity assessment and the number of employees at the site. The number of audit days is specified in the RS Assurance Manual. You can find the current version of the RS Assurance Manual here.

Yes and no – classic integration with other management systems is not planned. However, there are some overlaps with other standards, particularly ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. If these systems are already established in the company, this may result in a reduction in the total audit time.

The certification essentially consists of a self-assessment by those responsible for the site, a Level 1 audit and a Level 2 audit (certification audit).

The certification process is based on the information provided in the RS Implementation Instructions-Tool, which is verified by external auditors during the two audits.

The certification cycle is 36 months, whereby, in contrast to traditional management systems, only one review audit (approx. 18 months after initial certification) takes place.

Extraordinary audits may be considered if, between two audits, there is suspicion that the criteria of the standard are not being met.

No. The certification unit is the respective location of a company. Separate locations must also be considered separately within the scope of certification.

Companies wishing to have a site certified according to the RS standard must register as members of RS. In addition, the site must be certified according to the ISO 14001 standard.

Information on membership can be found directly at ResponsibleSteel.

Yes – with justification confirmed by the auditor, requirements of the ResponsibleSteel Standard that are not applicable can be excluded. This is the case, for example, if the company is not responsible for the displacement of the local population at the site to be certified (Criterion 7.4 Displacement and Resettlement).

Not yet – the current standard focuses on the certification of individual sites rather than the products manufactured. An extension of the standard to include product-specific elements is currently underway, so product labelling can also be expected in the future.

Further information on the development of the standard can be found directly at ResponsibleSteel.